It’s a man cave without the man

AA Insurance Location, Location, Location NZ, episode seven recap

As we enter the home stretch of series two of AA Insurance Location, Location, Location NZ, we join two sets of house hunters perched on very different rungs of the property ladder. Jayne is helping a young couple in Tamaki Makaurau purchase their very first home – an achievement they never thought possible – while Paul is an hour north on the lookout for a reverse downsize for two retirees and their beloved granddaughter.

Girl power

Pritha and Chilean Kiwi Valentina have been doing the hard graft for the past six years – studying, starting careers and saving hard in order to make their dreams of home ownership a reality. Valentina’s online profile won Pritha over and, in a twist of fate, she had been studying Spanish for many years before they met.

Unfortunately, Chilean Spanish is a whole other kettle of fish and learning it has been a slow and frustrating journey – not unlike looking for property in Auckland.

However, they’re fiercely determined and have Jayne onboard to help them find a two-bedroom, one-bathroom home with space for an office and an outdoor area. They’re working with a budget of $700k and feel very privileged to have had some help with the deposit from Pritha’s mum, and are realistic and prepared to adapt to find a suitable city fringe pad.

At property number three, Paul Glover joins Jane Kiely and the girls in viewing a freshly renovated, move-in ready two-bedroom home. Photo / Supplied

First up the trio head to Ellerslie, where Pritha and Valentina are wowed by the natural light, outdoor living and stylish renovation of property number one. With a bath and room for an office, they can instantly see themselves living in the gorgeous home and Jayne notches up a win with her finger as she walks out the door.

Next, it’s one suburb over to One Tree Hill for a 70s-style, two-bedroom unit. The leafy outlook gives treehouse vibes and the dishwasher gets a big tick, as does the solar powered cabin outside. “A man cave without the man,” laughs Pritha.

Paul joins the women for property number three, a freshly renovated, move-in ready two-bedroom home. While it feels like a private oasis, the living area is a little dark and they simply cannot get their minds off property number one.

While the team of three head into the auction for property one, it gets passed in and sadly Pritha and Valentina’s offer isn’t accepted. However, the search continues for the determined couple.

Onwards and upwards

Jo and Jim Farnell are looking to boomerang back to a bigger property after downsizing didn’t deliver for them. The couple, in their 70s, ran a successful horticulture business and swapped the family home for a townhouse in Snells Beach. But after the heartbreaking loss of their daughter Elizabeth, their 13-year-old granddaughter Sophie is now living with them fulltime.

Pink-haired Jo Farnell and bestie Carmen at property number two - a stunning modern masterpiece complete with a cinema room, three-bay shed and a playhouse. Photo / Supplied

Having Sophie under their roof has been a blessing and Jo says it’s given them a new lease of life: “I didn’t think I’d be doing school lunches at this age!”

It’s also completely altered what they’re looking for in a home, so it’s Paul to the rescue. They’re after a three to four-bedroom place with a studio for artist Jo to paint, as well as a pool (or room to build one) where Sophie can chill with her mates. They’re working with a healthy budget of up to $2.5 million and would love to stay in this general area.

Jim hasn’t been well so Jo’s bestie Carmen is along for the ride as another set of eyes and ears. Property number one is a grand, 1920s Snells Beach bungalow, which has a 6500sqm section and a handy self-contained apartment above the garage. The asking price of $2.25m is well within budget but Jo isn’t sure it’ll work for Jim.

Next, it’s off to Warkworth (where Carmen lives, tick) to a stunning modern masterpiece complete with a cinema room, three-bay shed and a playhouse that Paul thinks could double nicely as a gallery for Jo’s art. It ticks a lot of boxes, and even has a she-shed (or studio, according to Paul).

Finally, they stay in Warkworth for the final property – a 24-acre block backing onto a native kauri forest. With three bedrooms, a rumpus and heated pool it’s shaping up to be a real contender, alongside property number two. So it’s off to create a classic pros and cons list to decide between the two.

Jo’s bright pink hair perfectly matches Paul’s dusty pink blazer. Carmen, right, was another set of ears and eyes. Photo / Supplied

In the end, it came down to Sophie’s Choice, who was swayed by the pool and opted for property number three. Sadly, on a return visit with Jim, they felt it wasn’t quite right, but the good news is that they have since found the perfect multigenerational home in magical Mangawhai.

Fashion watch

Artist Jo’s bright pink hair perfectly matches Paul’s dusty pink blazer as they meander through property number one.

Lines of the week

Jayne chastises Paul for his round one miss for Jo and Jim.

“Bit of a false start there, Paul.”

“Straight out of the blocks and tripped on my own shoelaces,” he responds.

- AA Insurance Location, Location, Location NZ appears on TVNZ 1 at 7.30pm on Sundays and on TVNZ+