Why bother with the big smoke to make your real estate fortune, when the country’s hot spots are in a raft of country towns? Many are close to off-the-beaten track tourist spots, many are ripe for a renovation so you can live the country (or small town) good life.
Turangi
In the heart of the central North Island tourist run, Turangi on the southern tip of Lake Taupo is only 20 minutes from the start of the hugely popular Tongariro Crossing. Then there’s the trout fishing, the 15 km loop of the Tongariro River Trail for biking and walking, Tokaanu thermal pools and bubbling mud only five minutes away. For bigger outings, it’s only 45 minutes from Whakapapa for skiing or Taupo for shops and eating.
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No wonder that the median price has jumped 41 percent in the past year to a still-affordable $260,000. While you can find some up-scale ski lodges, you can also pick up a cottage for that median price with three bedrooms, wood-burning fireplace and heat pump to see you through a busy outdoorsy winter. There’s a big yard, workshop shed and potential to improve.
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Taihape
Deep in the heart of the Rangitikei, median house prices in the wee town of Taihape have jumped 38 percent, but are still under $200,000 ($180,000 in fact).
A classic Kiwi-style house with three bedrooms, a bonus sleep-out, wood-burner and sunny back yard is yours for only $190,000. The home of the gumboot is well positioned for white water rafting adventures, horse trekking and fishing, only 40 minutes to Ohakune and the skiing at Turoa.
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Wairoa
Almost half way between Gisborne (90 minutes away) and Napier (100 minutes) the riverside town of Wairoa’s median house prices have shot up by 35 percent to a tiny $135,000. The closest town to Lake Waikaramoana in Te Urewera, the township has a light house, charming riverside walks, hot springs, and is right next to Mahia Peninusula famed for its surfing and, Rocket Lab launches (it’s the world’s only private orbital launch range).
The town is dotted with bungalows – remnants of wool wealth – sadly, many are now modernised with aluminium windows and seventies kitchens and baths. But at $140,000 this Locke Street two-bed bungalow has remnants of its bungalow porch and sunroom, a 622 square metre yard, covered outdoor living and laundry out the back. It’d take some work, but capital growth would take care of that.
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Dannevirke
The wee town midway between Palmerston North and Hastings still has the hints of its early Danish and Norwegian immigrants quirky museums (an international police museum! A model car museum! A kids’ fantasy toy museum/cave!). Better still, while house prices have gone up 34 percent, median house price is still only $235,000.
Collections are obviously part of the local dna, but look past the toys and see a tidy 1930s bungalow, three bedrooms, two log fires, a great yard, garage and heaps of potential, all for $235,000.
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Palmerston
The wee Otago town of Palmerston is 40 minutes out of Oamaru, minutes to the famous restaurant and boulders of Moeraki, and still rocking a median house price of under $250,000 despite its 33 percent increase on last year.
Properties are hard to find, but we found this 1920s cottage on 5 hectares a few minutes out of town. Billed as a fisherman’s getaway crib it is asking around $299,000. It has fantastic views of the river and the ocean, is close to Shag River mouth and has been fenced into five paddocks complete with chickens and sheep, vintage tractor, boat shed (and, newish roof, hot water system, insulation and wood burner).
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Patea
The South Taranaki village, home to the 1980s hit song Poi-E , has beaches and bays for swimming and kai moana. If Whanganui, 30 minutes away, is getting too expensive try a house here for the median price of $130,000 (prices have gone up 30 percent). It’s only 20-some minutes from Hawera (where prices are double), there’s a new subdivision and coastal walk, and the rural town is well served with cafés and shops.
Beach places are starting to get expensive: we found this seaside three-bed house has great year-round bach vibe, complete with decks, a pizza oven, heat pumps and log fire and modern décor for $295,000.
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Milton
Median house prices in the Clutha town of Milton have increased 30 percent in the past year.
While the town itself has little stock, for around the median price of $240,00 you could score a splendid villa with views of Lake Waihola, 10 minute out of town. The hard work (piles, electrics, plumbing, insulation, kitchen, wood burner) has been done, so the fun jobs of decorating and landscaping are yours.
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Edgecumbe
Prices in the East Coast town of Edgecumbe have gone up 29 percent in the last year to $370,00 – but that’s well below Whakatane twenty minutes away, or The Mount, a similar distance to the north.
We spotted this stunning modern beach house on the cliff at Pikowai, fifteen minutes out of town, to drool over. Sweeping lawns, extras like office and games room, on 2.3 hectares of ntive planting with views forever. This would be worth a commute from Tauranga or the Mount. Price by negotiation.
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Tokoroa
The old forestry town of Tokoroa is building steam, with median prices of $225,000 up 29 percent on a year ago. This is the base for hunters, an easy 45 minutes from Rotorua.
Asking $245,000, this house in the suburbs has an upgraded kitchen, studio out the back and nicely finished wood floors. Wood fire, nice and tidy garden, and plenty of great spots for outdoor living.
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Te Anau
Te Anau, at the start of the tourist trail to Milford Sounds (or try the less crowded Doubtful Sound trip) has moved up 27 percent in the past year to a median house price of $445,000.
A sunny, well-insulated house, complete with new bathroom, master with ensuite and walk in robe, and smart finishes is only minutes from town. Asking $455,000, a great base for walking the Milford or Kepler tracks, the outdoor life of this treasured part of the country.
Or if you want to buy a living – and a gorgeous lodge business lifestyle – check out OneRoof listings on Dusky Street and William Stephen Road (one is around $900,000, the other $4.25 million).
