First KiwiBuild homes available to buy in the Bay

Housing development is a major in Tauranga, with an average house price of $733,000. Photo / George Novak

The first KiwiBuild homes in Greater Tauranga are now available for eligible buyers to buy, with more than 6000 people already registering their interest.

Twenty-seven standalone KiwiBuild homes were being built at Kaimai Views, a development in Omokoroa located 19km from Tauranga CBD.

More than 6000 people have already registered their interest in a KiwiBuild home in Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty.

An artist's impression of a Kiwibuild house at Kaimai Views. Image / Supplied

Construction, done by Classic Builders, was set to be complete on the first homes in the next few weeks.

The KiwiBuild homes were a mix of two- and three-bedroom properties priced at $485,000-$500,000, with the first eight homes at Kaimai Views going on sale tomorrow.

An artist's impression of a Kiwibuild house at Kaimai Views. Image / Supplied

With an average house price of $733,000, Tauranga has some of the most expensive housing in the country. The median house price in Omokoroa is $798,000.

The first open home will be on May 26 from 11am to 2pm and the homes will be available for direct sale, without a ballot.

Construction of the homes began after ministers gave the go-ahead late last year for KiwiBuild and Classic Builders to finalise a contract.

An artist's impression of a Kiwibuild house at Kaimai Views. Image / Supplied

To buy a KiwiBuild home, a person must be a first-home buyer or a "second chancer" (a previous property owner without large assets) and intend to own and live in the home for at least three years.

They also must be at least 18 years old, a New Zealand citizen, permanent resident or a resident visa holder and have an income of less than $180,000 a year for two or more buyers, or $120,000 a year for a single buyer.

KiwiBuild by the numbers, as of May 14 2019:

• 83 homes completed
• 76 homes sold and 13 conditional sales
• 378 homes under construction
• 10,356 homes contracted and committed to build