This weekend, three hundred house hunters formed an ‘off the hook’ queue to view a modest pair of brick and tile units in Auckland central’s Royal Oak.
Ray White agent Rick Mozessohn, who is marketing the modest three-bedroom unit on 1/139 Pah Road property with Chanelle Yu, says the first open home for the three-bedroom and the adjoining two-bedroom unit was "hammered” with potential buyers. The street-facing unit on a cross-lease title has a CV of $720,000 and the next door two-bedroom unit has a value of $680,000.
The queue to the weekend open home was spilling onto the street, as 109 groups - around 300 people - waited to walk through the units, Mozessohn says.
The popularity of the Royal Oak pair of units proves the demand for such brick and tile homes in Auckland.
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The second unit at 139 Pah Road has two bedrooms and a floor area of 70 sq m. Both units have good private gardens, making them suitable for young families. Photo / supplied
“It was absolutely wild. Let’s just say my phone is now off the hook with people enquiring and making offers,” Mozessohn says.
The set sale for the two properties is likely to be brought forward, he says.
Mozessohn sold another two brick and tiles units in the neighbourhood two weeks ago. He estimates he had 500 people through during those open homes with the eventual purchasers being “mum and dad investors”.
Agents were blown away by the 300 people who queued to see the pair of brick and tile units on the weekend. Photo / Supplied
Brick and tile homes are in the affordable price bracket of $700,000 and $900,000 they attract a variety of buyers from first home to investors and families. The quality of build is the prime factor in brick and tile homes popularity, he says.
“A lot of them were built in the 1970s, which was the golden age for the tiled units. They are low maintenance and you don’t need to do anything for the exterior, just keep it clean.”
Barfoot and Thompson agent Sven Higham agrees, saying brick and tile homes are in high demand especially in central locations.
They are typically one-level and certain buyer groups prefer them more than others, Higham says.
The brick unit on a cross-lease site in Royal Oak at 12 Vagus Place went for $1.4 million in March, well over expectations of just over $1 million. Photo / Supplied
“They have always been really popular but particularly appealing for older people and busy people as they are easy to get around, low maintenance and easy care.”
Ray White agents Ben Bibby and Martin Honey, who are selling a three-bedroom and two-bathroom brick and tile near Cornwall Park say the prime location makes these desirable homes even more popular.
The cross-lease brick home on 37B Moana Avenue has a CV $1,025,000 and will be auctioned on August 11.
In March, Bibby and Honey sold another Royal Oak property, 12 Vagus Place, one of two standalone brick and tile townhouses on a cross-lease section, for $1.4 million. Bibby says that the sale to an investor exceeded all expectations, as the property had a CV of $1,050,000.
Brick and tile single level homes are in demand with all demographics and homes in school zones with big back yards are now attracting families, not just singles or couples.
“Developers mainly build two-level homes and quite often people are purchasing a single-level home when downsizing or selling their two- level house,” Bibby says.
