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As soon as I said where I worked while on the phone to Real Estate Institute of SA operations manager Andrew Shields, he knew instantly what I was calling to talk about.
Are we really seeing more people move to regional areas as a result of COVID-19?
There have been a few reports of such a trend and it does make a positive story at a time when we need those.
The response from real estate agents is mixed - some regions are seeing a lift, some aren't. But this is also a period where there is more potential for it to happen.
"If the NBN does what it's supposed to do, it will be big for the regions, and (people relocating to regional areas) will definitely be a trend in the future," Mr Shields said.
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack says: "One of the biggest lessons from COVID is you don't have to be at a board table in Sydney."
If we truly can work some jobs from anywhere with a decent internet connection - admittedly, that's not always the easiest place to find in regional areas - there are a lot of reasons, such as cheaper rent and mortgages, larger properties and reduced commute time, to relocate.
It's also a win-win for the regional communities.
The South Australian Mallee town of Karoonda had blocks of land that weren't selling, so they offered a 90 per cent discount. Suddenly there's a waiting list.
Mayor Caroline Phillips describes it as wanting to take their region into the future - more people means more skills in the region, more services and, with the caveat that building must begin by next March, more job creation in the short-term, as well.
It's the same thinking that had Christine Weston in the central west NSW town of Cumnock introduce the $1 a week rent on farmhouses a decade ago, which helped rescue the school bus routes that were at risk of closure due to reduced student numbers.
One of the biggest arguments against living in regional Australia has always been that "there are no jobs", which is just not true.
The latest job vacancy figures show that in the most recent quarter, not only are the numbers of jobs advertised in regional SA returning after COVID-19, they're also up nearly 20 per cent on the number advertised at the same time in 2019. There are similar stories in regional NSW and WA.
These are not just seasonal jobs but ongoing, full-time, career opportunity-type jobs.
So with all these reasons to move, what's stopping you from seeing what's on offer?
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