- Bach owners in Omaha are moving to neighbouring Point Wells for larger properties and more space.
- Point Wells’ prices range from $1.3m to $8m, with property values up by almost $200,000 in the last 12 months.
- “They love the area, but are looking for a quiet location and something more permanent.”
What do you do when the family bach isn’t big enough to accommodate your family? That’s the pressing problem facing many homeowners in the wealthy beach town of Omaha.
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Some have scores of grandchildren to contend with and space can be hard to find during school holidays.
The answer, says Bayleys agent Heather Walton-Bycroft, is a larger home with a four-car garage, just over the water in Point Wells.
The suburb has room to spread, compared to its more famous neighbour, and is still close to all the amenities and beaches.
A four-bedroom resort-style home is up for grabs at 238 Point Wells Road, in Point Wells. Photo / Supplied
Some of the estates in the suburb attract high net worth buyers from Aucklanders. Photo / Fiona Goodall
Homes in Point Wells range in price from $1.3 million, for entry-level baches, to $8m for large estates. Growing demand from local buyers and those new to the area has seen the suburb’s average property value jump by $179,000 since June 2024, and almost $1m in the last five years.
“The main price range in Point Wells is between $2m and $4m,” Walton-Bycroft said.
One of the mid-range properties the agent has for sale is 238 Point Wells Road. The four-bedroom resort-style home sits on 8094sqm and has an RV of $3.725m.
It’s owned by local builders Deb and Ryan Bridgens, who have built some of the top homes in the area, Walton-Bycroft told OneRoof.
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The couple knows what sells, and when they bought the property in 2017, they added a four-car garage and swimming pool. The garage is a real selling point, said Walton-Bycroft. “We have people ringing all the time saying they just want a property with a huge garage.”
Most homes in the suburb are owner-occupied and built post-2010, making it quite a young suburb. “The new subdivisions are big subdivisions. They’re beautiful because they’ve all got lovely modern covenants,” she said.
Walton-Bycroft said there was a noticeable trend of Omaha owners selling up and buying in Point Wells. “People love the proximity to Omaha and Matakana, but they want more space,” she said, noting that these buyers typically looked for large single-level homes on a piece of land that’s big enough for the swimming pool, garages and toys. “Everything you’d want when you retire.”
Buyers who move to Point Wells love its sense of community. Photo / Fiona Goodall
New buyers from Auckland were also active in the suburb. “They want space around them and a modern home. Once they have finished the school grind, or the kids have gone to boarding schools, they are able to come up and have a better lifestyle,” Walton-Bycroft said.
Some move permanently, others use it as their beach escape. “They’ve still got the bolthole in Auckland, Herne Bay, Parnell, somewhere cool where they can go for dinner and things. But they’ve got their nice lifestyle property up here.”
Precision Real Estate agent Di Balich has seen quite a few homeowners in Omaha sell up and move to Point Wells. “Point Wells is quieter,” she told OneRoof. “There’s been interest from people who own substantial properties in Omaha and are cashed up. They love the area, but are looking for a quiet location and something more permanent.”
She said Point Wells was viewed as more affordable than Omaha. “There’s more availability of larger parcels of land to create family compounds. And there are some blocks that can be subdivided for family use.
“Over the past 18 months I know of four or so Omaha vendors who have sold up and relocated to larger blocks at Point Wells.” One sold a $9.3m waterfront Omaha home, and another sold their $7.5m home; both moved across the water to Point Wells.
“A couple of years ago, I sold four hectares in Point Wells for $13m. The owners intend to build three houses there. You’ve got the mum and dad in the prime spot and then their children and grandchildren peppered around the estate.”
- Click here to find more properties for sale in Point Wells
