Property markets around Christchurch’s periphery have continued to hold heat this winter ...7/16/2018 ... even as listings dipped in the city, indicating the “untapped potential” of surrounding areas is starting to be realised, one of the region’s top realtors says. James Twiss, co-owner of Harcourts Four Seasons, oversees eight offices spanning the area from Hanmer Springs to Lincoln. About 40 per cent of the company’s business is in Christchurch, and Twiss says while listings there are about eight per cent down on this time last year, activity outside the city has shown no sign of the usual seasonal slowdown. The area encompassing Kaiapoi, Woodend, Ravenswood and Pegasus is now looking like “the next Rolleston” and offers a lot of potential for people getting in early, he says. “There’s a lot of value there that I don’t think people have properly understood yet. Historically, if you were picking residential property in North Canterbury you would be looking at Kaiapoi and Rangiora but that’s widened a lot. “What’s happening is all the transport links are opening up, and the council is focusing a lot of its growth attention into that corner.” Twiss says commercial investment and jobs would likely follow the population, which would in turn help drive capital gains for the area's current homeowners. Commuting into Christchurch for work will also become more attractive as transport options continue to improve, he says. In a little over a year, there are due to be three major routes into Christchurch, with the Cranford St bypass joining passages along Johns Rd and Main North Rd. “When you’re talking about growth, it means the jobs don’t need to be on your doorstep,” Twiss says. Harcourts Four Seasons is well-positioned for a wide overview of the market. Having expanded last November to incorporate offices in Hornby and Rolleston, the team formerly known as Twiss-Keir Realty gained a territory that sweeps from its North Canterbury base, around and through Christchurch, out to Lincoln and Rolleston. They soon noticed many buyers were looking for homes both north and south of the city. “Its eerie how similar it is. It’s like we’re discovering a new market,” Twiss said in May. He says it now appears the Woodend region is following a similar trajectory to Rolleston – for several years the country's fastest growing town. Lincoln is also performing well, he says, noting that value for money is a big part of the equation. In Christchurch, meanwhile, lower-than-usual listings over winter don’t necessarily mean a slump, Twiss cautions. Rather, the high number of appraisals being done by Harcourts Four Seasons suggests owners are gearing up a for spring listing. This is despite advantages to listing in winter. “There’s always more competition in spring but the number of buyers is usually the same,” Twiss says. For people looking to buy, he advises contacting with a salesperson because there are usually properties available that aren’t being actively marketed. * Harcourts Four Seasons has offices in Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Hanmer Springs, Belfast, The Palms, Hornby, Rolleston and Lincoln (opening soon), as well as a dedicated property management division. Leave a Reply. |
James Twiss
Licensed Business Owner of Harcourts Four Seasons Realty 2017 Ltd Greg Roberts
Licensed Business Owner of Harcourts Four Seasons Realty 2017 Ltd Archives
September 2020
|