Mitchell Bestwick from One Agency Bestwick Real Estate said, in his experience, January was the peak month for buyers exploring potential real estate opportunities in the area.

“I have found that in the last few years January has been quite busy for inspections and people buying houses,” he said.

There are a variety of reasons that contribute to this, but a number of Bathurst agents agree that the most significant one is people having more time over the holiday period to consider their lifestyle.

“A lot of people have time over the Christmas break to think over where they’re at and what they want in a house, and they have the time to research,” Mr Bestwick said. 

“Around this time of year, [buyers] range from your investors to families based on job transfers and a new school year, things like that.”

First National Bathurst principal Jacinta Purvis is finding January to be a very popular time for people looking to buy homes through her agency.

She believes that as Bathurst offers strong employment opportunities in sectors such as education and health, it makes the city a very attractive location for people looking to relocate.

“Buyer inquiry is positive at the moment, particularly for families looking to relocate to Bathurst,” she said.

“Investor inquiry is still very strong given that Bathurst is a growing regional area.”

On the other hand, Ray White Emms Mooney sales specialist Mark Sullivan said January was so far turning out to be relatively quiet for inquiries about buying homes, although there had been a consistent flow of traffic online. 

More people have been approaching the agency about selling property.

“We’re seeing a surprising number of people making inquiries about selling their homes,” he  said.

However, Mr Sullivan explained that while some real estate agencies in Bathurst were experiencing a boom in the market, his agency appealed more to rural buyers, who tend to be far more cautious when investing in a new home.

“Ray White Emms Mooney sells 55 per cent of the Central Tableland’s rural properties,” he said.

“Rural buyers tend to be discerning and more specific

“If someone is ready to buy a residential property today, they will buy it today.”