Suburbs boom: North Shore

The 1970s house in Lake Rd, Northcote.

New Northcote residents Reina and Matt Mollgaard cannot believe their luck in a treasure hunt that leaves so many other Aucklanders stressed and frustrated.

Former city apartment dwellers, they started looking north of the Harbour Bridge for a first home that was handy to work and shops and was quiet and safe.

"And it had to be affordable," said Mr Mollgaard.

"We were lucky because this was the third house we saw. We quickly made an offer.

"Houses were going so fast ... The owner had a cash offer but she must have liked us."

The young couple bought the three-bedroom house on Lake Rd in April.

It is a seven-minute drive in non-peak traffic to the Auckland University of Technology, where Mr Mollgaard is curriculum leader for radio at the School of Communications. His wife teaches in Waitakere City.

Mr Mollgaard said they were only the third owners of the 1970s board and batten style house and, competing in the $360,000 to $400,000 price range, they spent more than intended.

"It was a stretch for us but in the end it was worth it."