Housing affordability and lifestyle choices are attracting city dwellers to regional Australia.
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Regional NSW drew the most people from capitals, with a total of 159,328 moving between 2011 and 2016, a report by Regional Australia Institute reveals.
The Big Movers: Understanding Population Mobility in Regional Australia shows that 1.2 million people moved to and around areas outside the capital cities between 2011 and 2016.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more people are working from now home and have the flexibility to relocate.
The Goulburn Post spoke to real estate agents in town about the interest shown in regional areas by those living in big cities.
Tom Antony of Antony and Edwards Real Estate has noticed an increase in interest from Sydney buyers in the past few months.
"There are a lot of buyers who have realised that they can now work remotely and live in areas that are more affordable," he said.
"Housing affordability and quieter lifestyle attract them to regional areas like Goulburn.
"Close proximity to major cities is another important factor for these buyers. Goulburn is located close to cities like Sydney and Canberra."
Helen Cheetham, principal of Tronn Alstergren Real Estate, feels that country areas present a safer opportunity to the potential buyers.
"Goulburn region is becoming increasingly popular among Sydney buyers and we have been busy with enquiries from people keen to get out of the city," she said.
"Sydney is becoming frantically busy with more traffic. After COVID-19, country areas are being seen as a safer place to bring up families by these buyers."
Meanwhile, with more people working remotely than ever before, RAI chief executive Liz Ritchie said the recent experience of the COVID-19 pandemic had wiped out one of the largest barriers to an even more substantial population shift.
"Over the last few months, we've all had to change how we work and this has allowed staff and employers to see that location is no longer a barrier for where we choose to work," she said.
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