A Perth family’s dream in Melbourne is finally coming true: selling in the west, buying in Cheltenham and joining the property buying comeback on the city’s east coast. Image: supplied
When Shilpa Iyengar and her husband Yann Bodson decided to leave Perth, it wasn’t just a move, it was a homecoming for their family.
Originally from Perth, but after meeting and marrying in Sydney, the couple moved west during Covid when Shilpa became pregnant, seeking affordability, sunshine and family support.
Four years later, the balance had shifted: Yann’s global technology company opened an office in Melbourne, remote working was coming to an end and the family felt ready for a new chapter.
“Family was the main reason,” Iyengar said.
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“My brother is in Cheltenham, we visited, immediately fell in love and thought why not now? Melbourne ticks every lifestyle for us.”
The family sold in Perth earlier this year and secured a four-bedroom home in Cheltenham, perfectly timed with the recovery of Melbourne’s property market.
“We loved Perth for the space and slower pace, but Melbourne feels alive,” she said.
“I love the cooler weather, the culture, the coffee and the parks. Everything feels like home.”
One of Melbourne’s quiet performers, Cheltenham has made big progress this year thanks to strong buyer demand.
The suburb’s average house price has risen sharply, helped by the Suburban Rail Loop and new transport projects that will link the area directly to Monash University and the airport.
Shilpa Iyengar, husband Yann Bodson and their two children will settle in Cheltenham before Christmas, ready to start their new lives in Melbourne.
“We read about all the coming infrastructure, the circle route and the airport link. There’s so much happening in Melbourne. It’s exciting to be part of that growth,” Ms Iyengar said.
The couple wanted a home that was practical and low-maintenance.
“One of our top priorities was finding something turnkey without any renovation work,” she said.
“We compromised on backyard space, but there are so many parks nearby that it doesn’t matter.”
“When we searched the property, we just knew: we had gone hard at the auction and couldn’t believe it when we got it.”
The family will settle in mid-December and spend Christmas in their new home with their two children and cavoodle, Penny, who will fit right in with their new neighborhood, Pennydale in Cheltenham.
“This is our forever home, at least for the next 15 years,” Ms. Iyengar said.
“We have already enrolled our eldest at the local school. We wanted to be in the Mentone Grammar area and Cheltenham was a perfect fit.”
Cheltenham will become the southern gateway to the Suburban Rail Loop, connecting residents directly to Monash University and Melbourne Airport.
Leaving Perth was not without emotions, but Shilpa said it felt good.
“I will miss the sun and that relaxed lifestyle,” she said.
“Perth’s beaches are unbeatable. But what Perth was when I was growing up feels very different today.”
For Shilpa and Yann, who have an Indian and French background, adventure is part of family life.
“We love change and we really thrive on it,” she says.
“Moving to Melbourne offers so many possibilities, including day trips to regional cities, weekends in the Yarra Valley and perhaps one day taking the ferry to Tasmania.”
Just minutes from their new home, Mordialloc Beach offers the coastal tranquility this Perth family thought they had left behind.
“We’ll miss those perfect 80-degree days, but we won’t miss those 100-degree summers.”
Now, with keys in hand and a family Christmas on the horizon, the couple is ready to call Melbourne and ‘the east coast’ home again.
“It feels like everything has fallen into place,” Ms. Iyengar said.
“Selling in Perth, buying in Melbourne and finding the perfect fit for our family.
“We can’t wait to start this next chapter.”
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