There are only about 85,000 of them left in New Zealand, but the villa wins a disproportionate share of New Zealand house hunters’ hearts.
Despair not if you don’t have the wherewithal to spend $2.25 million plus for a beauty in Ponsonby, Parnell or Mount Eden.
We headed further out of the city to what used to be old Auckland-fringe towns or farmland and found some beauties at affordable prices.
Start your property search
You’ll have to wait until the May 2 auction to see how far above its CV of $1.325 million this grand villa goes for, but that imposing gated entrance and corner stairs to the front porch should set villa-lovers hearts a-beating. This is a grand old lady, with 190 square metres of living, high and ornate plaster ceilings, leadlight windows, three grand square bays, even a dear little outbuilding that would have held woodstore or wash house. Modern bathrooms, glorious grounds, and easy access to city-wide transport. Marketed by Heather Walton and Caleb Rufer, Ray White Epsom.
>>> Go straight to the listing.
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The seriously lovely bones of this villa have been pretty much untouched (the house has been tenanted for over 30 years). With its original sash windows, fretwork and finials and inside, beaded ceilings, tongue and groove kitchen walls, even some charming built-ins it’s ripe for updates - but not too much. On a spreading old school quarter acre (1053 square metres) of gardens, next to a park and near a school this is country-style villa living. Okay, so the bathroom is pretty original, the kitchen needs a revamp, but this beauty isgoing to be a great buy compared to any city-side equivalent.
Price by negotiation. Marketed by Pauline Lancaster, Harcourts Epsom.
>>> Go straight to the listing.
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A touch further west and you can see what you can achieve: this 113 square metres on 698 square metres has been renovated meticulously. Three beds, a super modern kitchen out of a magazine, two right on-trend bathrooms, open living area and great outdoors, all done. There’s even a man cave, and a growing selection of cafes and shops in this transitioning neighbourhood. Easy access to the south western motorway, or better still zip down to the bike path into the city or west, Avondale train station an easy walk away.
Auction April 17. Marketed by Rachel Berry and John Covich, Ray White Mt Eden.
>>> Go straight to the listing.
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Given its long history as the port town and on the main route south since early times, it’s not surprising that Onehunga is bursting with good villas, from Fencible cottages to grand estates further up the hill. This square fronted bay villa hits the sweet spot - a modern kitchen and bathroom, original front porch, great wood floors, insulated and heated on 494 square metre section for $950,000. But if you want to keep going, there’s the chance to add back character with historic sash windows, play with the great flat garden - or just play in all the local parks, cafes and shops.
Marketed by Vash Verma, Harcourts Papatoetoe.
>>> Go straight to the listing.
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Birkdale was developed in the 1960s, long after the pretty villa suburbs of Birkenhead and Northcote Point. But the odd rare character home still stands - surrounded by modern houses, not the paddocks of its youth. This grand old lady would have been imposing in her day, with her bay window, beautiful high ceilings, timber floors and fireplaces. The bathroom’s been done, but there’s a chance to add more value with the undeveloped basement floor that’s currently a laundry. Heaps of back lawn, handy to buses into town, cafes and supermarket within walking distance, bush and beach all handy.
Auction May 2. Marketed by Tracy Allsopp-Smith and Wayne Campbell, Ray White Verrans Corner.
>>> Go straight to the listing.
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This Mangere Bridge arts and crafts transitional villa sits on 601sqm of land, but once would have lorded it over the paddocks and farms of Mangere. Marketed as a do up for first time home buyer and investors, the property has enough of the good stuff that you can’t add back (high ceilings, wood floors, natural light through original windows) but is begging for a kitchen and bathroom transformation and landscaping the good flat back yard. Handy to schools, town centre, walking distance Ambury Regional Park, the Mangere Bridge mountain, waterfront and bike paths, plus motorway access (and you could investigate other options in this Mixed Housing Suburban Zoning).
Auction April 28. Marketed by Rosh Daji, James Law Realty.
>>> Go straight to the listing.
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In the same neck of the woods, Mountain Road is the cutest two bed, one bath square fronted cottage. Originally a Fencible soldier’s cottage it still has original fireplace, bead board walls and old windows. Sure the bathroom and kitchen are, ahem, vintage too, but the garden is full of fruit trees and bird life (even an old-school garden shed) and you’re within cooee of Ambury, the mountain and the charms of Mangere Bridge waterfront. Bus stops and motorway handy. A dream country-in the city project for a song of a price.
By negotiation. Marketed by Ivy Wong and Carol Fraser, Barfoot & Thompson, Onehunga.
>>> Go straight to the listing.
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A transitional veranda-wrapped villa built in the 1920s on Avondale heights. It’s all there - the bay windows, the polished wood floors, leadlight windows and fancy ceilings, with a modern kitchen and bathroom so you don’t have to do the work. The beautiful big 539 square metre section is zoned mixed housing urban, but right now this grand dame is easy living - 10 minutes to the train station, vibrant Avondale shops and supermarkets are handy, as are Avondale College and Unitec.
By negotiation. Marketed by Aren Yuan, Michelle Zhou, Barfoot & Thompson, New Lynn.
>>> Go straight to the listing.
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Richardson Road, Mount Roskill
An early 1900s villa is not what you’d expect in the city fringes of Mount Roskill. But travel into the city is taken care of with frequent buses, there’s some great restaurants and local shops, the big boxes and motorway not far away. The transitional features of this villa include big high ceilings, some great details and a big backyard. Floors are already polished, painting is done, kitchen and bathroom in good nick, so you can just have fun playing with decorating and gardening.
By negotiation. Marketed by Anna Lechtchinski, Barfoot & Thompson, New Lynn
>>> Go straight to the listing.
