When beach properties come up in north Auckland, Bay of Plenty or Coromandel they get snapped up like hot cakes. Not surprisingly, prices in the top beach spots reflect that.
So if you want to be ahead in the bach-buying game, look at the quieter spots that will soon go big.
We’ve talked to experts to find out what paradise beach spots are yet to be discovered and what bach trends you can expect.
A booming beach town 30kms away from Invercargill, tipped as the ‘Raglan of Southland’, would be the one to keep an eye on in the next couple of years.
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Invercargill Ray White agent Phillip Brough says people from Queenstown and Central Otago are actively on the lookout for properties in Riverton and Colac Bay, both on the coast west of the city.
“People from Central Otago want some salt water and seaside, and there’s good fishing and hunting here too.”
The Southern beach town is becoming popular amongst Aucklanders as well, Brough says.
“It’s still less than half the price of Auckland property.”
Brough’s colleagues Trevor Black and Tanya Colyer are marketing a refurbished villa on the main street of Riverton for $450,000.
Another yet-to-be discovered coastal property spot is closer to Auckland, on the western side of Northland.
Property agent Dougal Wealleans from Barfoot&Thompson says Omapere and Oponini in the heart of the Hokianga Harbour have lot of potential but are not as popular as Kerikeri and places on the eastern coast yet.
“You are quite far away from a lot of services, but these are very pretty beach spots.”
Csilla Ford and Kelvin Windsor of Haze Real Estate have a 94 sq m three bed bach a block back from Opononi beach for $545,000.
While new beach-side locations are being discovered the bach trends are staying the same.
Premium real estate agent Sandy McKenzie, of Waipu, north of Auckland, thinks that very little has changed in her 20 years of selling beach properties.
Her buyers are always on the hunt for a Kiwiana, low-cost, funky and simple cribs.
“Something that’s characteristic, something that’s not square and plain, but also simple and is not high maintenance,” McKenzie says.
Some old baches on Langs Beach are sold for over $1million.
“People love old baches because there are not a lot of them around these days. There’s market for modern, but there's still just as strong of a market for a classis Kiwiana bach.”
Classic old kiwi baches are used for family beach gatherings and when the parents are ready for retirement, they renovate and modernise the place.
Buyers are on the lookout for the family-friendly building that’s not “too precious”, she adds.
The big outdoor deck, a lot of lounge space to play monopoly in and at least three bedrooms make the bach family friendly.
Instead of picking the place with more bedrooms, pick one with bigger bedrooms instead to fit more beds and therefore more family members in, McKenzie says.
A classic Kiwi bach at Langs Beach is on the market for under $1m.
Mangawhai property agent Christine Birss, of Bayleys, says many beach property hunters think that buying older houses will save them money.
However, she points out, don’t expect to score a bargain as most do-ups are properties closest to the waterfront which reflects on the price.
“It’s not about the building, it’s about the land it sits on,” she says.
Birss says that it doesn’t help that many buyers put restrictions on how far their dream beach property should be from the water, with many people wanting only five to ten minutes’ walk to get their feet in the ocean.
“The part of being by the beach is embracing the outdoors, so unless you have a very big budget, moving back a little will bring you more success.”
People will also pay more for being close to Auckland so that they can reach their get away from the city in as little time as possible.
Birss has that rare find listed at the moment: a classic Kiwi bach at Langs Beach for under $1m. The two bed house on 1400 sq m two blocks back from the beach is asking $960,000.
