House prices across popular South West destinations have soared as thousands of city dwellers make the move to the country or coast amid the blues of the pandemic.

2020-21 Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show the highest regional population growth in WA (excluding tiny outback town Cue) was in Busselton, with nearby towns of Yallingup and Dunsborough among the standouts.

Stocker Preston director Jason Cooper told Gareth Parker on 6PR Breakfast SW property prices are skyrocketing after flatlining before the pandemic, as buyers looked for lifestyle opportunities and solid investments.

“I’ve really never seen anything quite like what the market’s down since COVID came into our world,” he said.

“People now are really searching for that quieter lifestyle, with the mad world of COVID.

Really, without the media, we wouldn’t even know we had COVID down here.”

The sea and tree-change was part of a widespread acceptance of remote working that had spurred demand for lifestyle locations.

Press PLAY below to hear more on what regions are booming in WA.