Branch manager Trevor Hansen told the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend the elevated side of Orkney Rd and Muricata Ave offered family homes on full sites with "sea peeps but not with Marine Parade prices".
Of the six properties, three were sold to Mount Maunganui locals, one to a Wellington buyer and two to expats returning from Sydney and London.
Of these, four were sold at auction and one the day after.
Mr Hansen said many Auckland buyers, currently flooding the Tauranga market, were interested in properties in the $400,000 to $550,000 range.
"I think the Aucklanders are probably buying investment properties."
But some were buying one home to live in and another property as an investment - "such is their purchasing power".
Ross Stanway, chief executive of Realty Services which operates Bayleys and Eves, said Orkney Rd was following the same trend as Muricata Ave, and Marine Pde before that. He predicted Valley and Campbell Rds would be next.
The short suburban stretch, linking Tay and Clyde Streets, was well suited to those who did not want, or could not afford, to pay beachfront prices, he said.
Sprawling older homes were being bought and renovated or removed and new ones built on the full site.
"They would be seen by many to represent really good value for money and still bring people into a really nice neighbourhood. If you can buy a property that has been renovated or on a large site and still walk to the beach that's pretty good value."
There was a shortage of property on the market in sought-after areas but, in 12 months' time, Mr Stanway expected average values would be up, with the higher prices encouraging more people to sell.
"It's self-correcting in a way," he said.
A lot of properties had been selling prior to auction and vendors had been receiving multiple offers.
"There's definitely an upsurge in buyer interest."
With properties scarce, Mr Stanway said people were doing a lot more homework to identify their next property before putting their own on the market.
Harcourts Advantage Realty general manager Nigel Martin said the flurry of sales in Orkney Rd had been mirrored in nearby Campbell Rd and the new residents were an even split of locals and out-of-towners.
A lot of families were investing in Mount Maunganui, including some shifting from Tauranga or Papamoa, he said.
"A lot of people want to be in that street because of the schooling and full sites."
Orkney Rd had far less traffic than Marine Pde and was close to the primary school, New World supermarket and the Central Parade shops, including cafes.
"And then you've got the beach there as well. It's easy to get over to Tauranga, it's a nice wide street ... the houses are actually set back quite a few metres off the road and there's good elevation and sea views."
Ray White Mt Maunganui and Papamoa owner Greg Purcell said listings were at a premium and rarer in the more desirable areas.
However, he warned that pockets of high-priced homes, selling for record prices, could create false expectations for those in less sought-after streets.
"They almost create a new yard stick that goes beyond what they should be measured by," he said.