Aucklanders look to regions for a foothold on the property ladder

According to Trade Me, 15 per cent of recent Wanganui property views came from Auckland.

Aucklanders are looking further to the regions for a foothold on the property ladder, with views on listings websites for houses as far afield as Wanganui rising markedly in the past year.

Real estate experts say Aucklanders aren't just browsing but are committed to buying in the regions.

According to Trade Me, 15 per cent of recent Wanganui property views came from Auckland compared to 9 per cent of views at the same time last year.

Property Brokers Wanganui branch manager Philip Kubiak said the company was producing a booklet of its properties to take to the Auckland, Wellington and Hawke's Bay home shows. It had marketed properties in those areas before but was now ramping up the campaign.

"We're also holding seminars in Auckland in the next month or two to target those buyers because we believe they're serious," said Mr Kubiak.

Trade Me figures also show 30 per cent of recent Bay of Plenty property views came from Auckland compared to 18 per cent of views at the same time last year.

The Trade Me figures compared views of current listings over 30 days with the same number of days last July.

Auckland views of Bay of Plenty properties listed on realestate.co.nz were up 176 per cent for the year to July 31 compared to the same period last year.

Chief executive of Eves and Bayleys, Ross Stanway, said up to 50 per cent of attendees at Eves and Bayleys' open homes over the past few months were from Auckland.

Aucklanders weren't just looking at properties online, he said.

"They are actually hopping in their car and coming down here in the weekend and attending open homes."

Aucklanders were now a very real and growing factor in the buying market in the Bay of Plenty and the demographic of those Aucklanders was changing.

There had always been significant enquiry from retired and semi-retired people. Now a growing number of professional couples with children were coming to the Bay of Plenty to continue their careers and raise their children.

Auckland views of Hawke's Bay properties listed on realestate.co.nz were up 251 per cent for the year to July 31 compared to the same period last year.

Trade Me figures show, 20 per cent of recent Hawke's Bay property views on its site came from Auckland compared to 11 per cent of views at the same time last year.

Property Brokers regional manager for Hawkes Bay, Paul Whitaker, said the company was getting new enquiry from Auckland every day.

A lot of Aucklanders were snapping up investment properties in the area, due to new restrictions soon to be placed on investors. From October residential property investors in the Auckland Council area will need a deposit of at least 30 per cent.

Mr Whitaker said Property Brokers last recently received an offer -- sight unseen -- from an Aucklander.

According to Trade Me, 47 per cent of recent Northland property views on its site came from Auckland compared to 33 per cent at the same time last year.

Auckland views of Northland properties listed on realestate.co.nz were up 179 per cent for the year to July 31 compared to the same period last year.

Barfoot and Thompson Whangarei branch manager Martin Dear said Aucklanders were keen on all sorts of Northland properties including coastal, investment and horticulture properties.

"It's turned our market around totally," said Mr Dear.

Auckland interest in Wanganui properties has nearly doubled. Auckland views of Wanganui properties listed on realestate.co.nz were up 98 per cent for the year to July 31 compared to the same period last year.