- 6 hours ago
Location Location Location NZ - Season 2 Episode 2
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00:00Let's go Paul!
00:02We're helping two families take huge steps in different directions.
00:06It just feels like it's time for a change.
00:09I'm with a family looking for multi-generational living.
00:12There's three of us in this marriage.
00:14And I have the mammoth task of separating a Yorkshireman from his money.
00:18Two million? One by five.
00:21Damn. Tell me about it.
00:23Two families. This is my dream. Oh my goodness.
00:25I've always wanted one of these.
00:27Two fresh starts. Oh wow.
00:29This is pretty special. It is.
00:31And the sacrifices that come with them.
00:33The bulldozers are not coming with us.
00:35I've got every confidence in you.
00:37Oh well, here's the front door. Let's go.
00:44This week we're exploring Auckland's North Shore, the sunny side of Tamaki Makono.
00:49I'm helping a pair of empty nesters moving down from Whangare.
00:52These guys are looking forward to a new and exciting chapter in their life.
00:56And I'm on the hunt for a home to bring three generations together under one roof.
01:00Three generations together.
01:02It's like daughter, mum and mum's mum.
01:06Didn't really come out right, did it?
01:10Buying a home means different things to different people.
01:13For some, it's about spreading your wings.
01:16For others, it's about staying close to roots, whānau and friends.
01:20With the cost of living on the rise, more and more Kiwis are joining forces across generations.
01:25Sharing one house, adding a granny flat or finding enough space for two homes.
01:30Is it ten we have?
01:31I think it's seven, isn't it?
01:33Isn't it twenty-one?
01:34Yes.
01:35Twenty-one?
01:36Yeah.
01:37In 2004, Lynn and her husband Eugene and seven-year-old Caroline set foot in Aotearoa New Zealand for an adventure.
01:44And found the place they'd call home.
01:47We were supposed to go to Ireland where my husband's from.
01:49And then we kind of bypassed Ireland and ended up in New Zealand.
01:52And it's the best thing we've ever done.
01:54Fifteen years later, Caroline and Mehdi met at a friend's engagement party.
01:59At least that's the part they agree on.
02:01Mehdi was obsessed with me.
02:04It's two different stories, right?
02:05No.
02:06Fast forward a few years and the young couple were happily married and soon expecting their first baby.
02:12But it was bittersweet.
02:14Time with Caroline's dad Eugene was running out.
02:17And not long after, cancer took him before he could meet his granddaughter.
02:21He was very level-headed and just a big...
02:28He was a big part of our life.
02:30The loss of Eugene brought a shift in priorities for this whānau.
02:34And it's a big part of why they've decided to combine resources and live together.
02:39What am I doing?
02:40Yeah.
02:41I do feel like he's with me.
02:43And I know that he would love to have been on this programme because we used to watch them a lot.
02:48We have a very new chapter in our lives.
02:51We've dad no longer physically here.
02:53Eugene's granddaughter, Essina, was born earlier this year.
02:56Our new daughter, Essina.
02:58It's almost like the right time where we're both looking for that next chapter
03:01and our chapters are going to come together.
03:03There's three of us and there's no each.
03:05What better way to honour Eugene than a new chapter?
03:10A new way of living and a new home where new memories can take root.
03:14Oh.
03:15That's nice.
03:16The bathroom was really lovely.
03:17The plan's in motion, but what will it take to turn their vision into a reality?
03:22We're just looking for a house with a difference.
03:25And the goal?
03:26Two homes on one section.
03:28Space for the whānau to live together, but room to breathe.
03:31Probably three bedrooms.
03:32Two bedrooms?
03:33How many people are you going to have over?
03:35An office.
03:36Aw, that's so cute.
03:38That is actually really lovely with the indoor-outdoor floor.
03:40Yeah, yeah.
03:41Having one property with two houses on it or having, you know, one property with one house
03:46currently on it where, you know, we look at some plans for Lynne and we do an extension
03:51on the back or, you know, we have a connection there for her.
03:54That's nice.
03:55Perfect house for Lynne.
03:56Cool.
03:57It's done.
03:58We found it.
03:59Yay!
04:00That's a bit of a steep asking price, though.
04:01There's a delicate balancing act, finding the right set-up for a growing whānau and grieving
04:05hearts.
04:06It won't be easy, but that's what this journey is all about.
04:09Although they do have contingency plans if things don't work out.
04:13Oh, if I get sick of them, I can go and travel, so.
04:15Yeah, sure.
04:16Go on holiday.
04:17If I get sick of you.
04:18Yeah.
04:19So, you're looking for a larger home.
04:24Yes.
04:25And you're downsizing.
04:26Downsizing from a four bedroom to probably a two bedroom.
04:30We're looking for land potentially either to build on or an established home.
04:36We're wanting a four bedrooms, ensuite, master.
04:39And another bathroom.
04:41Yeah.
04:42A dearly open plan.
04:43Yeah.
04:44It's such a great thing to be doing.
04:47I know there's lots of whānau that come together to buy a home and look at sort of
04:52making that next journey together.
04:54Yeah.
04:55So, where am I looking?
04:56Ideally, the bays.
04:57North Shore.
04:58There's one important thing that we haven't covered.
05:01Ching ching.
05:02Yeah.
05:03How much have I got to spend?
05:04Show me the money.
05:06Ideally, 1.8.
05:07Willing to stretch if it's like somewhere that has that potential to really just be the dream.
05:13Yeah.
05:14So exciting.
05:15You ready?
05:16Totally.
05:17Cheers.
05:18Cheers.
05:19Cheers.
