Every inch is precious! What makes New Zealand's top luxury suburbs stand out?

01 Remuera's history

Remuera is renowned among New Zealanders as an established enclave of wealthy European residents. In fact, as early as the middle of the 13th century, the first Māori to arrive in New Zealand had made it their first settlement in the country. Following the arrival of European migrants, European settlers began gradually building houses in Remuera around 1860. 

In 1890, New Zealand's first general store opened in the area, and Remuera also ushered in the country's first commercial trading district. Large mansions and small farms later dotted the area, until the 20 th century, when it became a residential area dominated by wealthy people and business owners, earning its reputation as an affluent enclave of established European residents. 

What defines a luxury home? Its true meaning lies not simply in an accumulation of material possessions, but in an organically developed birthplace of a city with cultural depth. An area such as Remuera, with its rich historical and cultural heritage, has become almost a model for the definition of luxury living, while also writing chapters in the development of a people, an era and a culture.

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02  Local amenities

“Only a home near both hills and water can truly be called a luxury home.”Remuera perfectly embodies the ideal location for luxury living.

This area represents not only a city's origins but also an exceptionally advantageous location. With hills and water close by, Remuera neighbours Auckland's famous scenic attraction, One Tree Hill, while Hobson Bay beach is only a few minutes' drive away.  

It also enjoys a central Auckland location, with nearby State Highway 1 providing direct access across the city. Its neighbour is Auckland's largest and most prestigious shopping centre, Westfield Newmarket. Medical facilities are also close at hand, including well-known specialist healthcare providers such as Mercy Ascot Hospital, Greenlane Hospital and Ascot Pharmacy.

As a gathering place for Auckland's newly wealthy, Remuera offers affluent residents the most convenient transport, top shopping destinations and the most advanced healthcare, while also giving their children access to the best educational resources. 

These comprehensive facilities and services offer wealthy residents an ideal lifestyle.

 

03  Educational resources 

According to statistics, in Remuera and the surrounding area, there are nearly 17 of New Zealand's leading schools, offering education at every level from primary through intermediate to secondary school.

Options include Remuera Primary School, the prestigious private King's School and ACG Parnell, Auckland Grammar School, Epsom Girls Grammar School, Catholic girls' school Baradene College, and Remuera Intermediate. These are among Auckland's finest schools. 

These schools, regarded as New Zealand's “Ivy League”, have earned their place in history not only by educating several former New Zealand prime ministers, foreign ministers and prominent political and business figures, but also by sending many talented students to the world's leading universities.

 

04  Cultural character 

This year, Remuera ranked among New Zealand's top 3 most expensive luxury suburbs, with an average house price of NZ$2,530,000, As one of Auckland's most sought-after established affluent suburbs, its residents are likewise wealthy or influential. 

Many prominent politicians, celebrities and industry leaders are understood to live here. They include New Zealand national icon Sir Edmund Hillary (Edmund Percival Hillary, the first person to climb Mount Everest), New Zealand Herald founder Alfred George Horton, and world-famous F1 racing prodigy Bruce McLaren (Alfred George Horton), who lived here with his family as a child… 

It is the traces left by these historical figures that give Remuera a cultural character that cannot be replicated by other traditional luxury suburbs.

I believe this is also a key reason Remuera is so sought after by the upper echelons of society.

 

05  A truly rare opportunity! 

Today, Lixing Property Picks has carefully selected a large-section property in Remuera: a rare mortgagee sale. Located at 7 Abbots Way, Remuera, Auckland City, it occupies 1237 square metres of precious Remuera land. According to OneRoof's valuation, the property is currently worth around $2,670,000.

Property details:

In Remuera, where land is exceptionally scarce and valuable, this is a rare opportunity to enter the market. Notably, the property is in a Mixed Housing Zone, currently one of the zones most favoured by investors.

A subdivision application has now been submitted to the council, and a code compliance certificate (CCC) has been issued for the completed site works. On the north-facing part of the site is a bungalow of 179 square metres, according to Property Guru. A brand-new driveway leads to the rear of the house, providing several parking spaces. The location is also excellent: Upland Road shops and Ellerslie Racecourse are a short drive away, with Remuera Golf Club nearby.

 

Property highlights: 

• Mortgagee sale: priced below market value
• A scarce location: Remuera

• Large section: 1237 square metres

 

Potential for capital growth:

The property lies in the highly sought-after Mixed Housing Zone, where standalone houses and two-storey townhouses can be built. Under the Auckland Unitary Plan, this is currently a zone offering relatively flexible development options.


Up to 3 standalone homes can be developed without resource consent, with no size restriction. Developing more homes requires resource consent. Generally, development requirements limit the size to around 400 square metres.

 

Subdivision: 4 key points:

To achieve higher returns in a Mixed Housing Zone, owners must engage a professional planner before developing, to analyse the land's development rules and potential. Key information to provide includes: 

1. What is your development objective?


2. Has the bank approved your development funding?


3. What is the address of the property on the title?


4. The property's title and consent certificates.

Viewing times (Open home）：

Sunday 1 August 2021 (11:00 am–11:30 am)

 

06 Buying a mortgagee-sale property (Mortgagee Sale）tips： 

Mortgagee sales are quite common in Auckland's continually rising housing market. Many people borrow far beyond what they can personally afford when buying a home. Typically, once a bank confirms that a borrower cannot repay their debt, it issues relevant notices under property law. Once such a notice has been issued, the property has entered the preparatory stage for a mortgagee sale. Several days after notification, the bank has the right to begin arranging the sale.

Although mortgagee-sale properties are cheaper than market prices, most carry potential risks. Common problems include owners or tenants refusing to leave, complicated debts associated with the property, and uncertainty over settlement dates, which banks generally cannot guarantee to buyers.  

To help avoid these risks, we have compiled some mortgagee-sale tips for buyers to consider:

 

1. Buyers are advised to obtain a Building Report

Before buying a mortgagee-sale property, buyers are strongly advised to obtain a building report, gain a detailed understanding of the home's condition, and proceed only once satisfied that everything is in order.

 

2. Engage a professional lawyer to prepare a detailed written report

Whether you are new to the property market or an experienced buyer, you are advised to engage a professional lawyer before purchasing this type of property. Have your lawyer carefully review every clause and explain every risk in writing, so that you are fully informed and understand every expense. This is extremely important!

 

3. Ask friends in real estate for more information about the property 

If you have friends working as real estate agents in New Zealand, ask them for more information and listen to their advice.

 

4. Do not buy this type of property without sufficient understanding

You are advised against purchasing this type of property before making further detailed enquiries. The risks are considerable, and any dispute can be costly in both time and money.