Muriwai

A stunning beach retreat with breathtaking views and booming house prices. By CHARLOTTE COSSARharlotte Cossar.

Muriwai is hot - and I don't mean because of summer. The place to live this year for many, the gorgeous seaside haven with its spectacular views and interesting coastline has become a seller's paradise.

According to local agent Simon Spiller of Harcourts, the start of the year was unusual with so few listings. He says in previous years about 23 to 35 homes sold in the area between January and August, however, this year there were only 14.

With a growing pool of buyers and little stock, there was huge buyer demand, which only fuelled the booming market and led to huge interest whenever anything hit the market, especially from September.

Spiller says September saw record levels set for residential properties with a home in Ngatira Rd fetching $750,000. "The awareness of Muriwai was such that we had a buyer from Colorado bidding for this home by phone. No longer could people expect to buy in at the lower end and expect a view for less than $300,000, as immense buyer competition set new sales levels."

He adds that two fibrolite homes in Domain Cr sold for $652,000 and $620,000, with the latter being offered for sale about two years ago for $265,000 and then there was not a buyer in sight.

And the boom has continued with a new record for a residential home being set by Spiller and partner Angela Little with a property in Edwin Mitchelson Rd fetching $843,000. It was a four-bedroom, three-bathroom home on about 1800sq m with spectacular views. This property was bought in April 1999 for $415,000.

And it is not just the high-end properties that have experienced increases in value. Says Spiller: "At the other end of the scale a two-bedroom home on about 850sq m with magnificent views sold for $440,000, having been bought in April 2002 for $238,000."

So what attracts people to the area?

Well known for its gannet colony, rugged west coach beach, regional park and golf course, Muriwai is a place for Aucklanders to visit, holiday and move to.

In the past there were dirt roads, tents, classic Kiwi baches and car racing on Muriwai Beach, but now its facilities are comprehensive and include fishing, diving, surfing, mountain biking, forest walking, horse riding, golf, tennis, bird watching and surf lifesaving, to name a few of the many activities.

The north-western motorway expansion (due for completion in 2004) will make Muriwai even more accessible for most Aucklanders and the perfect place to commute from. At present, the CBD is a 30-minute drive away and the area looks likely to retain its coastal village-like appeal with the council proposing the minimum section size be increased from 1500sq m to 2000sq m.

Muriwai is unique - it is remote from the city, yet close in travelling distance, and has fabulous leisure activities and countryside.

People are moving here for the lifestyle, especially young families. Another set of buyers are those wanting a holiday home closer to Auckland. Gone are the days when we could sneak off at midday on a Friday to escape for a relaxing weekend. Work pressures and packed roads make this once-idyllic dream near impossible.

Spiller adds that people are also buying and renting out homes with a view to moving to the beach when their family/business circumstances change.

WHAT IS THERE TO DO?

Apart from the activities mentioned above, there is an annual music festival, local soccer matches and fishing tournaments. After all this activity, the golf club has a great Friday night dinner.