Pt Chevalier

Overseas buyers seeking water's edge homes and quality renovations are the key drivers behind the 19.6 per cent increase in the average price for Pt Chevalier properties.

Real estate sales figures for the first nine months of this year put the new median price at $305,000, compared with $255,000 for the same period last year.

It's a continuing trend that parallels the increasing number of quality home renovations, which has lifted the flavour of this city-fringe suburb.

Much of Pt Chevalier's appeal is its flat peninsular location with an enviable choice of views - across Waitemata Harbour to the North Shore or across Te Atatu Peninsula to the Waitakere Ranges.

Although the water's edge properties only occasionally come on the market, there's a high demand for quality homes near the water, be it new townhouses or renovated established homes.

The properties built in the 1920s earmarked Pt Chevalier as one of Auckland's first bungalow suburbs. Before then, the area was a holiday resort at the end of the tram line from the city to Coyle Park, which is at the seaside end of Pt Chev Rd.

Today, it's the cafes, the easy access to the CBD and the good primary, intermediate and secondary schools that are key points of interest for buyers.

Prices range from $1 million-plus for water's edge properties to $260,000-plus for do-ups.

In between, there are $300,000-plus bungalows in the streets south of Meola Rd and $500,000-plus townhouses with four bedrooms and three bathrooms. - Robyn Welsh