Undies on the line as hosts raise the real estate stakes

AA Insurance Location, Location, Location NZ, episode five recap

This week, it’s all about new beginnings, as three fearless women aim for a fresh start in Tamaki Makaurau.

Jayne is helping a bachelorette pilot land a chic new inner city pad, while Paul is guiding a mother and daughter to a safe and welcoming haven in their beloved suburb of Maraetai.

Home is where the heart is

The sea, salty air and sense of community in Maraetai are all reasons why its Caroline’s happy place. Caroline and his daughter Sophie (back and forth from uni) have their hearts set on settling here for good. A challenging few years have seen Caroline leave her marriage, and now she’s ready to rebuild, with Labradoodle Wendy in tow. Mother and daughter (and Wendy) love the Maraetai's friendly vibes, which include a regular do-si-do line dance at the local memorial hall.

Caroline would love enough space in her new home for a foster child. She firmly believes all children deserve to be loved and feel safe, and as Sophie puts it: “It’s about sharing our light and our love with someone else.”

Caroline and Sophie are looking to restart their real estate lives in Auckland's Maraetai. Photo / TVNZ

They tell Paul they’re after a two to three-bedroom home with space to entertain, and that they are working with a budget of $1.3m.

Anticipation is high as we head to property number one: a multi-level Maraetai house with great sea views and a home and income. Caroline and Sophie already have a line-dancing spot earmarked as they walk through, and Paul puts the ‘wow’ count at around 17. High fives all round.

Next up we head to nearby Beachlands for a four-year-old townhouse. It’s modern and spacious with a fully fenced yard for Wendy. It’s well within budget and could leave Caroline mortgage-free; “literally the dream for everyone,” says Paul. However, the property has only two bedrooms, so too small.

Paul’s final property is another Beachlands home, and he bets Jayne that if he elicits two "loves" and five "wows" from Caroline and Sophie, he gets to drive her car. If he loses, she says, he’ll be washing the vehicle in his undies. Caroline and Sophie love the spacious single-level home and easily meet their wow/love quota, so Paul is off laughing as he cruises away in Jayne’s truck.

The couple give property number three another look, but Caroline ultimately decides to wait until she’s sold her current home before purchasing a new one.

Christine with her cousin Naz and LLL host Jayne Kiely. Naz Photo / TVNZ

Prepare for landing

Christine is an IT consultant by day and hits the skies in her free time. Not your average hobby, but she likes to get out in her plane as often as she can, taking friends on missions for a spot of lunch in Pauanui or further south to Wanaka (does she have any openings for new friends?). She also volunteers at the coastguard air patrol and loves to travel, so she's after a low-maintenance urban sanctuary. Cousin Naz is her co-pilot for the search, and as the duo admire a kitchen they spot while browsing OneRoof, we see alarm cross Christine’s face as Naz suggests she might need to learn to cook.

Christine is a cautious buyer - her last purchase was a leaky home - but she's open to all the inspiration, ideas and perspective Jayne brings to the table. She’s after a secure, two-bedroom lock-up-and-leave, and, as Naz confirms, the kitchen isn’t a priority, but being close to local eateries is. She’s willing to spend up to $1m.

First up is an Art Deco cutie in Mission Bay. Christine loves the location and enticing price point of $839,000, but the very modest bathroom is a no-go.

Christine is looking for a lock-up-and-leave close to good restaurants. Photo / TVNZ

It’s onwards and upwards to Parnell for a gorgeously refurbished apartment close to the train station, coffee shops and local restaurants. The trio meet on the complex’s tennis court for a debrief, where Naz gives his seal of approval, and Christine has mentally moved in. “Where are the keys?” asks Naz.

Lastly, we’re across the city in Freemans Bay. “Going up?” asks Paul as the elevator doors open and he joins the show for the third and final property. It blows Naz and Christine away and is the favourite by far. “You just keep getting better and better, like a fine wine,” exclaims Naz.

Despite Paul’s inner real estate angel feeling like there’s a little sprinkling of stardust on this one, and Naz claiming one of the bedrooms as his own, Christine ultimately chooses to keep searching, armed with Jayne’s valuable insight.

Fashion watch

The sandy tones of Paul’s blazer and Jayne’s trench perfectly complement the coastal landscape as they discuss their house hunters’ tricky requirements.

Lines of the week

It’s a world of tennis puns as Jayne lets Naz and Christine know “the ball’s in your court” while they consider the Parnell property.

“It certainly feels like you’ve aced that one,” says Paul. “Let’s not call it game, set and match just yet,” replies Jayne.