Oratia

Think Titirangi and you picture the bush; think nearby Oratia and you will picture rural living. Upmarket rural living to be precise.

Once overlooked by real estate agents because it was too isolated, Oratia is now an area avidly sought after by both first-time home buyers and those moving back into the area. Families who had moved closer to secondary schools and tertiary facilities are coming back, attracted by the suburb's exclusivity, the sunny expansive appeal of its elevated topography and the chance to built a dream home on a lifestyle block that is still reassuringly close to the buzz of the city.

Young families are drawn by the reputation of the long-established local primary school.

Oratia's rural appeal has its origins in its horiticultural heyday. During the years, lifestyle blocks have been carved off the larger orchards, resulting in a variety of styles of houses appearing throughout the area.

Recent town planning changes have made way for more 0.8ha to 1.2 ha properties to come onto the market. They are popular and are fetching upwards of $300,000. Sales around the $900,000 mark are not uncommon in Oratia, where most lifestyle properties now sell from between $300,000 to $700,000.

Buyers come from throughout Auckland, the North Shore and overseas. West Auckland buyers talk of wanting to swap "the lowlands" for the sunny hills. Interestingly, few come from Titirangi. Their verdict seems to be that bush is best.