Look further afield for affordability

96a Hokianga Rd, Dargaville on the market for $425,000. Photo / supplied

Picture it. A perfect home for less than $500,000. Before you pick up your poison pen and craft an angry response to this article, read on. Just a hop skip and a jump from Auckland are quite literally thousands of homes for sale for less than the proverbial half a million dollars.

Buyers just need to accept that if they want the perfect home for half the cost of the average-priced Auckland home they'll have to let go of the dream of living in Grey Lynn, Devonport, Remuera ...or anywhere in Auckland for that matter. In Northland alone there are 42 pages of homes on the market on Realestate.co.nz for under $500,000. And that's just the ones with listed prices.

The Herald Homes went looking for sub-$500,000 homes in locations where it's still possible to commute to work in regional centres. Plenty of Kiwis are working from home these days, which means they can work from anywhere where there's a broadband connection. But if that's not for you, here are some sub-500K homes that might pique your interest...

• Bay of Islands gem: Want to live a minute's walk from an iconic beach, but be within easy commuting distance of Kerikeri? Try 24 Taronui Rd, Tapuaetahi. This leasehold property could be yours for $275,000 (annual ground rent $13,600). you'll get four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a 180-degree view of beach, estuary and lagoon.

• Spacious converted barn: From Mangawhai Heads it's driving distance to Auckland or Whangarei for occasional work meetings or a day at the office. If you're looking for something a bit different then try the two-bedroom spacious converted barn for $490,000 at 10B Gumdiggers Lane. It comes with 4446sq m of land, fruit trees and plenty of parking for the boat and cars.

• Corker in Cable Bay: It's a bit far from the regional hubs, but if you can work from home then Cable Bay in Northland has some real corkers for sale. Typical of the "sun-drenched stunners" in this popular holiday area is 97 Stratford Drive, which comes with 9438sq m of land for $429,000. The near new house is set in a Kiwi Zone, so no cats or dog allowed.

• Double storey do-up: Believe it or not we found a double-story classic villa for $179,500 in Kaeo that even comes with a ready-made business. The property at 34 Leigh St is billed as a cafe, pub, backpackers and home. Downstairs is a bar, cafe and fish & chip shop. Upstairs are four bedrooms and three bathrooms that could potentially be used as a backpackers' hostel or other accommodation.

• Two wings and a pool: Billed as a "town house", 96a Hokianga Rd, Dargaville (pictured), has 155sq m floor area across two wings, four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and 890sq m of land, just a stone's throw from town for $425,000. Imagine what you'd pay for that in Devonport.

• Brand new bargain: Aucklanders can only dream of a brand spanking new home for less than $500,000. Head north and you don't even need to live in the middle of nowhere to find such a new home. The listing in question is at 61 Northcrest Drive Onerahi, Whangarei, which is being sold off the plans for $455,000. This is one of 38 listings in Whangarei on the market for less than half a million last week.

• Tip Top in Te Awamutu: Never mind Auckland. Te Awamutu is easy commuting distance from Hamilton. Or you could even get work locally in the thriving town. The house at 1 College St Te Awamutu for $489,000 is a double storey brick and cedar home with modern kitchen and all the things 21st century buyers look for such as multiple bathrooms and indoor outdoor flow.

• Cafe lifestyle: Anyone who has passed through Matamata can't help but notice that it's packed with trendy cafes these days. What's more, you can buy a four-bedroom modern home such as the one at 19 Birchwood Lane for $480,000. If you work in the dairy or bloodstock industries you might not even have to commute far to earn a crust. Or the growing tourism sector on the back of Hobbiton could provide work.

• Hamilton humdinger: The Waikato's largest urban area has become very popular with erstwhile Aucklanders escaping the astronomically high real estate prices. Even so, it's still easy to pick up a sub-$500K home in Hamilton. For example, look at 155A Ellicott Rd, Dinsdale, with its two-storey living, modern kitchen and vaulted ceilings in the upper level for $489,000.

• Why not Waihi? It's astounding just how cheap a brand new home can be. A four-bedroom brick and tile home being built at 8 Silverstream Place, Waihi is on the market for $369,000. What's more, there are coastal homes in Waihi Beach and nearby Athenree for less than $500,000.

Finally, put down your pen, reassess your lifestyle and see if there's not the perfect home for you outside Auckland.