Glenfield

Looking for affordable living in a handy location? Glenfield offers this and a lot more, CHARLOTTE COSSAR reports.

Glenfield is the heart of the North Shore. Located centrally with easy access to beaches and parks, it offers the best of Auckland living at affordable prices.

With access to amenities, Glenfield is a popular suburb with families. Schools, sports fields, after-school music education, the library, a pool and a fitness centre are all within walking distance.

And for the shoppers of the household, the new Westfield shopping mall is bursting with tempting shops for all tastes. There are also the shops at Link Dr and Wairau Park.

Also popular with students, Glenfield is handy to Massey's Albany campus as well as AUT's Akoranga campus. And the area has many reasonably priced rental properties.

There is a good mix of houses in the area, from old-fashioned brick and tile units, modern apartments and townhouses and solid 40-year-old weatherboard homes to modern homes in the new subdivisions, as well as a diverse group of residents. This gives Glenfield a cosmopolitan feel.

For residents who enjoy getting out for a good walk, there are parks and reserves as well as the Glenfield coastal walkway, which takes you through native bush along the Upper Harbour. The beaches, boat ramps and Long Bay Regional park are also close by.

The development of the Albany industrial estate has meant that there is work locally - residents can avoid the bumper-to-bumper traffic on the motorway heading for the city.

House prices range from the low $100,000s for an old-fashioned, one-bedroom unit to about $400,000 for the larger homes in The Palms and Unsworth Heights. The medium house price is $215,000 for a free-standing, three-bedroom home on a full site.

The area attracts new residents from throughout New Zealand as well as overseas. Many choose this area on the North Shore for an entry into the Auckland market. Many residents, especially the first-home buyers, stay in the area and upgrade to more expensive homes on larger sections.

So if you are looking for an affordable home in a handy location to beaches, schools, shops and the city, Glenfield should be at the top of your list of desirable locations.