Two Kiwis who have spent the last 25 years in Sydney have snapped up a beachfront home in Auckland’s Herne Bay for $2.8 million.
The couple were looking for a harbourside home that could match the beauty of their adopted home when they saw a three-bedroom townhouse for sale on Masefield Avenue.
The vendors, Kay and James Judson, were looking to downsize to an apartment in the award-winning Hereford Residences, in neighbouring Freemans Bay, and were keen to strike a deal.
The couple, who had bought the 1970s-era home in 2007 for $1.325m, knew they might have to take less than the 2021 CV of $3.225m if they were to make their next move.
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Listing agent Louise De Martin, from New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty, told OneRoof last month that the property, which overlooks Masefield Beach, represented good buying, with most other waterfront homes in the wealthy suburb fetching $10m-plus.
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She said there were properties in Herne Bay for sale off-market “that would love to have circa $70 million. And there’s one being advertised for over $40m – obviously, a large property on a huge site. This home [at 2/7 Masefield Avenue] is very much attainable.”
De Martin was the listing agent on the Hereford Residences apartment when she met the Judsons. They had to sell their Herne Bay home for her Hereford Residences vendors to move to their next home in Remuera. A conditional offer on Masefield Avenue risked everything falling over.
The townhouse gets a lot of natural light and reminded the buyers of their time in Sydney. Photo / Supplied
Masefield Beach is on the doorstep. Photo / Supplied
“We ended up getting a cash buyer for Masefield, which was fantastic in this market,” De Martin told OneRoof this week. “It meant that we were able to complete the deal for the purchase of the [Hereford Residences] apartment. The vendors of that apartment were my clients as well. They had a contract on another property in Remuera.
“Having a cash buyer for Masefield worked out to be quite handy. It was a huge relief for multiple parties.
“The Judsons were very aware of the line-up, [and] they were very much motivated to get a cash offer and be able to have that certainty.”
The buyers were empty-nesters looking for a beautiful home to downsize to. “It’s a full circle moment,” said De Martin. “They’re looking to have a more manageable sized property but still enjoy all the beautiful things like the harbour views and proximity to the city etc.
“Having been in Sydney and the harbour, this property really resonated with them. They’re very excited, which makes it such a nice process.”
A one-bedroom apartment for sale at 8/67 Sarsfield Street could be the cheapest waterfront option in Herne Bay. Photo / Supplied
A luxury mansion for sale at 27 Marine Parade, in the suburb, could fetch New Zealand’s highest sale price. Photo / Supplied
The agent said the sale price of $2.8m was a great outcome in the current market, she added. “The neighbouring property in the peak of the market got just below that. We were actually really thrilled with that result. To get [$2.8m] coming out of a low market and into a stable market.”
The Masefield house, which was also marketed by Marina Greatbatch, is not the cheapest home for sale in Herne Bay with waterfront access. That title most likely goes to a one-bedroom apartment in the Moorings complex at 8/67 Sarsfield Street, which has stairs down to the water.
At the other end of the scale, is a $40m-plus home for sale at 27 Marine Parade. The property is vying to be New Zealand’s most expensive home although there are other properties in the suburb that are quietly on the market looking for more.
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