05:20Cheers.
05:21We're searching for a four bedroom, two bathroom home with a big open plan living area, plus
05:25a separate dwelling for Lynn, or at least space to add one.
05:29Their budget of 1.8 million is strong, but stretching it across two homes could make this
05:34a tricky search.
05:37After a decade of bush, third songs, sprawling lawns and their own life size Tonka Toy, anaesthetist
05:44Joe and retired John are saying goodbye to their idyllic life in Whangare.
05:51We're moving of necessity because of Joe's got a job in Auckland.
05:55It has to be commutable to North Shore Hospital, which is where I'll be working.
06:00It's farewell to paradise, trading peace and paddocks for people, pavements and a whole
06:05new pace of life.
06:07We are cautiously entering the empty nester phase of our lives.
06:12With their son Dan away at university and their daughter Eleanor getting ready to leave
06:17home, the family is gearing up for a big transition.
06:20You know, in a year's time we'll find ourselves on our own, and so the agenda's changed a
06:25little bit.
06:26It kind of feels like it might be better for us as a couple if we are actually just based
06:32in a bigger city.
06:33John may be retired, but he's a man of many talents.
06:36Yeah, I made boats for quite a few years for a living, like classic mahogany speed boats.
06:41Then he traded speed boats for earthworks.
06:44Just as loud, just not as fast.
06:47I've got a bulldozer to help, yeah, but that's very good in summer and a lot of fun.
06:53And his latest hobby, mixing cocktails.
06:57It's thirsty work behind the wheel of a bulldozer.
07:00We will miss good things about this house, like the space and the privacy.
07:04Oh, thank you.
07:05To put it in perspective, 800 square metres is a big section in Auckland.
07:10John and Jo are leaving 40,000 square metres.
07:13That's like swapping a footy field for a doormat.
07:16It just feels like it's time for a change.
07:19It's Jo's work bringing them to Auckland, but John's quite happy to trade his bulldozer
07:24for box seats at the opera.
07:26I enjoy theatre and music, opera.
07:29I've kind of liked classical music since I was seven.
07:32And I also worked in the theatre and worked in life music when I was younger.
07:37I'm right sophisticated, you know.
07:39That's one word for it.
07:41Something tells me this won't be a simple search.
07:44What do you think about that one?
07:46I think we know it's going to be quite hard to find a house in Auckland that we both like,
07:50because our needs are quite different.
07:53The land and the outside space is important to John,
07:57whereas the house is important to me.
08:00That one's quite good, good parking.
08:02So let me get this right.
08:03The only thing they actually agree on is that they are moving.
08:07I'd be happy with her box in the window of the kitchen.
08:11That would be fine for me, but I think John needs a little bit more.
08:14It's much more than a challenge.
08:16It's a test of compromise, communication and patience.
08:20Tell me about it.
08:21Lots of patience.
08:23And that's where I come in.
08:25What exactly are you guys after?
08:27It's a minimum three bedrooms.
08:29We've got two kids that will probably be coming back from uni intermittently.
08:32The boomerangs?
08:33Yeah.
08:34Something that is light, a little bit of space around.
08:37I'm going to be working at North Shore Hospital
08:39and would like it to be ideally less than half an hour's commute.
08:44Yeah, you don't want to spend all day in the car.
08:46Yeah, we want to do something for us.
08:47The budget is around the two million?
08:50About 1.5.
08:52Damn.
08:53I've got to keep you on your toes.
08:57We want good value for money.
08:59Okay, I promise.
09:00Yorkshiremen love a bargain.
09:01Yeah.
09:02Are you both on the same page?
09:04We know what each other wants, but we don't necessarily agree,
09:08so obviously our priorities are slightly different.
09:10I'm hopeful that we can come to an agreement this time as well.
09:14Alright, so let's go.
09:16Thanks.
09:17Alright.
09:20John and Jo are searching for a three to four bedroom home with two bathrooms.
09:24Close to Jo's new job and within an easy reach of Auckland's cultural heartbeat.
09:29With a budget of 1.5 million, the challenge is finding a place that balances work and play.
09:36This search has all the drama of opening night.
09:39Well, let's hope it ends with a standing ovation.
09:42Every house hunt comes with its own challenges.
09:48Lynn's family want more space.
09:50John and Jo want less.
09:52What matters most though is finding a place that matches their lifestyle,
09:56not just their wish list.
09:58And the right homes are out there, but in the end it all comes down to location, location, location.
10:04So how are you feeling about working with three generations?
10:07Normally it's only one generation and that's tricky enough.
10:10I know, right? I feel a tremendous amount of responsibility.
10:13We're working with like 1.8, 2 million and I'm trying to find a home here on the shore
10:20that can accommodate the entire family.
10:22I mean, it makes sense in this day and age to put your resources together, doesn't it?
10:26Well, my guys are downsizing from a big property.
10:30Having met them now, John is very direct.
10:33Right.
10:34You're either in or out, there's no middle ground.
10:36So I, like you, feel a responsibility to find them that property that'll give them access to the city,
10:43but also be complimentary to where Jo works.
10:46Yeah. At the hospital.
10:48At the hospital.
10:49You make it sound really easy, Jane.
10:51It's okay.
10:52Game on.
10:53Yeah.
10:54For their first property, I'm taking Lynn and her family across the harbour bridge to Beach Haven.
11:00Nestled on the edge of the Waitemata Harbour, this charming coastal suburb feels like a world away from the bustle of central Auckland.
11:08Now, I know the shore well, so I'm slightly biased.
