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Once leasehold land owned by the former Auckland Harbour Board, Lynfield's largely freehold residential character belies its low-key profile.

Tucked on the seaward side of Hillsborough Rd, it's a family-oriented suburb with good schools, a shopping centre, few townhouses and very few commercial or industrial zonings.

Being close to the water, there are huge Manukau Harbour views to be had from the prestigious clifftop homes.

It's a sought-after area, but it doesn't have a high turnover of homes compared with neighbouring suburbs.

Once in Lynfield, families tend to stay in Lynfield and move only to trade up and be closer to the water. As a result, properties in the upper $700,000 to $1 million bracket only occasionally come on to the market.

These days, the "view" component of a price tag can be from $50,000 to $100,000, depending on whether the property is in one of the cul-de-sac streets opened up in the mid 80s, or an older home a few streets back.

A few years ago, however, the south-facing Manukau views didn't interest buyers who preferred to be on the northern side of the suburb closer to the central city.

The $250,000 to $350,000 price bracket has been popular among Asian and Fijian Indian migrants as well as those from neighbouring suburbs.

First-home buying opportunities around $200,000 include homes built during Lynfield's initial development in the early 60s.