New Lynn

Including Kelston, Glen Eden and Glendene

First home buyers, long-term elderly residents and migrant families from throughout Asia make up the loyal locals.

Glen Eden continues to be a traditional first home buying area, and used as a stepping stone to the more desirable neighbouring Green Bay and Titirangi. Glendene's young parents were often raised in the west and are now buying the newer houses. Older houses attract investor interest.

Kelston is a family suburb famous for its secondary schooling. It too has homes in long-term family ownership, including some of the enviable water's edge homes largely unseen from the street.

Older homes on large sections are common, built in the days when weatherboard and corrugated iron were the materials of choice for affordable homes. These properties have been snapped up for their subdivision potential and the result is a wide choice of modern brick and tile infill housing.

Amenities
Kelston has primary and intermediate schools, the separate boys and girls high schools and the Kelston Deaf Education Centre. Children from Glen Eden's primary and intermediate schools and Glendene primary schools usually travel to Kelston for secondary schooling.

Each community has its own shopping centre, including the expanded Kelston Shopping Centre, Glenmall in Glen Eden and the Glendene village shops at the roundabout.The Lynn Mall Shopping Centre is the hub of the wider area with more than 120 shops.

Waitakere City has an enviable list of neighbourhood parks in line with its aim of having a quality walk within 10 minutes' walk of every residence. Glen Eden has Ceramco Park, the Clarence Reserve and Virgo Common. Kelston has the Kelman Park as well as the Cobham Reserve and Archibald Park. New Lynn's pride is the 2ha Manawa wetland reserve created from a defunct clay quarry.

Glen Eden has its famous Glenora Rugby League Club, the swimming centre at Parrs Park and the Ceramco Park Functions Centre. Glen Eden's refurbished RSA is further evidence of the energy that locals have put into improving their local amenities.

Trends
Once the poor relation of neighbouring suburbs, New Lynn has become sought-after especially with first home buyers who feel out-priced elsewhere. Kelston's appeal is greatest among families and they'll stay put here for years which makes any of its water's edge properties quite hard to secure.

Glen Eden has pockets of lower cost housing in the area around Solar Rd, with the highest prices being paid for the older, more established homes.

Rental and investment
Glen Eden and Kelston are generally a little cheaper to rent in than the rest of the area. Add a premium of $20 or $30 a week for a four-bedroom house if it has extras such as a third bathroom and garaging for more than two vehicles. Best streetsRyehill Cl and De Val Dr in New Lynn. Konini Rd and Pleasant Rd in Glen Eden. All of Manhattan Heights in Glendene. Anything on the water's edge in Kelston.