11:11Beach Haven has leafy streets, local parks, a strong sense of community, and it's a favourite with families.
11:18The average house price is just over a million.
11:21So, what do you think?
11:23I like the top half.
11:25Good.
11:26And then the bottom half, maybe not so much, but I'm excited to see inside.
11:31Should we go and have a look?
11:32Yeah.
11:33I'm excited.
11:34I'm going to keep my fingers crossed.
11:36This beautifully renovated 1970s multi-level home offers four bedrooms and three bathrooms.
11:43Plenty of room for a growing family.
11:45The open plan living and dining area flows into a sleek modern kitchen.
11:50The bathrooms are ultra stylish and the bedrooms are big, so this place ticks all the right boxes.
11:56There's even a rumpus room for some extra flexibility.
11:59It's light filled and sun soaked from morning to night.
12:02It's going to auction and the current CV is just over 1.3 million.
12:07Wow.
12:08Oh my God, it's stunning.
12:10It's lovely.
12:11It's beautiful.
12:12240 square metres on the floor.
12:14And room for additional dwelling, potentially.
12:17Yeah.
12:18For the old girl.
12:19Young, spring chicken.
12:21Should we have a quick look at the kitchen?
12:23Yes.
12:24Yeah.
12:25Oh, that's cool.
12:26Really nice connection to nature too.
12:28Oh yes.
12:29Yeah.
12:30There's a lot of home to cover.
12:31Yes.
12:32Do you mind if I accompany you?
12:33Yeah.
12:34Please.
12:35I normally leave you guys.
12:36What a gentleman.
12:37Yeah.
12:38See you later.
12:39Okay.
12:40Nice spongy carpet.
12:43And nice greenery outside.
12:45Very nice in the summer.
12:46A glass of wine.
12:47I know.
12:49And additional lounge.
12:51Wonderful indoor-outdoor flow.
12:52Yes.
12:53And then you've got your bedroom with its own living area as well.
12:56Oh, wow.
12:57There's a little bed there.
12:59They're so compact.
13:00Nice.
13:01Ooh.
13:04Small.
13:05But it's...
13:06But it's additional.
13:07Nice and contained.
13:08Yeah.
13:09It's lovely.
13:11I was spoiled having the bigger house.
13:14Yeah.
13:15But it's quite drastic going from a full big three level to this.
13:21For Lynne, it's not easy saying goodbye to the home that she shared with her late husband Eugene.
13:25She's also facing the realities of downsizing.
13:29Compromising is hard enough.
13:31But mixed with grief and memories, it's so much tougher.
13:35Oh.
13:36Wow.
13:37Look at that view.
13:38Oh, that's beautiful.
13:40Hey, look.
13:41It's a walking wardrobe.
13:42Do you like it?
13:44It smells beautiful.
13:45Wake up in the morning.
13:46A cup of coffee.
13:47It's gorgeous.
13:48Run to the deck.
13:49Oh my goodness.
13:51Now that's a sexy bath.
13:53Wow.
13:54That's stunning.
13:55That's great views.
13:56I love how, like, connected it is with the nature though.
13:59Yeah.
14:00Like having a bath or shower in the nature.
14:03That's so gorgeous.
14:05I love the bathroom.
14:06You stay in there then.
14:09Oh.
14:10Would you use this as a bedroom or something?
14:11Oh yeah, that's what I was thinking.
14:12Because then the whole top floor could just be completely ours.
14:15I think Caroline and Mehdi are reading my mind.
14:18There's enough room here for them and baby Asina to have the top floor, while Lynne would
14:22have all of downstairs and they could share the middle floor together.
14:26How did you find your area downstairs?
14:28It was a bit small.
14:29Yeah.
14:30Like, okay.
14:31Yeah.
14:32It almost felt like it was like a studio downstairs.
14:34Yeah.
14:35Because it was like a bedroom with a lounge, you know?
14:36Yeah.
14:37Yeah.
14:38I love the view, the number of bedrooms, the bathrooms.
14:40The view.
14:41Good.
14:42Yeah, the view is lovely.
14:43The view is stunning.
14:44And that's what it takes the boxes.
14:45What do you think?
14:46It's a no.
14:47Oh, no.
14:48It's a no.
14:51Well, that's a definite no from Asina.
14:53I kind of got the feeling that you were thinking this could be a little bit snug.
14:57Yes.
14:58I'd feel a bit cooped up, I think.
15:00I mean, definitely a tick for the view.
15:02Yeah.
15:03Yeah.
15:04I hear what we're all saying.
15:05I've got some work to do, is what you're telling me.
15:07No, it was a great start.
15:08Like, really great start.
15:09It was a great start, yeah.
15:10You did good.
15:12I should be proud of yourself.
15:13You did good.
15:14You should be proud of yourself, but it's a no.
15:15Just do better.
15:16Okay.
15:17You hear that?
15:18I've got a lot of work to do.
15:19Should we go and have a look at the next one?
15:20Yes, please.
15:21As my teachers used to say, Paul, you must do better.
15:24I don't want Lynn to feel like her space is an afterthought.
15:27I have to find her something that feels like home.
15:33There's no simple formula when it comes to upsizing or downsizing.
15:37It all depends on what life throws at you.
15:39Maybe your kids have flown the nest.
15:41Maybe the lawns have beaten your knees.
15:43The right home at the right time can change everything.
15:46More space, less stress, or simply a shorter drive to work.
15:51Today, I'm in Milford on Auckland's North Shore with John and Joe.
15:55Milford is right next to Takapuna, home to North Shore Hospital and Joe's new job.
16:00It's a seaside suburb with plenty to offer.
