Added value - Beach Haven

Address: 4 Beach Haven Road, Beach Haven.

It's 9am on a sunny winter day on the North Shore. From Birkenhead through to the city, low fog hangs over the harbour.

Not so at 4 Beach Haven Road. At this end of the harbour the fog has burnt off and there's a clear view across Oruamu Creek and Waitemata Harbour.

Even at low tide, with the mud flats exposed, it's magic.
It's a bit of a cliche, really: sun sparkling off the water, boats floating on their moorings, native bush views across the water, peace and quiet. It just happens to be true.

On a day like this, it's easy to see why anyone would fall in love with this property. But five years ago vendor Philip Badger fell for its charms under much more inclement conditions. It was, he says, a miserable day and ``rain was going across the water in sheets''.

Coastal Beach Haven is a suburb still being discovered, but to the initiated it's unbeatable. Where else in Auckland can you get waterfront property, 15 minutes from the city out of rush hour, tranquillity and native bush for under $1 million?

And this property is absolute waterfront. A walk down the private clifftop path takes you to your own wharf (with mooring currently let out) and boatshed. Just across the road, it's a short walk to the Beach Haven wharf.

If you're bored by the bush and the water, there's always the comings and goings of other boats to keep you interested. With Hobsonville, and Sovereign Yachts, just across the water, you can sometimes see a superyacht being towed down the harbour.

As for the house, the original 1930s weatherboard bach has been lifted on to a concrete block basement, elevating the living area and north-facing deck to give the spectacular view that is undoubtedly the home's dominant feature.

The living area is open-plan, and also incorporates a small dining area and kitchen. There's a log burner, so on those dramatic winter days you can watch the weather on the water from the warmth. Also on the top floor are a bathroom and bedroom.

Downstairs used to be a self-contained flat, and could be converted back. It includes another bathroom, a living area and kitchenette, two more bedrooms (one converted from the former garage) and a small room that could be used for storage, as an office or even as a single bedroom.

The floor has been tiled throughout, but the interior still needs work. The house is on a large flat section that offers more than enough room for a new double garage, and unlimited potential to keen landscapers.

You could live upstairs, restore downstairs to its self-contained status, let it and the mooring out and, hey presto, you have a home and income. With views.

Or you could completely renovate the existing house and landscape the section, giving you a large family home.

Or if your budget and your imagination extend to it, you could start from scratch - knock down the existing building and create the million-dollar home of your dreams. And have somewhere to park the yacht.

VITAL STATISTICS

BEDROOMS: 4

BATHROOMS: 2

GARAGES: 0

SIZE: Land 809sq m, house 160sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: In the past year waterfront properties in the area have sold for between $500,000 and $1.1 million. Auction September 7.
INSPECT: Sat/Sun 3-4pm.

ON THE WEB: www.barfoot.co.nz # 337318

CONTACT: David Holton, Barfoot & Thompson, ph 482 5428 bus, 0275 465 866.

FEATURES: Absolute waterfront property with views across Waitemata Harbour and Oruamu Creek; private ARC-registered wharf and boat shed; house has north-facing deck and lots of potential.