Lift for local house market

SOLD: The Leaders Real Estate team in Masterton, enjoying house sales to Aucklanders, including this one on Essex St. From left, Brad Chittick, Michelle Moser, Jude Clark, Holly Percival, Cheryl Dewson-Chapman, Yvonne Craig-Simpson and Dianne Gates.

Masterton's Leaders Real Estate is dealing with "multiple" Auckland buyers as a direct result of the MyMasterton magazine and website campaign.

MyMasterton commissioned two publicity magazines for Masterton as inserts into the Auckland metropolitan edition of the NZ Herald and the effect has been "instantaneous", says Leaders agent Brad Chittick.

"I've had texts from people in Auckland, in a cafe, saying we're sitting down with a coffee, reading how great Masterton is."

The magazines, designed by the Wairarapa Times-Age, contained pages of real estate listings, which are apparently proving attractive to Aucklanders.

Leaders has had five contracts in Masterton go directly to Auckland buyers over the past eight weeks.

Across real estate companies in August, there have been 48 residential properties sold in Wairarapa, the highest in any month for the past five years, said Mr Chittick.

"These magazines have worked for us 100 per cent," he said.

"The magazine, and the website put together, has brought a renewed energy.

"It's brought momentum, attention, impact to the market place, it's really opened up our options for the out-of-town market.

"It's got the town talking, asking questions.

"MyMasterton and the Masterton council need to be patted on the back."

He said he did not think the effect would be so soon.

"It's superseded my expectations."

Leaders agent Cheryl Dewson-Chapman said other districts have run similar magazines, but having Masterton District Council on board made the difference here.

"The council here got behind it."

Mr Chittick said the campaign has prompted TV coverage on Masterton's virtues.

A third MyMasterton magazine will be published on October 14.

Colleen Milne, chief executive of the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand, said Wairarapa sales volumes have increased 119 per cent in August 2015 compared with the figures from August 2014.

She said the attraction of Wairarapa is that it is not too far from Wellington and it is a scenic area of New Zealand.

"These factors make it a drawcard for holidaymakers, retirees and some chose to commute to work in Wellington so they can have the lifestyle the Wairarapa offers.

"I believe this is a growing trend where people are considering their lifestyle options long term and, for many, living outside the main centres is the answer."