16:03A stunning swimming beach, great food, and a lively high street.
16:07So it's no surprise that the average for a three bedroom home is around 1.6 million.
16:15Wow.
16:16It's big.
16:17It is.
16:18The reason why we've brought you here is the location.
16:20Sure.
16:21We're pretty close to the hospital.
16:23Really close.
16:24Yeah, I think I could see it from somewhere around.
16:26Yeah.
16:27Joe could definitely walk to work from here, which is excellent.
16:29Alright, so 1950s.
16:31Been around for a good chunk of time.
16:33Good bones.
16:34Excellent.
16:35I'm liking the fact that it's going to be light inside,
16:37because I can see already that the sun's pouring in.
16:40Oh well, here's the front door.
16:41Let's go.
16:42Excellent.
16:44This solid 1950s brick home spans 214 square metres over two sun-soaked levels.
16:50Upstairs, you'll find three bedrooms, an office, with separate living and dining spaces,
16:56all filled with natural light.
16:59Downstairs, there's an extra living area.
17:01There's another bedroom and bathroom, plus internal access to the garage.
17:06North Shore Hospital is just up the road for Joe, and with plenty of room out the back,
17:11there's potential for a bigger shed to keep John happily occupied.
17:14This place is on a cross-lease, and I know Joe and John are a bit nervous about what that all means.
17:20It's going to auction, and so far the feedback puts it in their budget.
17:25Oh, nice.
17:28Nice old wooden floors.
17:30Beautiful dining area.
17:32So how does the view compare to the one you've got now?
17:34I like it.
17:36All right, let's pop through to the engine room.
17:39Keep calm, John.
17:40She's talking about the kitchen, not an actual engine.
17:44Oh yeah, it's actually quite big.
17:46There's plenty of work surface, there's plenty of storage.
17:48But it definitely needs opened up.
17:50Yeah.
17:51It definitely needs opening up.
17:53Oh, nice lounge.
17:55It's a good space, isn't it?
17:57This whole lounge area, the back deck, is bathed and afternoon sun.
18:02Master bedroom.
18:04Nice serene feel.
18:06But it looks like it's got an en-suite and a wardrobe.
18:10Oh, wow.
18:11Wow.
18:12This walk-in wardrobe's so big, it's got a different postcode to the rest of the house.
18:16It's like a whole extra bedroom almost.
18:18Huge.
18:21Oh, wow.
18:22Whole new living area.
18:24Oh, that's a good second lounge.
18:26A big bonus.
18:28Third bedroom.
18:30And a little emergency exit or entrance for when you've been out late and you don't want your parents to know.
18:36Lots of secret doors in this house.
18:38It's like Narnia.
18:40Feels like there's a history here.
18:41All we need now is the lion, the witch and a gigantic shed for John.
18:49Wow, this is pretty small and pokey.
18:52You just have to pull it down and build a bigger one.
18:54Yeah.
18:55I feel this house is perfect for them.
18:57The size, the location, the back lawn.
19:00But psychologically, is the move going to be too much for them?
19:06Downsizing isn't just about space.
19:08It's about choosing what matters and accepting that sometimes compromises need to be made.
19:14I like the variety of rooms and there are lots of rooms, but I don't like that all the rooms are quite small.
19:22I don't think the rooms are that small.
19:24I think that might be something that you're going to have to get used to.
19:27But it ticks a lot of boxes and its location is better than we could have hoped for.
19:31The location is definitely the best thing about it.
19:34Obviously we've got some more houses to see, but we'll have to think about whether those compromises are compromises that we can make.
19:40When you're coming from 40,000 square metres, compromise isn't just part of the process.
19:47It is the process.
19:49For me, it would be on my list.
19:51The amount of space that you've got, the location that you've got, definitely makes it worth thinking about a bit more.
19:56You could make this house your own by making some changes.
20:00I'm guessing that's why it's in budget. In fact, why is it in budget?
20:04Where do you feel it sits?
20:061.2 or 1.3.
20:07That's the feedback is in that 1.2, 1.4 band.
20:11That is well under your budget.
20:13But that kind of money, I think it's a great home.
20:16It definitely is a good value.
20:18A definite maybe?
20:19A definite maybe.
20:21So, a definitely maybe. Very oasis.
20:25Let's just hope the next one's not a champagne supernopa.
20:27Okay, you're not allowed to say champagne supernopa ever again.
20:36Multi-generational living is on the rise across Aotearoa. The positives are obvious and the rewards can be huge. A home that works for everyone and a future built together.
20:46For my house hunters, house number one didn't exactly set their hearts racing.
20:53I'd feel a bit cooped up I think. Just too small.
20:55So, for house number two, I've brought Lynn Carolina Medi a little further inland to the suburb of Greenhive, where the average house price is around 1.8 million.
21:05You've done great, Paul.
21:08We haven't even gone inside yet.
21:10Thank you for doing yourself.
21:12I'm buzzing to see this house.
21:14Absolutely buzzing.
21:15And I can kind of see like a bit of a Paul reflection.
21:18Why didn't you show us this first?
21:20There'd be no more show.
21:22There'd be no more show.
21:24It would just be location.
21:25It would just be the location. It is the location though, right?
21:28Let's go, Paul!
21:30I'm so excited.
21:32You go inside. I'll follow after.
21:34I'm just going to have a nervous conniption.
21:38I think I may have ticked some boxes.
21:41Nope. No signs of excitement here whatsoever.
21:45This stunning single level home spans 256 square metres and ticks all the boxes.
