Except that he had once stayed at a luxury B&B in the village and mentioned to the owners that he would be interested in buying if they ever sold.
Two years later, in 2004, he got a call to say the home was up for sale -- and the deal was done privately.
Garth says when he stayed at the two-storey Edwardian-style home, he loved its "romantic feel", handsome facade and craftsmanship.
Those attributes are down to Scottish immigrant builder Robert McCallum, who built this home in 1907 for his family, and, according to Garth's research, lived here for 50 years.
"He built many public and private buildings around turn-of-the-century Auckland," says Garth. "McCallum spared no costs on his private house, building it at a cost of £1086 [NZ$2445]. Research indicates this would have been an expensive house, 2.5 times the cost of the average home at the time."
In contrast to Devonport's mainly timber villas, this home is double brick, and its heritage detailing is on full display with ornate posts, fretwork, cornices, balustrades, stained glass and a mosaic tiled porch greeting you. Garth's brother David is pictured on the porch.
The stained glass over the front door has in red glass the word 'Atea', meaning 'clear' or 'open' in Maori, which Garth says probably refers to the view over the water the elevated home would have had before the trees grew up in the reserve across the road.
Inside, the home has a combination of board and batten, pressed steel and beamed ceilings along with kauri floorboards and sash windows.
Image 1 of 7: Once a luxury B&B, this turn-of-the-century villa retains all its original charm. Photos / Ted Baghurst
The front bedroom epitomises the romance of a bygone era that Garth loved -- a large space with high ceilings and a beautiful bay window, it also has a roomy en suite through double doors with clawfoot bath and railway tiles.
Across the hallway, the formal lounge has an ornate pressed steel ceiling and flows through to the dining area in a glass-roofed conservatory that was added sympathetically about 15 years ago.
Off the conservatory is a large kitchen with a black-and-white tiled floor, stone benchtops and painted cupboards.
From the butler's sink you can look out to the north-facing patio, pool and subtropical garden at the rear.
To one side is a studio and there is a garage and off-street parking at the rear.
There are three more bedrooms upstairs, two with en suites.
One of the bedrooms also has access to the balcony, from where you can view the comings and goings of the village.
Garth says this proximity was key to his buying the property.
"I placed a high value on the idea of a short stroll to the ferry terminal -- I can leave the house and be on the ferry five minutes later," he says.
"In addition, the park, beach, kids' playground and library are all across the road, and cafes, restaurants, shops and cinema are just around the corner. I like the convenience of walking to the supermarket as opposed to having to get the car out each time. Despite its proximity to the village, the house is extremely private and quiet because it is perched high on an elevated site, is accessed by a one-lane terrace road and has mature trees and native garden."
Now that he will be based in the United States for some time, Garth says it is time to sell but he so loves the property he is tempted to ask the new owners to give him first right of refusal should they move on one day.
