Empty nesters stay put

Remuera has a reputation for being a wealthy area served by top schools. The suburb features large family homes as well as new apartments. Photo / Herald Files

Remuera has long been top of the list for Auckland home-buyers wanting the best schooling for their children.

But when those children finished school and left home, the next step usually involved selling the big family home and moving to another suburb to downsize.

That trend has been reversed recently as more apartments are built in Remuera, enabling empty-nesters to stay in a suburb that has often been home to generations of family.

As Rachel Dovey, of Bayleys, says: "Remuera is seeing an increase in high-end, quality apartment residences, such as the recently completed 464 Remuera Rd development, also St Marks Road, currently under construction, is being built to a high-end, quality specification.

"This development also has an in-house cafe, which will be open to residents and the local community."

For many years the bedrock for real estate values in this suburb has been that it is in-zone for schools such as Victoria Ave Primary, Remuera Intermediate, Auckland Grammar and Epsom Girls Grammar, and a range of private schools.

The status of these schools and the fact that Remuera is seen as a wealthy suburb has attracted the likes of business people and those in the medical and legal professions.

But Remuera's central nature has also been a major factor.

As Barry Thom, of UP Real Estate, says: "It's only a few minutes' drive from all the places you need to go; the motorway access in one direction or the waterfront in the other - both are just minutes from the central northern slopes.

"Similarly, Newmarket's and Parnell's shops and restaurants are moments away and, for many, the community-based Remuera village is within walking distance.

"Add in parks including Bloodworth at the bottom of Shore Rd and its wonderful foreshore walkway and Rangitoto Park at Upland Rd - it's the ideal playground."

Steve Williams, of Bayleys, says: "Remuera offers an excellent cross-section of housing options from units and apartments through to large family homes."

Those include a vast array of architectural styles produced by noted architects such as Roy Binney, Horace Massey, the Group Architects, Vlad Cacala, Ron Sang, Simon Carnachan, Marshall Cook, Peter Sargisson, Simon Pirie, Jeff Fearon and Tim Hay.

Thom says: "Streets like Arney Rd, Bassett Rd and Victoria Ave have long been synonymous with established gracious family homes. For many years sales in these streets have been market leaders.

"In recent years, many of Remuera's character homes have been refurbished and renovated to the highest standards.

"Similarly, the area has seen significant investment in new builds. In recent times, many of these have been for owners rather than developer-builders."

Williams says Remuera's 'northern slopes' properties enjoy spectacular views of the harbour and Rangitoto Island.

"Remuera offers an excellent variety of specialty shops, supermarket, cafes, bars and restaurants with convenient parking available in the heart of the village," he says.