Border closure due to the COVID-19 outbreak has led to a significant drop in the numbers of overseas students in Australia, reports Smart Property Investment (11 November 2020). This has affected vacancies in the property market, particularly across capital cities. According to Juwai IQI executive chairman Georg Chmiel, the numbers of international students in Australia are likely to keep falling while vacancies continue to rise until mid-2021. However, with 135,000 students enrolled and 'working from home' overseas, they plan to quickly return to Australia as soon as borders open. "If you're looking to take advantage of this dip in the market, then the best opportunity is most likely to purchase in the hardest-hit suburbs from an owner who can no longer afford to carry the property with the lower prevailing rents," said Chmiel.