21:52Four bedrooms, two bathrooms, two generous living areas, a triple garage with workshop and yes, there's even a swimming pool.
21:59Sitting on a 2,000 square metre section with consent for a minor dwelling, this place is also set for auction, but I've bought them here because I believe it's within their range.
22:10Wow. It's stunning. So much space. That's gorgeous.
22:15Is the kitchen big enough?
22:17It has that massive space for entertaining and I love that.
22:20People can congregate around here and sit down there. The fireplace is gorgeous too.
22:24Good job, Paulie Kins.
22:25Good job.
22:26Well, Paulie Kins, if you're a good boy for the rest of the week, you'll get a juice box and a gold star.
22:36Oh, wow. That's gorgeous.
22:38Do you want to have a look around?
22:39Yes.
22:40Yep. Let's go and look at these bedrooms.
22:43A nice size room.
22:45Definitely is. It's a lovely little baby room, isn't it?
22:48My room? My room.
22:50What do we have here? Maybe as an office?
22:53Yeah, it'd be good as an office.
22:55This one's a bit bigger than next door. They're currently using it as an office.
22:59This is their office. Cool.
23:01Yeah.
23:02There's an allotment outside.
23:04I can grow my cabbages and my radishes.
23:08Wow.
23:10This is exactly the reaction I was hoping for.
23:13There's so much you can do with this place and it's a really great example of the value you can get if you're willing to step back from the water.
23:19My house hunter John would love this garage and workshop, but Jo's commute to work would be horrible.
23:25What were your thoughts on that one then?
23:30I like the house.
23:32It's got a nice feel.
23:34As you said, Mehdi, another driveway is up here.
23:37So that could be my entrance into that part of the house and then we could build on that.
23:43I think it's got potential.
23:44Yeah, what do you think?
23:46I love the outside when we first came in. I was like, oh my God, wow.
23:49The hub of the home being the kitchen, dining, lounge, like love that.
23:53The indoor outdoor floor fireplace, swimming pool, garden, everything was absolute box ticked.
23:59The location's stunning.
24:01Yeah, I love the location.
24:03Now there's heaps of land here and there's more than enough room for Lynn to build the home of her dreams, which is kind of the fuse that I wanted to light.
24:11Do you like it? Yes, you do. You love it here. They always say babies buy homes. Come on, let's go buy this one.
24:19Hello.
24:21Yes.
24:22You're a natural.
24:25Well, thank you for babysitting.
24:26Yeah, I tell you what, I think she's a good luck charm for this property.
24:31Certainly a beautiful home.
24:33It's a great home. Easy for you to live in here as it is, but also to evolve.
24:37Exactly, yes.
24:39Can you see it working for you?
24:41Yeah.
24:42Definitely.
24:43Yeah.
24:44It's got like everything, entertainment, indoor outdoor flow, fireplace.
24:48You've done a good job.
24:49Property number three, here we come.
24:51Yay! Thank you.
24:53It is a spectacular property with plenty of potential.
24:56And for house number three, well, I've kept the best for last.
25:02After John and Jo's lukewarm response to house number one.
25:05For me, it seems a bit bitter, I think because it's a 50s house and it's been developed over time.
25:12I've gone back to the drawing board to find something that might just hit their sweet spot.
25:17It's my turn to head to Beach Haven, where the average price for a four bedroom home is just over 1.2 million.
25:24We're excited to see what you've got for us.
25:25Yeah, a little bit nervous.
25:27Not as nervous as I am back here.
25:29You a bit worried about my driving, mate?
25:30No, no, no, I've got every confidence in you.
25:32Any more cheek from John and he can walk to the next house.
25:36It's a great view here.
25:38Yeah.
25:39Well, welcome to house number two.
25:42It's big.
25:43I'm looking forward to seeing the view from that day.
25:45Yeah, it's going to be impressive.
25:47So we'll take a look inside.
25:49Excellent, yeah.
25:50Off we go.
25:52Tucked away with sweeping harbour views, this 1960s classic has three bedrooms, three bathrooms, as well as separate living and dining areas on the main floor.
26:02Downstairs, there's a fourth bedroom, a second living area and internal access to a double garage.
26:08It's an off-market opportunity and I'm excited that they get the chance to see it first.
26:13Oh, wow.
26:14That's a great view, eh?
26:16That's amazing.
26:18There can't be many kitchens with a view like this.
26:20Nice start.
26:21Nice start.
26:22Great start.
26:24See the little boat?
26:25That's the ferry that you guys can actually catch from Beechhaven Wharf to take you into the city.
26:32Oh, wow.
26:33This is beautiful.
26:34Even better from out here.
26:36Really peaceful as well.
26:37It is.
26:39It won't be so peaceful when his bulldozer turns up.
26:42Oh, this is a nice lounge.
26:44Well, that's an even better view than the deck, I reckon.
26:47That's just so expansive.
26:48You don't expect that from the road.
26:51Main bathroom.
26:52Separate shower, separate bath.
26:53Nice.
26:54Small, but tidy.
26:55Nice, yep.
26:58Oh, that's a bigger room.
26:59That's another nice room, eh?
27:00You could probably squeeze a double in here.
27:02Yeah.
27:03It's a good single or small double, isn't it?
27:04Yeah.
27:05This must be the master.
27:06Yeah.
27:07Good size master bedroom.
27:08For sure.
27:09I like the fact that every room on this side has got entry onto the patio.
27:14Yeah.
27:15Oh, wow.
27:17Dressing room and bathroom.
27:19Yeah.
27:23Oh, here we go.
27:24Oh, nice.
27:25That's more like it.
