- Sue and Roy sold their Merivale home for $1.47m after 47 years.
- The buyers, calling from Helsinki, purchased the property during a quick auction.
- Merivale and Fendalton are in high demand, with recent sales highlighting the area’s popularity.
Emotions were running high, and the numbers were literally aligned when a Christchurch couple sold their Merivale home after almost half a century.
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Sue and Roy paid $365,000 for their home together at 47 Holmwood Road some 47 years ago, and last week, it was sold under the hammer for $1.47m.
Harcourts listing agent John Fulton was unsure if they were the sellers’ lucky numbers, but they might as well be now.
Fulton told OneRoof that selling the three-bedroom, one-bathroom property had been a really big decision for the couple, who are now in their 70s.
“It was quite an emotional process for those buyers coming to the market,” he said.
The owners had considered moving over the years, but never found something they liked as much. Photo / Supplied
The three-bedroom home appealed to families wanting to be near some of the city's top schools. Photo / Supplied
The couple had watched the suburb grow over time and could tell you exactly how it had changed, he said.
“Roy can even remember when Merivale Lane was literally a lane, and they had to widen the road next to Rangi Ruru Girls’ School there. It was pretty amazing hearing the history of what he said changed in the area,” Fulton said.
They had loved the house and its central location, he said, and even though they had considered moving over the years, they could never find something with the same amount of character, charm and lovely outlook.
The property also captured the new owners’ hearts as soon as they stepped inside. The couple viewed the 1920s property the first day it was listed and returned a few days later for a second look.
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“They fell in love with the home and bought it while they were overseas.”
The buyers dialled in from Helsinki in Finland to make sure they didn’t miss out, he said.
The auction itself was quick, as there was only one bidder. It opened at $1m, paused at $1.1m and eventually sold for $1.47m after negotiations.
“It was pretty emotional. I spent some time on the phone with Susan last night, and they couldn’t be more pleased with the result. Emotions were high, but they were just overwhelmed with the result, and I’m thrilled for them now.”
The Holmwood Road auction follows some significant sales in Merivale and neighbouring Fendalton.
All Black Richie McCaw’s family home sold for north of $3.6m after two buyers turned up to bid on the luxury home on Jacksons Road, in Fendalton, while another long-term Merivale resident walked away with $1.54m after their Repton Street unit exceeded expectations by selling for $350,000 over reserve.
Fulton said while Merivale and Fendalton had always been popular, he felt it was very hot right now with people wanting to be closer to the top schools.
He recently sold a property on Straven Road, in Fendalton, for $3.06m to buyers who were moving in from Wigram to be closer to their son’s school. He had also fielded inquiries from people in Queenstown, who wanted to move to Christchurch when their children reached high school age.
- Click here to find more properties for sale in Christchurch
