Elders Real Estate Ararat director David Jennings has noticed a boost in first-home buyers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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"First-home buyers are well and truly back in the market ... we are getting a lot of 23 to 30-year-old's in the first-home buyer bracket," he said.
"We have seen an increase in buyers during the pandemic, not only from Melbourne but from the bigger regional areas as well."
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Mr Jennings said first-home buyers moving to regional Victoria could apply for a First Home Owner Grant of $20,000 and the HomeBuilder Grant of $25,000.
"So effectively new home buyers can get $45,000 towards their first new home," he said.
"I think people come to Ararat for the area and affordability. It is a magnificent location.
"You can buy a good house on a big block for less money ... the cost of living in regional areas is a lot less than Melbourne as well."
Ray White director Philip Clark said Melburnians had expressed a strong interest for property in regional Victoria.
"We have always had a lot of interest from that market. It has been strong but it's more present now, more than ever," he said.
"What we are finding is people are getting out of Melbourne to buy up here because it's more affordable than the metro market."
Mr Clark said Melburnians are attracted to regional areas because of the 'tree-change' and job opportunities.
"We have got a good micro-economy. There are a lot of people that have work here," he said.
"Our big employees are expanding ... also interest rates are low and our properties are affordable.
"We are doing a lot of inspections virtually, so people from Melbourne and other areas can look at properties online digitally."
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