The latest figures on new building consents show that townhouses are now at the highest level since 1974. Statistics New Zealand say that of the record number of new consents – 3687 – were driven in Auckland by multi-unit builds such as townhouses, and units.
For the year, Auckland reached just under 14,000 (13,881) new homes, the highest since regional records started in 1990, while the Waikato grew 17 percent to 4000 new home consents.
On an annual basis, both regions had the highest number of new homes consented since regional records began in 1990.
We checked where first home buyers could find a three bedroom place around Auckland for under $700,000 – and, yes, they’re mostly townhouses or units on cross-lease sections, rather than standalone house – within easy commute of Auckland city.
Start your property search
Glovers’ Green Bay office has a three bedroom townhouse midway between the New Lynn and Avondale train stations for $625,000 on the Saintly Lane precinct off St Georges Road.
The two-storied town house has an internal garage, upper level deck and ground level courtyard, in a block that’s arranged around an attractive landscaped common garden.
See your new Avondale townhouse.
In the south, a tidy three bedroom house on Mangere's 2/ 26 Caravelle Close of 80 sq m on a back cross lease section is asking $599, 000. Agent Jared Cooksley of Ray White Mt Eden points out the roomy garage with a separate carpeted workshop or playroom, and plenty of back yard potential. The house backs onto Mangere College, handy to motorways and the town centre.
Three bedrooms in Mangere for under $600,000.
Head to the North Shore for a tidy brick and block unit on Camelot place just around the corner from Glenfield Mall and shopping centre. It is only two bedrooms, not three, but there’s the bonus of a covered conservatory deck and a full garage and basement storage underneath. The bathroom is new, there are lovely views of city and water and the backyard has potential. Sophie Zhao and Wallace D’Costa of Barfoot & Thompson Birkenhead are bringing the property to auction July 25.
A Glenfield place handy to everything.
Another two bedroom with potential – there is only one other unit on the cross lease – on Roseburn Place in Pakuranga is being marketed by Anahita Daruwall and Clare Nicholson Bayleys Manukau for $645,000. It’s a roomy 90 sq m brick and tile, with plenty of front yard and the potential to do up into something quite chic.
To check out what you could do to such a unit, check out the great restoration on a 1960s brick and tile unit that Alex Wu of Mt Roskill Barfoot & Thompson is marketing by negotiation. It has a CV of $670,000 but has a brand new kitchen, super-stylish bathroom with laundry. The walls have been re-shuffled to create a smart town house worthy of a magazine shoot (there’s also insulation and some double glazing, LED lights and more).
See how you can convert an old townhouse into a magazine look.
