Karaka Way: Open Sesame

137 Hingaia Road, Karaka.

A large family home in a gated community offers a relaxed lifestyle and privacy.

"Everyone's got an ego. The fact the gates open and close for you makes you feel special," says real estate agent Colin Varney about the Karaka Way gated subdivision, a couple of hundred metres along Hingaia Road from the Papakura offramp.

Homeowner Steve Moss nods his head, but says being part of a gated community wasn't what first attracted him and wife Maureen to the house, despite his background in home security systems.

"We wanted to move to Karaka with some land and a bigger house, and when this came up it just had such a great feel because of the lifestyle," Steve says.

Once inside - guests must announce themselves to their hosts via an intercom before the double gates swing open - there is a short tree-lined lane leading to the 10 houses in the 12-year-old development, all on 1ha sections. Mature trees make the former market garden a sylvan haven.

The Moss house is big - 385sq m on a single level, built around a large swimming pool in a sort of Dallas on Drury style.

"Being on a larger section, you are not living in the pockets of your neighbours. It's private, but there is still a community feeling," Steve says.

"I should have bought it five years earlier, when the kids were young."

The Mosses are selling after three years because their son has moved to Australia and their daughter seems to spend her weekends with friends rather than hanging round the house. "It's a waste of a lovely house," Maureen says.

The building is constructed of concrete block and plaster on a concrete pad, with all internal walls gib-covered block. Underfloor heating keeps it at a comfortable temperature on the coldest days.

Most of the living goes on at the eastern end of the house, where the kitchen with granite benches opens onto a family room and tiled area for informal dining.

There is also a more formal dining area, leading to a lounge at the centre of the house which sees more action in winter, when the big screen of the home theatre system is tuned to sports.

There are five bedrooms. The master bedroom and the guest bedroom have their own en suites. An overflow of guests can be accommodated in the 60sq m pool cabana, which features a kitchen, bathroom and lounge area.

The Mosses revamped the pool area, removing trees which used to drop leaves in the water and replacing them with a Mediterranean garden of palms, rocks and succulents.

Tucked in the back is a doll's house for smaller children, currently full of firewood, and an implement shed.

There are a couple of acres of lawn to mow. "I just get on the ride-on mower, crank on some music, and it takes a couple of hours," Steve says.

There are no worries about water in this semi-rural area. The huge roof area supplies enough rainwater to fill two large tanks. One is mainly used for the pool. The house supply has backup from a bore, so there is no danger of running dry.


Vital Statistics:

BEDROOMS: 5

BATHROOMS: 3

GARAGE: 3

SIZE: Land 1ha, house 385sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: $1.3 million-plus. Auction March 22.

INSPECT: Sun 1-2pm.

CONTACT: Colin Varney, Harveys, ph 021 820 444.

FEATURES: Expansive home in a gated community. Pool, cabana with separate kitchen and bathroom, extensive lawns and trees.