In the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, he says houses were mostly built by Southland families, often as holiday homes, with the suburb being one of the Whakatipu’s sunniest and most desirable areas.
In reviewing his firm’s past 10 sales in Kelvin Heights, he says six homes were bought by Australian or Auckland buyers and only one was bought by a Southland family.
With his last two listings — 75 Cedar Dr and 9 Oregon Dr — the homes were bought sight unseen this month.
He says the latter generated huge interest among his data base before it went on the market.
The property then sold — to an Australian buyer, for $2,260,000 — after just five days, during when it generated 35 viewings and seven offers.
Only one of those offers came from a Southland buyer, Walker says.
"Families who created decades of memories are passing the baton to a new generation who see exactly the same qualities that attracted the original owners all those years ago."
