Rising house prices show Western Bay of Plenty growing in popularity

The Western Bay of Plenty's median sales price has jumped $110,000 in just one month, according to the latest figures from Real Estate Institute of New Zealand.

The new figures showed the median sales price in the Western Bay went from $565,000 in October to $675,000 last month.

In Tauranga City the median sales price last month was $649,000, compared with $590,000 the previous month, which was a 10 per cent increase.

In November last year Tauranga's median sales price was $639,000 and the Western Bay's was $565,000.

In Tauranga 245 houses were sold last month, up 0.8 per cent from October, and 41 were sold in the Western Bay, up 7.9 per cent from October.

Eves and Bayleys Real Estate chief executive Simon Anderson said there were fewer sales in the Western Bay but more sales in the top end of the market.

"Last year around the same time there was a lot of investors buying into the Te Puke market, but what we are seeing recently is higher-value properties in Te Puke and Katikati and that was impacting on the sale price."

Anderson said houses in the Western Bay were becoming more popular.

First National's manager for Mount Maunganui, Tauranga and Omokoroa, Anton Jones, said there were plenty of higher-priced properties selling in the Western Bay.

Lifestyle blocks were selling for higher prices too, Jones said.

"We are selling a lot of sections, particularly in The Lakes area, which shows people still want to build houses. There is also a good amount of first home buyers out there."

Many people were needing to sell before they bought again, Jones said.

"People have to have that security before they move on."

Ray White Pukehina owner Rochelle Carter said there was strong buyer activity in Pukehina and surrounding areas.

"After a fickle winter of low stock levels and bad weather we are now seeing an increase in listings."

Pukehina and its surrounding areas were recognised as a hot spot area and the Tauranga Eastern Link had made the area more accessible to Tauranga City, Carter said.

"We are attracting strong attention from buyers who are happy to commute to Rotorua, Tauranga, Mount and Whakatane for work commitments."

REINZ regional director Philip Searle said now the election was out of the way and the warmer weather had hit the Bay of Plenty, new stock was coming to the market and sales had improved.

"As a result, we are seeing good prices being achieved and lots of keen buyers across the region.

"With the LVR changes due in the New Year, we anticipate an increase in investors and first-home buyers as the restrictions begin their gradual ease.

"Otherwise, it is business as usual over the summer months."

Kate and Jared Carroll moved six hours away from Tauranga so they could afford to start a family after house prices in area became too expensive.

The couple rented in Tauranga from 2009-2015 and in Matamata from 2015-2017 before moving into their first home in Mangatainoka three weeks ago.

Mr Carroll, 34, said he and Mrs Carroll, 29, were paying between $500-$550 rent a week and decided they wanted to buy their own home back in Tauranga - but prices were too high for their budget.

"We both wanted to work full-time and we were not even entertaining the idea of having kids," he said.

The couple found houses within their maximum budget of $375,000, but they were not suitable for what Mr and Mrs Carroll wanted for a family home.

"They were only just liveable, but still out of our budget," Mr Carroll said.

The couple were looking seriously for about two years and had put off Mr Carroll's job offer in Mangatainoka for about six months before they decided to make the move.

Mr and Mrs Carroll moved into their $210,000 three-bedroom home, with three garages and 1.2ha of land, three weeks ago.

Mr Carroll said his future with his wife had become clearer, with the couple now able to start a family.

"We are starting our first round of IVF," Mr Carroll said.

"So we are looking at having a house on a single income."

At first Mr Carroll missed living in Tauranga and being close to the beach, but the feeling soon wore off.

"After about three months I got home sick, but sometimes you have got to make sacrifices," Mr Carroll said.

"You have got to be willing to go out of your comfort zone."

TAURANGA CITY:
Median Price:
Oct 2017 $590,000
Nov 2017 - $649,000
Nov 2016 - $639,000

Volume sold:
Oct 2017 - 243
Nov 2017 - 245
Nov 2016 - 295

WESTERN BAY OF PLENTY:
Median Price:
Oct 2017 - $565,000
Nov 2017 - $675,000
Nov 2016 - $565,000

Volume sold:
Oct 2017 - 38
Nov 2017 - 41
Nov 2016 - 60