Regional house prices still climbing while nation hits record low – city‑to‑country exodus fuels odd paradox

Regional property prices are still on the rise, even as the nation’s overall house‑price index has slumped to a record low. The boost comes from home‑buyers fleeing the city and snapping up country homes, a pattern that has kept regional markets buoyant.

The urban exodus has left analysts blinking in disbelief, clutching spreadsheets like lifebuoys, as they watch the national market free‑fall while the countryside enjoys a rare price surge.

Economists note that this “countryside subsidy” – driven by city‑dweller angst and a desire for more space – may be nearing its final chapter. Supply of affordable country plots is growing, and the pool of city‑escapees could soon dwindle, suggesting the regional rally might be on borrowed time.

If the trend unwinds, regional property gains could ease, prompting rate‑watchers to recalibrate their models and investors to wonder whether their next purchase should be a goat farm or a modest city condo.

For now, the paradox endures: a national housing freefall alongside rising regional prices, a scenario that keeps market participants awake at night and provides endless fodder for financial satire.