SCHOOL ZONES:
Remuera Intermediate School, double Grammar.
CONTACT:
Andrew McAlpine, Barfoot & Thompson, 021 968 809.
AUCTION:
April 27.
Maria Urlich will miss popping down the walkway near her house to Newmarket or hopping on a train to the central city.
If she fancies the beach, Mission Bay is a short drive, and easy motorway access means she can quickly be at Sylvia Park in one direction or visitingfamily in Mt Albert in another.
Croatian-born Maria has been in New Zealand more than 50 years and has lived in a quiet community of homes in Broadway Park for 11.
"Living here is just so convenient. When the [grand] kids were little we'd go for a walk with them and do things and I'm going to miss it very much, I will. But it's no longer me."
Maria is over 70 now. She has family in Croatia and spends a few months each year in Europe.
The lock-and-leave nature of her mostly brick house, which is in an area with good security, has been great.
"My daughter and I were on our way to Parnell and we saw the open home and I walked in and I said, 'Carol, this is it'. And so that was it, and I didn't go to Parnell. "I just liked it. It had room, I like the layout, I like where it is. It is private and it's almost like lock-and-leave, because neighbours are so good and I've got a good alarm system.
The house gets nice and sunny and there is a landscaped garden area.
Image 1 of 6: Safe little home is a short distance from all that makes life good and simple. Photos / Ted Baghurst
"Outside on a sunny day it's just wonderful because you put the umbrella up and just sit there and read a book and have coffee."
The garden has a built-in irrigation system, which has suited Maria's lifestyle.
Downstairs is a kitchen with a walk-in pantry, a dining area and separate lounge, a separate laundry and a bedroom, and upstairs is a big bathroom with a spa bath and three roomy bedrooms with shutters on the windows.
The master bedroom has a large en suite and a walk-in wardrobe.
The house is about 20 years old, Maria thinks, and she says there is a great community of people. "We have a share of two swimming pools and two tennis courts and two gyms."
She says an annual payment includes Sky TV, fast broadband and there is one bill for electricity, gas and water.
Maria has decided to move to an apartment and hopes someone will come in and put their own stamp on the house.
