WANGARATTA has become ‘hot property’, with retail and commercial interest in the city’s CBD hitting a 12 month high.

Mike Noble of Garry Nash and Co, said negotiations for a major lease in Reid Street for a State Government department were at the ‘pointy end’.

It is believed the building premises could be home to as many as 80 employees later this year, but it is unclear whether they are ‘new jobs’ or part of redeployments or relocations.