Affordable apartments in a range of sizes in the heart of Auckland are attracting owners from unlikely places.
You wouldn't imagine that downtown Auckland had a lot to offer someone from the tropical paradise of Tahiti, but apparently it does have certain charms.
Tahitians have been some of the biggest buyers of the 207 apartments in the 14-level Victopia, which is nearing completion.
Real estate agent Jill Jackson says the apartments have been selling to Kiwis living overseas, people who already own bachs and Tahitians.
"The Tahitians we've had buying here have been used to holidaying in America, but they find it unsafe there now so they prefer to come to Auckland. They love the gambling across the road [at Sky City] and they love Seamart," Jill says.
"We've also had expats who are living in China, Britain and America who are buying just so they have something to come home to in New Zealand if things go wrong over there.
"And we've had people buying who have bachs on Waiheke or up north and want a bolthole in the city."
Jill, who has been selling Victopia for the past two years, says she gets het up about the often ill-founded negative publicity that apartments attract.
"It winds me off the dial. I'll have a sale agreement in my bag ready to be signed and then a story will come out in the newspaper that morning saying don't buy apartments and I'll get a phone call from my buyer, who's read that story, cancelling the agreement."
Despite that, she has found a lot of first-home buyers wanting apartments.
"Those first-home buyers, they're not like we used to be: buying out in the 'burbs and spending the weekend painting the fence. And also because of the drink-drive rules they want to be in town so they can go out to their clubs. Plus living in town cuts out any commuting."
To keep costs down, the extras for Victopia apartment owners are limited to car parks - two if you own a penthouse, none for the studio-dweller.
"Whenever I go to these properties with all the facilities I never see people using them. People like to know they are there but they're very expensive to look after."
The apartments, built by Granada Developments, range in size and price from a 30sq m studio at $149,000 to a 116sq m penthouse at $900,000.
"What sets the complex apart from other developments is that there's a range of [apartment] sizes," says Jill.
All the bathrooms have heated towel rails, tiled floors and Seratone walls, while the kitchen areas have tiled floors, quartz composite benches, Seratone splashbacks and Fisher & Paykel appliances, including a waste disposal.
"The brief for the designer was to give us some materials that were durable and something with a bit more quality than the old formica."
Vital Statistics
Size: 30sq m to 116sq m.
Price: $149,000 to $900,000. Body corporate fee $1800-$4000 pa.
Inspect: 12pm-4pm every day.
Contact: Jill Jackson, Barfoot & Thompson, ph 366 0015, mob 021 745 424.
Features: Affordable city living, some with views over the Waitemata and out west.
<EM>Victopia Apartments:</EM> Charming the Tahitians
Agent Jill Jackson says Victopia’s proximity to Sky City is one of its attractions.Picture/Geoff Dale
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