The release of Barfoot & Thompson’s latest Insite portfolio arrives at a time when the market is neither standing still nor forging ahead.
Lower interest rates have helped restore confidence in parts of the sector but global uncertainty, inflation pressure and an election year continue to keep decision-making measured.
That caution, says Barfoot & Thompson Commercial manager John Urlich, is not necessarily a negative.
“Clearer opportunities are emerging for those prepared to look closely, act carefully and take a longer-term view,” he says, noting that quality, location and flexibility remain key considerations across the sector.
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A total of 54 commercial properties are featured in the May 2026 edition of Insite, stretching from Pukekohe in the south to Warkworth in the north.
Listings include one property for sale by expressions of interest, seven by auction, 14 by deadline private treaty, 22 by negotiation, eight with an asking price and two available for lease.
A standout among the portfolio is a well-positioned investment at 591–597 Mt Eden Road, where a freehold corner site combines established income with long-term location appeal.
Marketed by Rohit Khanna, the property is offered via deadline private treaty, closing 2pm, Wednesday May 27.
It comprises a 680sq m site with a two-level building of approximately 534sq m, three on-site car parks and a mix of retail, cafe, yoga and residential tenancies.
Currently returning $175,500 plus GST annually, the property sits in the Business–Neighbourhood Centre zone, which typically supports small-scale retail and commercial uses serving surrounding residents and passers-by, with residential activity permitted on upper floors.
“This is the kind of property that benefits from being part of a genuine local catchment,” says Khanna.
“Mt Eden continues to see investment and renewal, but it still has a strong village identity. Well-located freehold sites with income in place are not easy to replace.”
The property’s position on the corner of Mt Eden Road and Kingsview Road gives it visibility to one of the suburb’s key arterial routes, while nearby development activity points to a deeper future catchment.
From a city-fringe village setting to Ellerslie, where three adjoining titles at 19, 21 and 23 Kalmia St offer a different investment profile: passive income today with future intensification potential.
Marketed by Barfoot & Thompson Commercial brokers Cam Paterson and John Stringer, the properties are available individually or in any combination by expressions of interest, closing 2pm, Wednesday June 3.
Together, the three sites total approximately 1599sq m and generate combined net income of $304,011 plus GST a year.
The offering includes the lessor’s interest in 19 and 21 Kalmia St, both under long-term ground lease structures, along with the freehold interest in 23 Kalmia St, which includes two retail tenancies.
The location is a major part of the story. Positioned adjacent to the Ellerslie train station, 75m from Ellerslie town centre and with easy access to SH1, the landholding sits in a precinct already shaped by transport, commercial activity and residential growth.
“This is a transit-led location with multiple ways to look at it,” says Stringer.
“For some buyers, the appeal will be the passive income profile. For others, it will be the ability to secure adjoining titles in a precinct where intensification is already happening.”
Zoned Business–Mixed Use, the sites currently have an 18m height limit, with proposed Plan Change 120 provisions indicating potential for an increase to 34.5m, subject to approval.
Nearby development, including large-scale residential activity around the Ellerslie Racecourse is expected to add further weight to the area’s long-term growth story.
A third featured opportunity in the portfolio brings the focus closer to the central city, where three ground-floor commercial units within the SKHY development at 38 Khyber Pass Rd are being brought to auction.
Units 1G, 9G and 10G are located in the newly built, award-winning precinct designed by Cheshire Architects and developed by Lamont & Co.
Marketed by Reese Barragar and Paul Halliday, all three units will be auctioned on Wednesday May 20.
The units range from approximately 111sqm to 125sq m, each with one secure basement car park.
Two are offered with vacant possession, while Unit 9G is fully leased to established bridal studio Alter Me, returning $57,222 plus GST a year with fixed annual increases.
Barragar says the combined offering gives buyers a choice rarely found in one building.
“You have two vacant units suited to owner-occupiers or investors looking to secure tenants, alongside one leased unit with income already in place,” he says.
“That creates flexibility across the three properties, while the location and building quality remain consistent.”
Fronting Khyber Pass Rd, the units benefit from exposure to a key arterial route, proximity to the CBD, Newmarket, motorway connections and the Maungawhau train station upgrade linked to the City Rail Link.
Together, the listings reflect the broader mix emerging across the current market - established income, repositioning potential and well-connected locations still drawing attention despite a more measured investment environment.
- Supplied by Barfoot & Thompson
