More home buyers are now willing to move away from urban areas in order to own homes.

The Housing Authority confirms that demand is so high that many Fijians don’t mind living away from modern amenities.

Board Chair Nesbitt Hazelman says Fijians are settling in undeveloped locations because homes or land is either unavailable – or way too expensive.

“We put it out in the papers and online so we get the numbers in – so that drives our decision to go in that area. Because of the lack of affordable housing or land, you’d be surprised – people from Suva want land in Nadi.”

Deputy Board Chair Craig Strong says for the government, it’s about ensuring that ministries are able to provide necessary services to make it worthwhile – living away from modern amenities.

“We’re gonna gravitate towards centres like Suva, Nadi and Lautoka where there is a commercial hub – our role is to make sure that working collectively we have the policies in place to ensure affordable housing.”

Nakasi in Nausori is a prime example – population growth has seen new life injected into what was an idle area for decades. It’s now a thriving commercial and residential hub.

Housing Authority’s new CEO Robert Sen believes the same will happen in other parts of Fiji.

“Businesses are being built, supermarkets are there, all the facilities are around. So if people buy houses away from urban centres – very soon that place will become an urban centre.”

The Housing Authority’s research team continues its search for new land to build affordable houses.