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Move over South Wairarapa
EMILY IRELAND
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Carterton median house prices reached a record high at $650,000 in November.
The sales median trumped both Masterton and South Wairarapa districts, which were $520,000 and $600,000 respectively.
Carterton Mayor Greg Lang said the market was a sign the district was attractive to buyers but was concerned housing was becoming unaffordable to families and new homebuyers.
He said Carterton District Council would be starting affordable housing research in January with research firm Planalytics, to look at housing environment and what the council could do to support the government in terms of affordable housing.
“The council is also investing in infrastructure to future-proof the district, allowing for growth,” he said.
“Our Eastern Growth Area – which has gone out for consultation – is a golden opportunity to do something special.”
The plan was to accommodate 1000 new houses in Carterton from now to 2043.
The strategy identified east of the Carterton urban area as the most suitable location and direction for new greenfield development.
There would be a mix of residential sections from 800m2 to 2000m2 to allow for diversity in housing types.
The plan extended from Park Rd, including the area between Park Rd and Booths Creek [north], to Moreton Rd, including the southern area where Premiere Beehive was.
Rutland Rd would need widening to allow for an increase in vehicle and bicycle traffic.
Carterton was eclectic, green-hearted, and community-centric, Lang said, which appealed to buyers.
“There are 174 community groups in Carterton, which is outstanding for a community our size.”
Carterton-based real estate agents Jo Wisler and Kelly McIsaac, of Jo-Kelly and Co, said the Carterton market was “certainly going from strength to strength”.
“Multiple offers are being received on all properties, and prices are constantly moving upward.
“Buyers in the million-dollar-plus range are becoming more frequent.
“It certainly feels like the flood gates to buyers from the Wellington and Hutt Valley region have opened as prices there rise, and they start to look further afield.
Until the supply and demand equilibrium was reached, the market would “definitely continue to move upward”, they said.
Prue Hamill, of Harcourts Hamill Realty, said Wairarapa had a very active market with “great buyer response”.
“We have worked through many multiple offers with many local buyers.
“The main out-of-town buyers are from Wellington and surrounds and great to see the attraction to the wonderful provincial area from Aucklanders.
“In Masterton, of the 68 residential sales, 27 were from $500,000 to $600,000. There has also been strong demand for lifestyle properties.
“Christmas is always a good driver for people wanting to secure properties prior to Christmas.
“November saw more than half [10 out of 16] of the regions across the country with double-digit percentage increases in annual sales volumes showing how buoyant the market is.”
Tremains Wairarapa sales manager Victoria Koszegi said her company was still seeing record prices in South Wairarapa and across the region.
“Median prices can fluctuate on a monthly basis, depending on what stock is on the market.
“We are seeing a large number of buyers paying increased prices in Carterton due to low stock levels in South Wairarapa.
“Again, the Wellingtonians are feeding the Wairarapa market along with ex-pats.”
Masterton Mayor Lyn Patterson said she was concerned housing was becoming unaffordable for first home buyers and that “the Kiwi dream of owning your own home is sadly fast becoming unrealistic”.
