Many Aucklanders are rethinking what they want from their next home, not in terms of size or postcode, but in how they want to live.
For Elizabeth, that shift came after years spent in a large, heritage family home on the northern slopes of Remuera, a house she has carefully and lovingly restored.
"It’s crazy having so much money tied up in a house when you only use three rooms," she says. "I’ve worked hard all my life. I just want to enjoy it now."
At 70, she remains active, with a full social life that includes the gym, tennis, regular catchups with friends and visiting family abroad. What she no longer wanted was the ongoing upkeep that came with a high-maintenance home
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"I want to travel for longer, to go away without worrying about the house," she says. "I just want something easy - modern, warm, sunny, with a lovely outlook but is secure and I can lock up and leave.”
Those priorities led her to The Hill, a new neighbourhood taking shape on the former steeplechase site at Ellerslie Racecourse site between Remuera and Ellerslie. Her apartment there is due for completion mid-2027.
The development includes two distinct residential offerings. The Residences are a mix of standalone/terraced three- and four-bedroom homes, while Belvedere is a collection of apartments set within a layout shaped by the natural contours of the land, with green spaces woven through the site and buildings positioned to make the most of light and outlook.
To help buyers understand how the development will come together, Fletcher Living has an on-site Experience Centre in the racecourse’s former caretaker’s cottage. Inside are masterplan models, visual displays and a layout designed to replicate the feel of an apartment.
Prices currently start from around $999,000 for one-bedroom apartments, $1.5 million for two-bedrooms and $2.475 million for three-bedrooms. For the current offering in the Residences there are three- and four-bedroom standalone homes with prices starting at $2.35 million.
As Fletcher Living masterplanning manager Ian Craig puts it, "We are not just thinking about how houses sit next to each other. We are thinking about how people will move, meet and live."
For Elizabeth, the decision to buy at Belvedere came down to practicality.
"I grew up in this area. All my friends are here. It’s just so close to everything I already do," she says.
She had originally expected to buy a standalone home but instead chose a top-floor apartment with views stretching from Mount Wellington through to Rangitoto.
"It’s better value living in The Hill than it is living on Remuera Road," she says. "It’s about $2 million cheaper. And yet you’re still in Remuera."
Her professional background also played a role in the decision.
"I’ve worked in leaky building litigation. I know exactly what can go wrong," she says. "One of the first things I asked about was waterproofing and tanking."
Seeing how that had been handled helped put her at ease.
"They’re tanking the car parks properly," she says. "That gave me confidence."
That confidence mirrors a broader trend in the market. According to Sarah Beaumont, Central North Sales Manager at Fletcher Living, buyer behaviour has shifted in recent years.
"A lot of apartment buyers don’t need to sell straight away," she says. "They’re buying first, then planning the transition, which takes the pressure off."
She says the development’s location, nestled between established Remuera and Ellerslie with cafés, shops, schools and everyday amenities close at hand, adds to its appeal and is also drawing families and multi-generational buyers.
"We’re seeing people who want to live close to family without being on top of each other," she says. "In some cases, buyers are purchasing both an apartment and a standalone home so different generations can live nearby while still having their own space."
That sense of connection appeals to Elizabeth. “I intend to introduce a real community spirit into living in The Belvedere, so we all get to know each other.”
Having spent years restoring her previous home, she is now looking forward to moving into a space that is finished, functional and ready to enjoy.
She has already chosen the furniture and finishes she plans to move in with, picturing how the apartment will come together once she settles in.
"When I throw my paintbrushes away, I’m going to have a glass of champagne," she says.
For her, The Hill represents a practical next step. A home that reflects how she wants to live now, not how she lived before.
For those wanting to see how the development is taking shape, the on-site Experience Centre offers a chance to explore the layout, design and feel of The Hill before homes are completed.
To read more about The Hill and see all available homes for sale visit The Hill | Auckland » Fletcher Living
