Beach Haven/Birkdale

Once upon a time, Beach Haven and Birkdale were holiday destinations. Then they fell from favour - real estate agents wouldn't even include their names in advertisements. North Shore snobs likened the area to the Bronx in New York, but now they're waking up to the fact that coastal Beach Haven is one of the last places in Auckland where you can buy water's edge property for less than $700,000 - for the time being.

There's more coastline here than in any other Auckland suburb, lots of Titirangi-style bush, and harbour views across the upper Waitemata Harbour to Hobsonville and beyond.

Singles, couples and first-home buyers are among the broad mix of people here. Some rent while others have bought ex-state houses and begun the renovation treadmill that is Auckland's rite-of-passage into home ownership.

Baches in original condition and those that have been souped up into impressive family homes dot the streets. There's quite a bit of infill housing. There are many Reid-built homes from the 1960s and 1970s for the first-home market. Apartments include mews-style apartments and a new block of 15 in Beach Haven Rd.

On the harbour side of Rangatira Rd, townhouses with sea views sit at the back of just about every original home.

Amenities Families have a wide choice of schools. Birkenhead College is a Goodman Fielder School of the Year winner and has a strong reputation in sport as well as music, drama and arts.

Birkdale and Beach Haven have local shops. The opening of the Kaipatiki Bridge link from Beach Haven to Glenfield has created a direct route to the Glenfield Mall. In the other direction there's mall shopping in Birkenhead, as well as strip shopping along Mokoia Rd.

For leisure activities, Shepherds Park has sports grounds, tennis and squash facilities. For fresh-air fiends, there's also a coastal walkway and parks and reserves to wander through.

Trends There are still sizeable properties with subdivision potential. Steady movement at the top end of the coastal market is having a flow-on effect.

Waterfront houses will fetch $150,000 to $200,000 more than homes with only water views. Water's edge properties have nearly doubled in value during the past few years. Buyers with $450,000 to $550,000 will get a good family home.

Rental and investments Renters here want long-term accommodation. A nice home will cost the same as a basic home in Takapuna.

Best streets Water's edge Brigantine Place and Aeroview Drive in Beach Haven; Valkyria Place in Island Bay; Rosecamp Road in Mariners Cove; Gatman Place in Birkdale; Tramway Road and Japonica Drive in Beach Haven.