Kane and Kerri Evans-McLeod have just sold their house in Brookfield, but are staying in the area. Photo/John Borren
Brookfield houses have had Tauranga's biggest percentage increase in median value since the last peak of the property market in October 2007, rising 52.3 per cent to $534,400 in January this year.
The suburb has shown a steady rise in median values, with a increase of 74.7 per cent over the past five years, and a 19.4 per cent increase in the 12 months to December 2016. The new data comes from the upcoming QV quarterly Property Report, which will be released on Monday.
Brookfield's rise is no surprise, say property sources. It is one of a cluster of well-established older suburbs, including neighbouring Otumoetai and Bellevue, which are sought after by families for their range of good schools, and easy access to central Tauranga and Mount Maunganui. "With Brookfield, you're in a well-established suburb so it's a nice area to go to," said Simon Anderson, chief executive Realty Services, which operates Bayleys and Eves Realty, noting that the suburb's near neighbours shared the same appeal.
"You've got the schools, supermarkets, gyms, shops - all those things people need are in easy reach. Those are all factors people tend to gravitate to. And you're just outside a major city. Why wouldn't you want to live there?"
Priority One projects manager Annie Hill said good amenities, good access to the city, and good schools were strong indicators for people moving into an area.
"The Otumoetai/Brookfield/Matua areas are amongst the most established parts of the city and they're always going to attract a premium price," she said. "Accessibility is very easy and there is very little traffic congestion coming in there."
Eve's Cherrywood manager Gordon Stewart said the traffic congestion that has begun to affect other parts of Tauranga in the past couple of years was not affecting the Brookfield area. And he confirmed that the schools and amenities played a major role in Brookfield's appeal.
But the still reasonable house prices also played a key part in the suburb's attractions, he said.
"In Brookfield we're talking prices generally in the $400,000 range, which makes it attractive to first home buyers. We've lost a lot of the investor buyers because of the bank loan ratio restrictions, but it's certainly opened the market up to first homeowners."
Harcourts Tauranga managing director Simon Martin said part of the rise in median values might reflect the fact that, as the market transitioned from investors to first home buyers, the lower end of the market had slowed. At the same time higher-priced houses were continuing to sell well, he said.
Good schools make Brookfield the place to be
Kane and Kerri Evans-McLeod like Brookfield so much they stayed in the suburb when they upgraded to a larger property after eight years in the area.
The couple and their four children - including a set of twins - had been living in an 80sq m house in Solomon St, and are this week moving into a 220sq m property in Otumoetai Rd.
"The size is primarily the reason we went for this particular house," said Mr Evans-McLeod.
"The location choice was mainly based on the schools," he said.
The children currently attend Otumoetai Primary School and will go on the intermediate and college.
"Staying near the schools was the real motivation for staying in the area," he said.
"Moving to Welcome Bay or The Lakes or somewhere else wouldn't have been ideal. We weren't interested in moving the children from the school."
What's great about Brookfield?
The Bay of Plenty Times Weekend hit the streets to find out why residents like living in Brookfield.
"I've been in the area for more than 20 years. The areas that have changed the most in Tauranga are places like Bethlehem, not the established areas like Brookfield and Otumoetai. That's what I like about it. It's unchanged with a nice community feel. Everything is here."
"We were looking for a place to buy and Brookfield was in the price range and close to schools. It's a central locality, close to the highway, and just eight minutes to town."
- Craig Marwick
"I bought a house in Brookfield three or four years before I retired, at a reasonable price, and it's probably worth twice what I paid for it. I like the area - it's easy to jump into the car and get into town."
- John Yuile
"I like living in Brookfield and I adore living in Tauranga, always holidayed here [and came here to retire]. It's the best place in New Zealand. It has a different energy."
"We've been living in Brookfield for 16 years. It hasn't changed too much. It's very central and handy to our works and schools." - Angelique Ensor
Brookfield key stats
-Population: 5,031 people were living in Brookfield as of the 2013 census, up 4.3 per cent on the 2006 census, and 4.4 per cent of Tauranga's population.
-Occupation levels: There were 1,920 occupied dwellings and 108 unoccupied dwellings in Brookfield as of the last census.