Green Bay

Rich in investment and renovation opportunities, Green Bay is currently enjoying a buoyant real estate revival, particularly among first and second home buyers from within the area and surrounding suburbs.

Forty years ago, Green Bay was the focus of an intensive Neil Homes-style development when simple, solidly built homes brought young homeowners into 600 to 700 sq m properties in pockets dotted throughout the area. Under today's town planning rules, these properties are too large to subdivide, but not too large to be time-consuming to maintain - it's one reason why Green Bay has largely escaped the swathe of in-fill housing which has impacted on the character of other city suburbs.

Nowadays, these homes represent value for money, either in their modest, original form or as more sophisticated upgraded and landscaped editions of the original. These attract growing families, who are well-served by a choice of secondary schools including Green Bay High School and nearby Lynfield and Avondale Colleges.

At the upper end of the market, larger, elevated executive-style homes offer views across the Manukau Harbour for a the mid to high $400,000s. More recent housing developments in enclaves throughout Green Bay have brought more choice into the marketplace in the $300,000 price range.

Local real estate agents say Green Bay continues to reflect the slight dampening of prices seen elsewhere in the city. An example? A typical three-bedroom weatherboard 1960s-style bungalow which would have fetched around $220,000 12 months, is now likely to sell for just $200,000.