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• Rotorua house values rise
• Work-life balance tips price scale upwards
"I usually park a couple of houses away so they don't know where I'm going," Mrs Onan said.
She takes photographs for most of the real estate agencies in Rotorua and Taupo.
"I'm currently looking for a second photographer for Rotorua and Taupo because I have been overly busy for the last couple of years and it's getting a bit much."
REINZ Waikato/Bay of Plenty regional director Philip Searle said smaller towns such as Rotorua, Gisborne and Taupo were seeing increased demand from Aucklanders.
"Listings remain in very short supply with the market being characterised as being 'hand to mouth' with new listings being sold very quickly."
The median sale price in Rotorua rose $10,000 from $255,000 in January 2015 to $265,000 January 2016.
Ray White Rotorua co-owner and principal Anita Martelli said they were really busy.
"Interest rates have been a factor for the Auckland buyers coming and stock numbers have been lower than normal, this all contributes."
Ross Stanway, chief executive of Realty Services, which operates Eves and Bayleys Real Estate, said the rise was positive for a number of reasons.
"It continues the trend that has been happening in Rotorua ... it is benefiting because it is getting attention from outside the area." The low interest rates helped too, he said.