Local real estate agents say there are far fewer properties available for rent than has generally been the case and coronavirus lockdowns may be one of the reasons.

In the early days of the pandemic, our governments urged anyone who could work from home to do just that to help slow the spread of the virus.

Australians responded in droves and, almost overnight, remote workplaces and Zoom meetings became an everyday part of doing business.

Of course, many companies and their employees have had access to the technology required to work from home for several years, but there had always been some lingering doubts about the idea.

Employers feared that workers may be less productive when confronted by all the potential distractions of working from home while employees feared the impact that working from home would have on their work-life balance.

Both concerns were valid and they remain valid today. But the pandemic has given all sides of the debate the chance to see what working remotely is really all about and many have liked what they've seen.

It naturally follows that if a worker finds they no longer have to be within easy distance of the office for the daily commute then they might start thinking about where they'd like to live rather than where they have to live. And if you suddenly had the choice of raising your family in a small Sydney apartment or in a spacious Bathurst home with good-size backyard, which would you choose?

The current shortage of rental properties in our city suggests a large number of potential tree changers are taking a "try before you buy" approach to making the move to Bathurst, snapping up a lease as quickly as they become available to give themselves six or 12 months to trial a new city before taking the plunge and buying here.

And who could blame them?

Bathurst offers young families educational opportunities, sporting facilities, quality galleries and museums and a mix of local and national shopping options that few regional cities can match - with the bonus of being just three hours from Sydney if they really must make the occasional visit to the office.

But you already knew that, didn't you?