The ability for companies to have staff work from home during the pandemic has led to real estate agents being busy with people from metropolitan areas choosing to move to regional Victoria.
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Waller Realty sales consultant Tim Noonan said the Bendigo region's property market had been as busy as he had ever seen it.
"We probably thought would slow down in the pandemic but it has been very buoyant," he said. "It's the best property market in my time in real estate.
"People are comfortable around being able to work from home three or four days a week and commute to Melbourne one day."
McKean McGregor senior sales consultant Bec Allen said she was seeing buyer demand like never before.
"We are working hard to deal with the demand," she said. "Melbourne buyers looking to relocate can't come to inspect but we are doing things like (providing) videos, face time and using representatives.
"There is a demand for inner city living where people can walk to the train and commute but the other side is the lifestyle proponent where there is room for a caravan and boat. Space is paramount for families."
Bendigo Bank head of local banking Nick Carter said the company has seen an increase in first home buyer grant applications.
"We are getting close to 400 inquiries a week relating to the first home loan deposit scheme and around 70 per cent of applicants are under the age of 34," he said.
"The demand for regional property is quite well distributed. Bendigo, Ballarat, Shepparton and Geelong are seeing strong demand, and their median property values are also holding up far more strongly than in Melbourne".
Bendigo Bank head of economic and market research David Robertson said with regional Victoria less affected by COVID-19, people were choosing to live there.
"The pandemic has forced many people to work from home, and so... the viability of working remotely (means) the feasibility of living in a regional location is now more broadly accepted".
Bendigo Tourism Board chair Finn Vedelsby said the real estate market growth was cause for optimism.
"It has been identified that you can still do the same Collins Street job from your lounge room and hack that three-hour daily commute," he said. "The city is coming, with them they will bring dollars to our small businesses."