Childcare has become an increasingly important drawcard for new property buyers say industry experts, and Wagga businesses are seeing the drive first hand.
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Stephanie White runs Chickadees Family Daycare from her home in Lloyd as part of South Regional Family Daycare, and she says for the past year calls scoping the availability of childcare in the area come in before people even arrive in town.
"I've had people call before they move to Wagga," Ms White said. "One contacted me halfway through last year to enrol at the start of this year without even having a playdate or anything and I find that pretty common."
Out in Forest Hill, Nicky Ward-Martinelli is preparing to open her own family daycare, and even before opening her doors, she's experienced the same out-of-town demand.
"I had someone from Wollongong who is moving here towards the end of the year call to get a sense of what was available, so they're looking before they even move in," Ms Ward-Martinelli said.
The providers' experience come as little surprise to Realestate.com economist Anne Flaherty, who said daycares have become a major drawcard for people looking to rent or buy in both metro and regional centers.
Following a spike in families moving to regional areas after many jobs went entirely online during COVID, not only have property values soared in Wagga but demand for childcare for incoming families has followed suit.
"For people working from home from regional areas, childcare close to home is really important," Ms Flaherty said.
"Based on our search data, we can see people are searching childcare a lot more, and I think it is very important to people."
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Ms White estimated that in the past year, about half of her requests have come from new families moving to Wagga.
Wagga Real Estate director Greg Chamberlain said education has always been a big factor for people buying in and around Wagga.
"Schooling in general, whether it be daycare or primary school and to a lesser extent secondary schools are all very important components to people's decision making," Mr Chamberlain said. "Daycare centers have opened up in recent years in those newer areas and that probably improves the attractiveness for that first home owner group."
According to Ms Flaherty, new centers are a magnet for new buyers.
"In the past, access to schools was really important but now with more kids in childcare we're seeing it become just as important as schools," she said.
Ms White said she has definitely seen interest and demand for daycare grow in the eight years she has worked in the industry.
"From 2018 is where I saw the demand go up and up," Ms White said, adding its not just more working parents, but an increasing regard for the benefits of childcare driving the trend in her experience.
"These days, parents are looking for the social and emotional elements for their child rather than just the education," she said.
"I have quite a few parents saying they want their child to learn to socialise and build that confidence to go into life."
Ms White is one of three childcare providers in Lloyd, all of which are at capacity with wait lists, while Ms Martinelli in Forest Hill, also a growth suburb, is predicted to also hit capacity as soon as she opens.
South West regional Daycare says Riverina providers are "predominantly at capacity" and find most clients priorities care close to home.
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