While Auckland and Queenstown’s most expensive homes this year easily reached eight figures, spending on prestige homes in the rest of the country was more modest.
Auckland's most expensive home of 2019 - 10 Jackson Crescent, Mahurangi -was bought by an expat last month for "very close" to the $14.75m asking price, while nationwide record was set by 516 Ladies Mile, in Lake Hayes, which was bought by Queenstown Council for $15.5 million (including GST) for development purposes.
But outside of the two most expensive property markets, house sales broke the $4m barrier only three times this year: for a historic home and new build in Christchurch, and a waterfront home in Parua Bay, Whangarei Heads, according to OneRoof data. Most of the other top sales around the country were for around $3m or below.
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The dining room in Kate Sheppard's former home in Ilam was where the Women's Christian Temperance Union worked on the Women’s Suffrage Petition, presented to Parliament in 1893. Photo / supplied
Christchurch’s biggest sale of $4.5m was a once-in-a-lifetime purchase by Heritage New Zealand of the house once owned by suffrage leader Kate Sheppard, one of only two sales in the city to break the $4m mark. The other, a new build in Clissold St Merivale, sold for $4m.
A modern house at 18 Garden Rd, Merivale, designed by Wilson & Hall architects achieved one of Christchurch's top prices for the year when it sold for $3.275m. Photo / supplied
The other top sales in the city were also remarkably good examples of the modern architecture, both striking glass and stone builds by architects Wilson & Hall. One on 18 Garden Rd, went for $3.275m while another at 39 Weka St Fendalton went for $3.15m.
A rare coastal properties in Whangarei Heads, at Nook Rd Parua Bay, went for $4.5m while a pair of houses at Pitt St in Russell, sold for just under $3.95m. Closer to Auckland, a house in the private Mangawhai estate of Tern Point on 2.8 ha achieved $3m in April.
A traditional house at 121 Upland Rd, Kelburn, was Wellington's top sale at $2.925m. Photo / supplied
In Wellington the top sales were below $3m: a Hamptons-style five bedroom home on 121 Upland Rd Kelburn with stunning harbour views went for $2.925m, well over the buyer enquiry invited over $2.495m.
Across the harbour, a Novak+Middleton-designed modern house at 615A Days Bay with a heated rooftop pool achieved $2.9m, while in complete contrast, an elegant 1930s home on a spreading 2957 sq m of classical lawns and gardens, with pool and entertainment pavilion, at 60 Cheviot Rd Lowry Bay went for $2.85m.
A modern house at Lake Domain Dr, Frankton, Hamilton, sold for $1.972m. Photo / supplied
Top prices were lower in Hamilton, with a Lake Domain Dr Frankton sale recording $2.26m. The next highest sales were all under $2m, with a modern house beside the river at 20 Riverside Lane going for $1.972 and a cool mid-century contemporary house at 65 Braid Rd, St Andrews, making $1.8m.
Silver Peaks Lodge, at 255 Main South Rd, East Taieri sold for $1.81m, Dunedin's top sales price for 2019. Photo / supplied
Similar prices were made in Dunedin, where the country-style Silver Peaks Lodge at 255 Main South Rd, East Taieri sold for $1.81m. A modern beach-side house at 1272 Coast Rd, Karitane, only 30 minutes from the city, sold for $1.44m and another contemporary house on 15 hectares at 231 Morris Rd, Mosgiel also achieved $1.44.
Elsewhere in the country, of the main urban centres, only Napier had residential sales over $2m. A property on Charles St, Westshore, sold for $2.4m in July.
A house in at 16 Ihaka St in Palmerston North's Hokowhitu was one of two to make Manawatu records, selling for $1.55m in May. Photo / supplied
Two of the Manawatu/Whanganui ‘s top sales were in Palmerston North’s lagoon-side Hokowhitu suburb, where a modern property with pool and wine cellar 16 Ihaka St achieved $1.55m in May, while another lagoon waterfront home 1976 sq m along the road at 22b Ihaka St got $1.45m in the same month. A country property on 2.7 ha at 61 Sutherland Rd, Sanson, sold for $1.51m. The five bedroom house had views over Manawatu to Kapiti Island.
