It’s been the ‘busiest winter in a long time’ Century 21 agent says
Listings in Mangakino have been garnering increasingly more attention this winter, according to Century 21 Stevens Realty principal Christine Stevens.
The busy period of this small town, situated next to Waikato River on the North Island has been spurred on by its close proximity to popular Taupo and buyers are turning their attention towards the affordable holiday town with its 660 cottages and a permanent population of 860.
Stevens cottage sales have soared to 23 in the last six months, already outdoing her usual number of eight per year, with prices for freehold cottages around the $100,000 to $175,000 mark.
“People are increasingly shut out of the old Kiwi dream of buying a bach, However our solid little Ministry of Works two-bedroom cottages are proving a real hit for those wanting to get some solace or just get away for the weekend,” she says.
She says what they are currently experiencing reflects the recent Real Estate Institute figures that show buyers are heading out of Auckland and into the regional areas.
“The fact our listings often feature alongside Taupo’s real estate and that we’re pretty close geographically also helps spark buyer enquiries.”
“For instance we’re getting people via the likes of TradeMe typing in Taupo and getting Mangakino’s listings too. They then see just how much more affordable it is to buy a little bolt-hole or bach not far up the road.”
Wellington buyers seemed to have spotted the town’s appeal and affordability ahead of the rest says Stevens, with buyer interest coming from Napier, Tauranga, Hamilton amd Rotorua, but her three most recent sales have come from Auckland buyers.
“For those looking at for a quintessential piece of Kiwiana, away from the hussle and bussle of the bigger cities, and where peace and quiet, along with affordability is a major contributing factor it’s easy to understand the increased popularity of Mangakino and Whakamaru.
“Buyers are looking for life-style change, holiday homes, investment or retirement. It is paradise after all,” says Stevens.
The busy period of this small town, situated next to Waikato River on the North Island has been spurred on by its close proximity to popular Taupo and buyers are turning their attention towards the affordable holiday town with its 660 cottages and a permanent population of 860.
Stevens cottage sales have soared to 23 in the last six months, already outdoing her usual number of eight per year, with prices for freehold cottages around the $100,000 to $175,000 mark.
“People are increasingly shut out of the old Kiwi dream of buying a bach, However our solid little Ministry of Works two-bedroom cottages are proving a real hit for those wanting to get some solace or just get away for the weekend,” she says.
She says what they are currently experiencing reflects the recent Real Estate Institute figures that show buyers are heading out of Auckland and into the regional areas.
“The fact our listings often feature alongside Taupo’s real estate and that we’re pretty close geographically also helps spark buyer enquiries.”
“For instance we’re getting people via the likes of TradeMe typing in Taupo and getting Mangakino’s listings too. They then see just how much more affordable it is to buy a little bolt-hole or bach not far up the road.”
Wellington buyers seemed to have spotted the town’s appeal and affordability ahead of the rest says Stevens, with buyer interest coming from Napier, Tauranga, Hamilton amd Rotorua, but her three most recent sales have come from Auckland buyers.
“For those looking at for a quintessential piece of Kiwiana, away from the hussle and bussle of the bigger cities, and where peace and quiet, along with affordability is a major contributing factor it’s easy to understand the increased popularity of Mangakino and Whakamaru.
“Buyers are looking for life-style change, holiday homes, investment or retirement. It is paradise after all,” says Stevens.
