A WARRACKNABEAL real estate agent says the market is as good as it has ever been for farmers looking to sell land in 2020.
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Elders' Nick McIntyre said the coronavirus pandemic had not placed any restrictions on land sales.
He said there remained high demand for neighbouring properties from local farmers, and from Western District farmers looking to expand north into cropping.
"Land values have continued to increase... you could see values $200 to $1000 more per hectare compared to five or six years ago," he said.
FROM 2017: Wimmera land values reach record highs
"Values have been increasing, but coronavirus has been a cause of that. It's just a natural progression that has continued uninterrupted by the pandemic.
"No one has been forced to sell, and no buyers have gotten a better deal because of COVID-19. The driving force has been successful seasons by farmers."
Mr McIntyre said it was possible farmers could pay more in council rates in the coming year, given land values dictated rates.
In May, a Rural Bank report showed the median land price in northwest Victoria was $3092/ha, a 31.9 per cent increase in 2019.
In Nhill, DMD's Gary Driscoll said it was too early to determine the effect of the pandemic on land sales.
"Most property sales had been concluded for the year before COVID-19 hit, so the effect will be on sales in the next two or three months," he said.
"I've got a listing for September 26 at Stawell, and that will be when we find out.
"Everyone's got different circumstances, and (whether they buy or sell) depending on if they have another generation coming through."
Mr Driscoll said he expected the biggest effect the pandemic would have would be on grazing land values, given it had become harder for farmers to export wool, lamb and beef overseas.
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