The Riverina's skyrocketing real estate market has seen demand for property surrounding Wagga increase so much, that one small town has just had a brand new real estate agency open its doors.
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Coolamon which sits about 45 mins north of Wagga has traditionally had just one real estate agency in town to service the existing and incoming population - currently Ray White, Coolamon.
Now however, there's a new kid in town with their eye firmly on the town's increasingly lucrative market.
QPL Rural is a locally grown family real estate agency started in Temora in 2010 by husband and wife duo Bev and Craig Pellow. The businesses new branch in Coolamon is a move the agency's Coolamon lead Lachlan Pellow said was largely driven by the burgeoning market in and around Wagga.
"The strength of the market has definitely had a big role to play in our decision to open a shop in Coolamon," Mr Pellow said.
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He said Coolamon and other towns have emerged as budget-friendly commuting options for those working in Wagga or wanting the facilities of a city, without the price tag or hectic lifestyle.
"It's something we've always wanted to do, it's always been a spot that we've hen picked as a good position," he said. "With Wagga growing as quickly as it is, Coolamon is almost becoming a suburb of Wagga with the short commute and the facilities that will eventually be out in Estella, Boorooma and the Gobbagombalin area."
He said proposed shopping centre developments in Wagga's northern suburbs were a factor in their decision to get a foothold in the Coolamon market, as was huge demand for property in Wagga pushing buyer further afield.
"That is just going to improve Coolamon and its livability for people who are looking for a bit more space, who can't find a block of land to build in Wagga or who can't find a house with the space on their current budget," Mr Pellow said.
Driving the regional market for the past 12 month have been investors and owner occupiers from metro areas looking for a country escape, Mr Pellow said, with Coolamon a prime example of the impact of the metro move.
"We definitely get a lot more interest from Sydney, Illawarra, Melbourne, major centres that are coming to the country especially since the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.
Of course, the shortage of stock is not unique to Wagga, with the Coolamon postcode of 2701 recording an even lower vacancy rate than Wagga's 2650 in the past few months in keeping with a trend impacting many smaller towns around the region.
In April, SQM data shows available rentals in Coolamon hit zero, while in May and June there was just 0.5 per cent rental availability.
Mr Pellow said QPL has always focused on on residential sales more than anything, and said low stock may slow their starting speed, but was nothing they haven't dealt with all their experience coming from small towns.
"Stock is definitely scare at the moment, but things are selling quite well so it will just be a matter of getting some stock, getting some initial clients," he said.
The new Coolamon agency will take up residence at the former site of Coolamon Rural & Residential Real Estate, operating five days a week.
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