27:26Yeah, I could get a lot of things in here.
27:28Do you think you could fit a bulldozer in here?
27:31The bulldozer's not coming with us.
27:34Oh, poor John.
27:35Look at his little face.
27:37So what I'm sensing and what I'm seeing is the overall vibe is very positive about property number two.
27:43The only thing I'm worried about is that potentially going to be too much of a commute for Joe at the end of a busy day.
27:51But what a place to come home to when you have had a long day.
27:55It is off market, so they will need to be quick.
27:58Bearing in mind it took them a year to find their house in Whangarei.
28:02They won't have that long here.
28:04What do you think?
28:05The view is obviously nice.
28:08The rooms are nicer.
28:10The shed or garage has got a lot more room.
28:13I really like that.
28:14I guess the downsides of this house are it's probably a bit smaller and a bit further away.
28:20So a maybe.
28:21A definite maybe.
28:23Every house is a definite maybe until proven otherwise.
28:26Yep.
28:28Oh, another definite maybe.
28:30Don't even think about it, Paul.
28:33I'm getting some good positive energy from our viewing today.
28:37I think we like this one a lot better than the first one all round.
28:41The spaces, the surroundings and shed space are much better.
28:45Pretty positive, you would say.
28:47Any negatives?
28:48We'll have to check out exactly how far from the hospital we are, especially in rush hour.
28:54But we have to compromise on something and that is a pretty spectacular view.
28:58And I don't think we were expecting to see anything within our budget with that view.
29:03For resale as well, a view is a really good commodity to have.
29:08It is.
29:09Undoubtedly.
29:10Time is of the essence with an off market property.
29:13So at least don't take a year to decide.
29:16It's not going to be there.
29:17No, no.
29:18Getting a reaction out of John is like mixing the perfect cocktail.
29:22It takes patience, the right ingredients and just a little shake.
29:27Today we might have got the recipe right and with one more house to go, let's see if it's served with a smile.
29:33Hi Jo.
29:34Hi Nancy.
29:35Come on in.
29:36Thanks.
29:37How are you?
29:38Good, thank you.
29:39I hear you're looking to downsize.
29:40Have you considered much about contents insurance?
29:41We haven't actually looked at any of that for a long time.
29:42Fair enough.
29:43Moving house is a great time to review your contents, some insured.
29:44This is going to cover your personal belongings, so things that are separate from the building
29:46and the structure.
29:47Furniture, jewellery, clothing and electrical insurance.
29:49So are there any sort of specific limits on high-value items?
29:50Great question Jo.
29:51Generally contents insurance policies cover your belongings up to your some insured.
29:54Some of those limits are fixed and can't be changed.
29:55And some are adjustable so you can increase your contents insurance policy.
29:58But the contents insurance policies cover your belongings up to your some insured.
30:04Some of those limits are fixed and can't be changed and some are adjustable so you can increase your items in your home.
30:09We haven't actually looked at any of that for a long time.
30:11Fair enough.
30:12Moving house is a great time to review your contents, some insured.
30:13This is going to cover your personal belongings so things that are separate from the building and the structure.
30:16can't be changed and some are adjustable so you can increase your cover for that category of contents.
30:20Check your policy documents and talk to your insurer and they'll be able to tell you which
30:24items have limits and what can be adjusted. And it can be difficult trying to establish that
30:30content some insured but some insurers do offer online calculators to help you get that estimate.
30:35I'd also recommend keeping digital copies of receipts and valuations for your contents,
30:40particularly any high value items. These can be used as proof of ownership during claims time
30:45and help progress your contents claim quickly and efficiently. We haven't been doing that either
30:49have we? No. So I think we probably need to review what our contents are insured for
30:55currently and adjust that upwards or downwards. I think so. Thanks for your time today and
31:00all the best with the house hunting journey. Great, thank you.
31:03House number two set the bar high for my family. Let's go Paul. So finding house number three meant
31:19calling in Jane to go that extra mile. How was that wild card? I've stretched the legs a little bit
31:25and we're going to view a home in the gorgeous community of Waimoku. Waimoku is not on their list
31:34but hear me out. You get a whole lot more home for your dollar here. It's semi-rural, home to vineyards
31:40and some breathtaking scenery. This one might just surprise them. The average house price around 1.6 million.
31:48It's huge. It's a handsome home from the street. Let's get inside. You lead the way. Okay. At just four
31:55years old this place still has that new home smell and it comes with the full works. Four bedrooms,
32:03three bathrooms and an open plan living and dining area. Perfect for family chaos or a quiet cuppa.
32:10And the best bit, there's a minor dwelling so Lynn could get her own space without having to build
32:15anything or live in a converted basement. All of this could be theirs for just over one and a half
32:20million. Wow. Oh my goodness. Feels like home already. Oh Mehdi's gonna be so angry he missed this.
32:30Wow Paulikins. Yes. Oh my god. You've excelled yourself. Well Paulikins, that's a juice box, a gold star
32:38and now a laminated certificate for trying very very hard. There's so much house. Got to put them
32:45out of the misery and show them the rest of this house. So this is one of the bedrooms. It's a nice
32:52size. Yeah. And again, natural light. Huge. It's a walk-in wardrobe. Wow. And there's an ensuite. Oh wow,
33:03that's huge. That's massive. Falling in love for sure. Caroline is so hard to read Jane. I'm not sure
33:09she likes it. Stop it. Are you joking? I am joking. Oh my god. This is my dream. Oh my goodness. No,
33:20I wasn't expecting that. I've always wanted one of these. Nope. Nothing. Not a flicker of emotion.
