Revealed: How Australians are dodging record high property prices – realestate.com.au

As national house prices hit new records, a new quarterly snapshot shows caravans are moving from holiday parks into the housing market – and an emerging brand has just landed a historic doppelgänger at the top of the market.

Caravans are switching from leisure purchase to housing strategy as more Australians weigh life on the road against record property prices – with some homes on wheels still selling for less than $60,000.

By comparison, PropTrack data shows that the value of an average home was closer to a million dollars ($935,000) in September, while the average home now costs almost $700,000.

Against that backdrop comes Retain Media’s Q3 2025 RV Market Brand Consideration Report, a broad read on consumer interest in the recreational vehicle sector based on more than 2.8 million searches during the quarter.

The report charts a decisive shift in brand momentum and highlights how pressures on property affordability are feeding into Australians’ car choices.

Snowy River’s historical doppelgänger as consumer tastes change

While Jayco still leads the way for the most searched for caravan brand in Australia, semi-imported Snowy River Caravans stood out, taking the top spot for the most searched for camper brands in both the Imported and RVMAP categories for the first time.

According to the brand’s website, current stock models start at $54,990, with its studio-sized SRC-14 series including all the creature comforts a couple of singles could want.

This includes a small bathroom, a kitchen, a double bet, solar energy and a TV cabinet.

The double win displaces long-standing market leader Market Direct Campervans in both categories and signals a meaningful reappraisal of where value and features resonate with buyers.

Austrack and Ezytrail completed the top five most searched for caravans nationally.

Crusader Caravans, which recently launched a new brand, Dreamhaven, with locally made vans from just $68,990, came in sixth place, but took second place in the Australian-made category.

Other popular brands that made the overall top 10 included Avan, New Age Caravans, Avida and Lifestyle Campers.

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A real estate story on four wheels

As housing affordability has increased and rental prices have risen, caravans are no longer just a lifestyle fantasy for gray nomads.

A Money.com.au Research found that 21 percent of homeowners would consider buying a caravan if costs continue to rise, while 13 percent said they would happily trade bricks and mortar for permanent life on the road.

The generational breakdown is significant, with generation Z leading the way, followed by millennials, generation X and baby boomers.

SRC-14 series from Snowy River Caravan.

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The studio-sized caravan retails for just $54,990.

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Money.com.aus Financial expert Fi Ahlstrom said rising home prices and rents are forcing people to reconsider what “home” actually means.

“Because housing is so expensive, especially in our capital cities, people are looking at options that were once seen only for holidays, such as living in a caravan,” she says.

“For some it’s a short-term solution while the cost of living is so high, and for others it could become permanent. And without real cost-of-living relief, we’re likely to see this trend increase.

“But it’s worth bearing in mind that caravans still incur costs such as site fees, utilities, maintenance, registration and insurance, but for many they can still be much cheaper than traditional rent or a mortgage.”

Why brand momentum now follows viability

What is driving the realignment at the top of the RV market is not just price, but also the perceived value in layouts and accreditation when caravans fill a housing role.

Buyers focused on part-time or full-time living are investigating insulation, ventilation, off-grid options, energy storage, water capacity and after-sales support with greater intensity than a customer going on holiday alone. The results in the RVMAP category, where Snowy River has made its breakthrough and Crusader has jumped into the top three, suggest that standards and support are at the top of the priority list, alongside spec sheets and shiny interiors.

Crusader Caravans are also proving popular with buyers.

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There is also a clear momentum effect at play. In an information landscape shaped by search behavior, small brands that get the right product-marketing mix in place can quickly break through, as Titanium’s relative 42.9 percent jump demonstrates.

Conversely, a lull in the cadence of new products or a misinterpretation of pricing versus inclusions can manifest as a rapid shift in considerations, as MDC’s quarter illustrates.