Cheaper homes lure Aucklanders

THE GOOD LIFE: Garry Sellars with wife Raewyn and their alpaca, Sox, at their lifestyle property in Maunu.PHOTO/JOHN STONE

A buoyant Auckland housing market is a blessing in disguise for Northland as an increasing number of homeowners from the country's largest city are investing in mostly high-end properties up north.

Bayleys offices in Whangarei and Bream Bay have sold nearly half of about 100 homes the real estate company sold since January 1.

The properties have been snapped up by Aucklanders. The figure is double the number of properties usually bought by those from down south.

Tony Grindle, branch manager for Bayleys in Whangarei, said an increase in Aucklanders querying about and eventually buying properties in Northland has been pronounced since the beginning of this year and has "ramped up" in the past three months.

He said Auckland residents in the 50 to 60 year-old-age group were interested in spending up to $800,000 for executive-style properties in Whangarei Heads and Tutukaka.

"Some people especially tradesmen are able to move their business up north and work in areas like Bream Bay/Marsden, and 40 to 45 per cent of enquiries we're receiving are from Auckland buyers," Mr Grindle said.

Whangarei had become more attractive for Aucklanders who could cash up and buy a property in Northland and still save some money, he added.

Real estate agent Garry Sellars and his wife Raewyn sold their house in Whangaparoa, 48km north east of Auckland, where they had lived for 24 years and bought a 2.5 acre lifestyle property in Maunu in April last year.

He thinks people are paying too much for houses in Auckland when they could pay a lot less in Northland and enjoy the lifestyle.

"House prices in Northland are easily a third less than Auckland but of course people need to have jobs to be able to come up here. The Auckland housing market is buoyant but a similar thing could happen in Whangarei but we've got a lot of stock or houses to sell up here and also there's more land available here."

Lifestyle and good weather were big attractions. Mr Sellars said he recently met a couple who sold their home in Brown's Bay in Auckland and not only bought a property for themselves in Whangarei but acquired another to rent out and were looking for another.