33:28But they haven't seen the separate flat yet. This is exciting. Your own accommodation completely
33:35separate. Good one Paul. You did good. Thank you. Well it's a nice size. Yeah. I like that. I was
33:43expecting something that ended about here. You do have the extra room as well so you've got so much
33:50space. Yeah. It feels nicer. At the first house, Lynn was polite but unconvinced. However this,
33:57it's a different story. It feels like home already actually. Okay. It's lovely. I do love the, um,
34:03the granny annex. Um, it can have two bedrooms or I could have a little living room instead of an
34:09extra bedroom. Okay. It's got a shower and I just say, um, I could book my bath, um, appointments
34:15through here. Is that okay with you? Yeah. Good. I just wanted to make sure, start if you mean to go on. Sure.
34:21I'm getting good vibrations from inside. The question is, is Lynn ready? I know she says she's
34:27ready but is she actually ready? It's such a big step to downsize emotionally.
34:34It's a beautiful home. Like you really did go above and beyond for that home. It ticked everything and
34:39more. What do you think it's worth? I would say a home like that with an income, 1.8, 1.9.
34:45One million, five hundred and sixty-five thousand dollars.
34:52That took me by a huge surprise. Yeah. Yeah. It just shows location. It's literally everything.
34:57Yeah. Yeah. With all the memories that I have, obviously,
35:00fresh start. Yeah. New beginnings. You know, that's going to be your base but I can see you
35:07still traveling and seeing the world and, you know, that's just your base. Yeah. Yeah. And you
35:14didn't even my little shoulder. Yeah. And how gorgeous is it? You'll be watching every phase and
35:20stage of that beautiful little girl, you know? Well, it sounds like your mind is made up. I think we need
35:27to keep something under the hat, so don't tell Mehdi. I'm really looking forward to seeing his face
35:32on decision day. Yeah. Well, I think this one's a winner. Really? What gave it away, huh?
35:38After a couple of lukewarm viewings with John and Jo, I've had to dig deep for house number three,
35:44and I've taken them a bit further afield than I first planned, but I think I've found something that
35:49might just win them over. We've traveled 15 minutes north of Beechhaven to the suburb of Rosedale.
35:55The area has great energy, amenities and no shortage of things to do. A four bedroom home here averages
36:02about 1.4 million. This time I have Pauliekins along for the ride. I love it, Jane. Got a nice street
36:10appeal, hasn't it? Yeah. Leafy. Nice and quiet. There they go. Good luck, Jane. Nice to see you, John.
36:17This is Paul. I'm Paul. John and Jo. Nice to meet you. Pleasure to meet you too. Great. Well,
36:22here we are again. That looks really exciting. Yep. This is a distinct upgrade from the last two,
36:27just saying. Thanks, John. I think it's going to break the bank. Well, you'd be surprised.
36:33Your budget is what, 1.5? Yeah. You said maybe a little bit more for the right property. Yeah,
36:40tiny, tiny. The agent is talking around 1.6. No, you haven't. All right. Well,
36:45shall we go and have a look? Yes, please. All right. Come on, then. Great. Ooh. This solid brick home
36:50offers four bedrooms, two bathrooms and plenty of space across two levels. Downstairs, there's an
36:57open plan kitchen, living and dining area, a separate family room, one bedroom and a huge garage.
37:05Upstairs, you'll find three double bedrooms, two bathrooms and an extra toilet. It's for sale by
37:10negotiation and, yes, it might end up pushing their max budget, but that's why we negotiate.
37:18This is impressive. It's quite grand, isn't it? It is. Oh, look, it's big. Oh, wow. That's a lovely
37:24dining area. Nice. It's a nice big lounge and the kitchen looks nice. What do you think? I like the
37:30flow. Can we look at the kitchen? Come on, then. Let's do it. It's actually spookily similar to what we
37:37have at the moment in Whangaday, which is a nice thing. It feels all very familiar. I think they
37:42might like this one. It's a lovely outdoor space, eh? Yeah, it's nice. Looks like it'll get this on most
37:47of the day. Good amount of yard for you to take care of. It's not too much. Yeah. No long tomorrow,
37:53which is a good thing. I think we should call this the orchard room. Okay. We have a lemon tree here
37:59and we have a mandarin tree there. You can almost lean out the window and grab one. Obviously, the job
38:04location's happening for Joe. Yeah. And with the move, I mean, what does that mean for you? It means
38:11less maintenance work for me, but also it gives me access to Auckland, which is good for the things
38:17that I like, the cultural things, bars, restaurants, music, that kind of thing. I really hope they like
38:26this house because it suits them so perfectly. Yeah. It's so hard to tell with John, but he
38:32definitely, the interest levels kept going and going and going and going as he went through the
38:37house. We've just got to get past the hurdle of does the suburb work for them? Do they like what's in
38:42their intermediate surroundings? So they've got homework to do. I'll get the detention slips ready.
38:47Oh, what a beautiful master. So sunny. It's gorgeous. Yeah. Yeah. It looks amazing. Oh, wow.
38:58So sunny. This is the spot. It is only 20 minutes drive in traffic to the hospital. Wow. And only
39:05about a 10, 13 minute drive to the Albany shops as well. So each way, it's a very central location.
39:12Well, it's time to see if this place has won them over. Well, do we need to get the paperwork in order
39:20for you? Perhaps actually. This is by far the best house. We like it. A house has got to make you feel
39:27like it could be your home. Yeah. And you know instantly when you walk in if it can or it can't.
39:33Yes. And this one sounds like it does. We might have cracked them. Well done. Maybe. Yeah. Fantastic.
