Avondale

Avondale and its neighbour New Windsor are enjoying a popularity revival and it's coming from two fronts - young professionals looking for a "bricks and mortar" first-home investment and older professionals looking for a low- maintenance change of lifestyle.

The younger buyers prefer a back garden in the suburbs over the bustle of inner-city apartment living. Older buyers are trading in family homes on big sections for low-maintenance townhouses.

One of Auckland's earliest outer suburbs, Avondale has many villas and bungalows. Despite having had its share of in-fill housing during the years, there are still properties on the market with potential for subdivision. Larger blocks of land are being used to develop townhouses rather than the recent trend of terraced housing; these include sites in Holly St, and Canal and Avondale Rds.

Proximity to both the north-western and city motorways is part of Avondale's appeal. Long-distance views to the Waitakere Ranges and the North Shore are on offer from homes on the sought-after Avondale Heights and New Windsor Heights. Down on the flats, market garden and farmland has long since been built on to create homes for families with an eye for quality local schoolin such as Avondale College.