There is a lot of property for sale right now, but which listing suits you best? OneRoof’s Home Hunt series brings you the best in New Zealand real estate, from affordable starter homes to luxury mansions. We’ll highlight a range of homes from around the country that are worth your attention.
Although it’s an extremely niche facet of the real estate market, fire-damaged houses can provide a real opportunity for savvy investors and home buyers with vision.
Burnt-out homes are generally sold “as is, where is”, which sometimes means they can be snapped up for a bargain.
Buyer caution is warranted, though: repairs and rebuilds after fires are rarely straightforward, with risks and unknowns making thorough due diligence essential. Done properly, however, the financial upside can be significant.
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OneRoof has curated a selection of five fire‑damaged homes from around New Zealand, spanning a range of conditions and price points. Can you feel the heat?
21 Rota Street, Turangi, Taupō | Offers over $150,000
The inside of the former rental home. The property was significantly damaged in the fire. Photo / Supplied
Harcourts agents Seth Fasher and Anna Skeer have a 610sqm Turangi property for sale, close to the town centre. The three-bedroom weatherboard rental home is significantly damaged (the tenants escaped safely, though), and the agents encourage prospective buyers to complete their own due diligence to see if the home is salvageable. If not, the site is generous enough for a rebuild, and the location is a winner.
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17 Craighall Crescent, Wakari, Dunedin | Price $220,000-plus
TLC is required for this bare-bones brick duplex, which previously boasted a spacious living area, a separate laundry, a bedroom and a bathroom.
Sweetening the deal is the tree-clad section it sits on, the off-street parking, and its location (it’s close to local schools and public transport, and offers easy access to the city).
The duplex at 17 Craighall Crescent, in Wakari, Dunedin, has been stripped back to the framing. Photo / Supplied
Bayleys agent Nick Berryman says there is potential to do a full reno on the property. “The most logical thing to do would be to increase it from one bedroom to two. Having it stripped right back gives you that opportunity.”
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600 Cochrane Street, Thames, Thames-Coromandel | By negotiation
Trinity Real Estate agents Kerry and Adrienne Trainor are advising interested buyers to bring all offers for this Grahamstown property, which has an RV of $345,000. The house was badly damaged in the recent fire, so buyers need to budget for a demolition job, but the flat, freehold 331sqm section is a great blank canvas for a new abode.
Buyers may have to demolish the fire remnants at 600 Cochrane Street, in Thames. Photo / Supplied
The proximity to the main drag and the hospital is a big drawcard here, along with all local shops, eateries and amenities.
>> Click here to find out more
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56 Tamaki Avenue, Ōtāhuhu, Auckland | For sale
This 1191sqm freehold property with Tamaki River views is being sold by Manu Singh and Surinder Kaur from Harcourts. The three-bedroom brick and tile home at the address is uninhabitable, but the location and proportions of the land make it ripe for subdivision, subject to council approval.
In their listing, Singh notes that the owners have chosen to let the market determine the property’s value. So this creates a rare opportunity for builders, developers, land-bankers, and renovators seeking their next project.
The land is the most valuable thing about this property at 56 Tamaki Avenue, in Auckland's Ōtāhuhu. Photo / Supplied
Kaur says: “It’s a big land area and a road frontage property, so there’s no need to get consent from other people. It’s close to the motorway and close to Sylvia Park.”
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26 Carter Place, Manurewa, Auckland | Auction, April 14
Being sold “as is, where is”, this 669sqm freehold property is a goldmine for land-bankers and developers. Harcourts agent Adrian Chhour says: “The value here is in the land. The asbestos has been removed professionally, so that’s peace of mind. Whoever buys the property will most likely remove the house itself and not have to pay the extra money to have the asbestos removed.
The listing for 26 Carter Place, Manurewa, says the vendor “wants out”. Photo / Supplied
“Not only that, it does fall under development potential land as well, so you could potentially build a couple on there. The shops and schools are also within walking distance.”
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