39:40We'll have a bit more of a look around the area and look forward to catching up. Well, well, well,
39:45John likes it. I'm just going to quickly check the footage to make sure that did happen.
39:50High house prices mean it's become tougher for young families who are often relying on
40:00a single income to move up the property ladder. So more and more are looking for creative ways to
40:06take that next step. Multi-generational living is on the rise in Aotearoa and for this family,
40:12it would be a way to honour the past while building a future together. After losing Lynn's husband and
40:18Caroline's dad, Eugene, just under a year ago, this close-knit whānau have been through a tough
40:22chapter. With a new baby and two homes full of memories, moving on isn't easy. But now it's time
40:29for one home and it feels right. Hello. Hello. Hey, Pauliekins. My favourite family.
40:37Look, it's such a pleasure to be here with you. Talk me through property number one. For me, it didn't
40:42have the curb appeal that like when you pull up to house and it's like, okay. But it was
40:47a stunning house. I had the bedrooms, the bathrooms are gorgeous, like beautifully renovated.
40:52It just didn't give me that immediate feeling that I'm looking for when I enter that home.
40:57Which takes us to property number two. I loved the outside. When we first came in,
41:01I was like, oh my God, wow. Well, it had a pool as well, which was a little cherry on top.
41:06I did like the little driveway down the side though with the grape vines and the trees. It's like a little
41:12country haven. Yeah. But it needed updating. It's like, can we be bothered to do that? Yeah.
41:20It's a beautiful house and there's obviously another property out there that will meet our
41:24needs better than this. What did you think of property number three? I love this home.
41:29I said to him, I'm obsessed with this house. Like I love it. It's everything that we're like looking
41:35for. And then you won't believe the price. Like it's stunning. Boom, boom. Like firing him,
41:38all this stuff at him. Like it's gorgeous. And he broke my heart. Yeah. So last night,
41:44I went and actually viewed the property as well. I think the one thing that kind of killed it for me
41:48was the location. Working in the CBD, if we're moving all the way out there, then my commute of 45
41:54minutes all of a sudden becomes an hour and 15, an hour and a half, which is definitely not something
41:59I would want to do. I said happy wife, happy bloody wife. Okay. So really exciting. Obviously,
42:06you're not going to buy any of the three properties I showed you. That's okay. I'd like to raise a toast
42:14to not buying a property, but having real clarity around your next steps and the adventure ahead.
42:20Toast to the future. Yeah, to the future. Cheers and slantia.
42:23Slantia. Well, unfortunately, this search hasn't led to the perfect property just yet,
42:30but somewhere out there, the right home is waiting for them.
42:35My house hunters, Joe and John, are staring down the next big chapter in their lives.
42:39It's a huge leap and there isn't a safety net if they get it wrong. House number three ticked more
42:45boxes than expected, but the question lingers. Are they actually ready to take the plunge? Hello.
42:51How has this whole journey been for you both? We've really enjoyed it. It's opened our eyes to some
42:58areas and some things that we didn't know already. I'm starting with property number one. I have to
43:03say of the three properties that had the lightest, airiest feel, got that real spacious, really sunny
43:09aspect. We had a nice feel about it, I thought, yeah. But we felt there was a lot of work to do in there.
43:16John would definitely need to build a shed and then we were worried that the cross lease might affect
43:22the neighbour's attitude towards him putting a shed on the property. We weren't very keen on that.
43:27Okay, let's have a chat about number two, the Beach Haven property. So property number two had a view to die for.
43:35But on reflection, that house felt a little bit small for us and we both felt afterwards that the
43:42view wasn't enough of a plus to offset some of the negatives. Right, property number three.
43:49We both instantly sort of felt quite comfortable in that house and yes, I could live here. I've got the
43:57agent on speed dial. Well, when you go to see a house, you're kind of in awe of all its good things.
44:04But when you reflect on it in the evening, you kind of think about what the downsides are. It's not easy to get
44:12any meaningful public transport from there, so you will always have to drive. We're still definitely
44:17considering it, but our concern is that it didn't really have a community neighbourhood feel. We're not sure
44:24because we don't really know many of the neighbourhoods around here, so we're going to sort of phone a friend
44:28on that. So we're really grateful for your help this week. It's made it so much more realistic. It's also really
44:37helped us to work out what's important and what's less important. So really like to thank you for that.
44:41It's been my pleasure. As you said, it's really important that you feel comfortable and you like what you're doing
44:47right now, but you're also going to like where you are in 10 years time. And I get that. So it's been
44:52a great week. I've really enjoyed hanging out with you guys. So cheers to the coats and your future in Auckland.
44:58Neither family found the perfect home this time, but what they did discover may prove even more valuable.
45:05New areas to explore, a clearer sense of what their budget can achieve and the skills to navigate the
45:11journey ahead. Their house hunt continues, but the foundations are stronger than ever.
45:20Looking for a new home? Make sure you check out the AA Insurance Home Buyer's Guide.
45:26Live a little freer.
45:27Next time. Hello. Welcome to the neighbourhood. Two families at opposite ends of the house buying
45:34journey. I could live in a tiny home. He still wants his mansion. My life is building everyone
45:38else's houses. It's time for mine. I've got a couple of empty nesters ready to downsize.
45:43It's all like I'm a holiday. I've got goosies when you said that. And I'm with first-time home
45:48buyers looking for a place to call their own. I want my own bathroom. You want your own bathroom?
45:52I hear you. Two families. Come on. Go. Two budgets. One epic property hunt. Let's do it.
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