Coronavirus in Ballarat: Real estate sales in rural areas increase

The coronavirus pandemic has led to a spike in people seeking a change moving to country areas outside of major towns.

Statistics from the Real Estate Institute of Victoria show more than 10 properties in the district were recently sold outside of Ballarat, from Cape Clear and Berringa to Lexton and Mount Egerton - this included blocks of land as well as large regional properties.

According to Ballarat Real Estate's Allister Morrison, many people in metropolitan areas who had been considering making a move to the regions were now actually following through.

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Some felt they needed more space after weeks of isolation, while others were locking in future expansions.

"We've found that country and lifestyle properties have been one of the strongest enquiry areas over the last two or three months," he said.

"We're expecting that the demand for those style of properties will be heightened over the next six to 12 months as a result of Covid-19 - perhaps the lockdown experience has given people on a smaller parcel of land, or smaller property, or in a city environment who were looking for a treechange, they'll be looking for that opportunity.

"Perhaps, actioning that now as a consequence of that, there will be an uptick in demand for those kinds of properties as people look to have a bit more land around them."

PRD Nationwide Ballarat's Chris Leonard said there was some nervousness at the beginning of the crisis, but demand has "exceeded everyone's expectations in the industry" since.

"What fuels those areas is the price, and the affordability," he said.

"The problem we've got at the minute, and why I think prices are holding, is there's not a lot of stock coming on the market, but there's still a lot of buyers coming out of Melbourne."

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REIV president Leah Calnan said it was the continuation of a trend over the last few years - following people moving to the Mornington and Bellarine peninsulas - but the coronavirus had also made people consider where they wanted to work from home.

"Many people have set up from home, and that gives them that lifestyle balance," she said.

"If you think back, maybe 35, 40 years ago - I grew up in Wantirna, three-quarter acre block, very traditional, and blocks have gotten smaller and smaller as price of land has got more expensive.

"The average size in and around suburbia subdivisions range from 400 to 600 square metres, so there's that opportunity to live in a regional town like Ballarat, and have perhaps double the size at a more affordable price, with all the convenience.

"That's what people will really weigh up - country air, country feel, but all the convenience of major facilities and public transport, and still commute to work if they need to into the city."

Mr Morrison said there was another aspect that attracted people to Ballarat's surrounding villages - as a consequence of Ballarat's suburban growth, people were no longer far from shopping centres and amenities.

"Within about a 20 minute drive you can be on good acres with access to a good range of facilities," he said.

"Look at Smythesdale - it's now pretty close to the Delacombe Town Centre.

"Some people think that to be on acres they'd have to travel 45 minutes or an hour (to get into town), but they can do it with a shorter drive than to Miners Rest to be on a good parcel."

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