Hearing their landlord was selling the rental they were happily ensconced in, then getting outpriced trying to buy it was a bad hand that ended up brilliantly for couple Tristan and Katie.
An agent who knew they’d missed out on it showed them this nearby property with owners urgently needing to sell unconditionally to secure their dream home.
Tristan says: “We ended up paying more than $300,000 below market value for our first home, in mid 2022.
“That situation enabled us to buy a home worth significantly more than what we had to offer at the time. The vendors, who’d only purchased here nine months before, weren’t prepared to miss out when their dream home came on the market.”
Start your property search
This 1923 character bungalow met Tristan and Katie’s specific requirements.
“Katie grew up in Westmere so always dreamed of a Westmere-style character home. But we really wanted the layout we have here with all the living on one side of the home, which is rare to get in a character home.
“The living-kitchen-dining area flows out to the front, private, north-facing deck and lawn. It’s a great, easy way to live. We often entertain. If that’s in the evening, we can close off the bedroom side of the bungalow where our two young children will be sleeping and happily entertain in the other.”
He believes Onehunga is one of the best spots in the central-south, close to Epsom and Cornwall Park, with easy access to SH1 and SH20.
“It’s an awesome area for young families.”
The 151sqm home has four bedrooms, two bathrooms and garaging for two vehicles. Photo / Supplied
The current vendors missed out on buying their rental but got $300,000 off the market value of 117 Grey Street, in Onehunga, because the vendors then were keen to sell. Photo / Supplied
When a storm took down a tree on their front verge, it opened up an unobstructed view up to One Tree Hill.
Katie’s design talents, which saw her previously own a home staging company, helped the couple achieve a modern character vibe throughout the bungalow. This combines a crisp contemporary aesthetic with character features, which include a 3.1-metre stud, beamed ceilings and multiple leadlights.
The sunny fully-fenced front yard includes the front deck and lawn where they’ve previously had a trampoline.
The home previously featured dark original wood flooring, which has now been updated with a lighter oak finish, bringing a softer, brighter, and more contemporary feel. The designer tiled kitchen and second bathroom-laundry are seamlessly integrated into the space, while the new Quick-Step oak flooring offers waterproof and scratch-resistant durability, ideal for families.
They also installed a ducted heat pump system, insulation to South Island specifications, wool carpet and upgraded lighting.
“We love our lounge because from there you can see everything. But during daylight savings we live on the front deck, sometimes under a big cantilevered umbrella.”
The living-kitchen-dining area flows out to the front, private, north-facing deck. Photo / Supplied
“We love our lounge because from there you can see everything,” says one of the homeowners. Photo / Supplied
The sleeping side of the layout has three bedrooms opposite the family bathroom, plus the master bedroom, partially fronted by a sunroom. They’ve had plans drawn up to convert this to an ensuite.
The couple believe details are important. They had skirting boards hand cut to match the profile of existing ones when they removed an odd corner wardrobe from the master, which retains triple wardrobing. There’s a covered double carport storage and two storage sheds behind the home.
They envisaged being in this property for a lot longer but Tristan’s work is now on the North Shore so they’re planning to move closer to that.
Ray White agent Dean Tuffley says: “Spacious and high-spec bungalows with big bedrooms are rare and rarely come to the market. Couple that with the north-facing outdoor space and the stunning Cornwall Park view, and you have a recipe for the perfect family home for the next 20 years.”
117 Grey Street in Onehunga, Auckland, is on the market for sale, heading to auction on May 21.
- Sponsored by Ray White
