Cheers to harbour lights in central Auckland

Apt 2503 Quay West 8 Albert St Auckland Central. Photo / NZ Herald

APT 2503 QUAY WEST 8 ALBERT ST AUCKLAND CENTRAL

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SIZE: 153sq m (approx).

PRICE INDICATION: $1.25 million. Body corporate fees: $14,207 (approx).

INSPECT: Phone for viewing times.

ON THE WEB: www.barfoot.co.nz/442088

SCHOOL ZONES: Freemans Bay School, Ponsonby Intermediate, Western Springs College and Auckland Girls' Grammar School.

CONTACT: Belinda Illingworth, Barfoot & Thompson, ph 307 6340 or 021 999 800.

FEATURES: Freehold apartment on 25th level of Quay West building. Offers 180-degree views over CBD, harbour and gulf. Full security and use of swimming pool, gym and sauna.

An important point to consider when you are new to buying real estate in the Southern Hemisphere is that north-facing properties are premium, not south as you have been used to.

That was the advice Danish-born Jytte Hinge and her brother Alan were given by their father.

So when the prestigious apartments in the Quay West building in central Auckland were being sold off the plan in 1995, it was the north-facing apartments on the higher floors that the siblings were interested in.

The apartments were in hot demand and Jytte ("but call me Jay") Hinge and Alan quickly looked and put their names and a $2000 deposit down on this three-bedroom apartment on the 25th floor with a large balcony. They took over the apartment in 1997.

Jay says it is indicative of the high specs and quality build that this apartment is now a decade and a half old yet - apart from a coat of paint - looks as new as the day they moved in.

Jay says it was an easy decision to buy in the building. There are only four apartments on this level and theirs has three bedrooms, views across the CBD and the harbour out to the gulf and as far as Tiritiri. The central downtown location is a huge plus. Another bonus is the two car parks. Jay says she and Alan often needed to use only one park and could offer the other to friends who wanted to park their car while they went to Waiheke for the weekend.

Three lifts, plus a service lift, take you to the 25th level and apartment 2503's door opens off the corridor into the entry foyer and lounge and dining area, with the kitchen off to the right.

All living areas and bedrooms have sliding glass door access to the large balcony.

It's the sunny corner of the kitchen that Jay nominates as her favourite area - here you can breakfast while feasting your eyes on the activity on the water below. They have watched Whitbread and America's Cup yachts sail into the harbour, along with cruise liners.

Although the apartment was built originally with three bedrooms, Alan opted to open up his "wing" by removing a wall to make two bedrooms into one large room. If the new owner wishes to have three bedrooms, it is just a matter of replacing the wall. Jay's bedroom is on the other side of the kitchen and has an en suite.

Jay is selling because her brother passed away earlier this year and, now that she has retired, spends most of her time at her beach house. "I really don't need two homes at the moment and I live at the beach house because I have a dog.

"But if I had wanted to stay in town, I couldn't think of a better place to be."