It's not surprising the small community of Mallacoota has seen significant changes to its housing and property market, in both prices and availability.
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Roughly 150 houses were tragically lost in Mallacoota and surrounds when the Black Summer bushfires tore through the area in January.
Allan Dobbin of Mallacoota Property Sales said the aftermath has seen the housing market face scarce availability and soaring prices.
Mr Dobbin said while there were 84 properties on the market at this time last year, there are currently only 20 and he has sold five houses in the last month.
He said locals who lost their houses to fire are now buying new properties because they can't rebuild, partly because fire ratings for rebuilding need to be redefined, while some people are relocating to start again elsewhere.
"As a town I think we'll be 60-80 people down, we're going to lose a lot of people," Mr Dobbin said.
"The town itself will just close up, the bakery is on the market, the newsagency has closed down, the hairdresser has gone and all three takeaways are on the market now.
"We'll have to shop elsewhere, but the community will survive. Eighty per cent of us are over 50 and we'll keep it going - it's not all doom and gloom, we are all surviving."
Kerri Warren of Mallacoota Real Estate is an elected member of Mallacoota and District Recovery Association (MADRA), a community-elected committee which formed to consult with community, government and other funding and service delivery organisations to bring about the best possible bushfire recovery outcomes.
"There are a huge amount of sales going through and not a huge amount of availability - lots of people don't want to wait to rebuild and there is a shortage of tradies and also a shortage of rental properties," Ms Warren said.
"We do consider ourselves as part of the far south coast in many ways, such as sporting events and access to services, mainly because of distance.
"Quite a few people from up the coast are here and it would be great if more people can get down here and work," Ms Warren said.
"It's a really tricky situation because we want more people to come in to work, but there's nowhere for them to live or stay, it's absolutely a catch 22."
She said a few businesses haven't yet reopened, such as the bowling and golf clubs.
"The only thing that will help is for there to be more accommodation so people can come in and assist with rebuilding," she said.
"I think we will start to see it happen in the next couple of months, as people are now able to register to rent temporary dwellings as homes for up to three years - it's a step forward."
The government has placed an order with Victorian manufacturer Modular Spaces to provide temporary modular homes of between one and three bedrooms.
Families who lost their primary place of residence in the bushfires will have the option of moving into the homes on their properties while progressing permanent rebuilds.
The housing will be delivered to the property or another location where agreed, in line with planning permit exemptions announced by the Victorian government.
While the housing will be installed and built at no cost to the resident, recipients of the housing will pay hiring fees benchmarked to public housing rates, with hardship arrangements put in place if needed to ensure that fees do not exceed 25 per cent of a household's total income.
