It’s the first place you’re likely to see the sun and being a popular surfing destination with great food and wine, it’s easy to see why so many people choose to build their lifestyle in Gisborne. With a current population of just over 51,000 - up 7.6 percent since 2018, the region is a hive of activity and Bayleys Gisborne Director Simon Bousfield expects that to continue.

“The coastal location, the lifestyle, and the way of living in Gizzy is fantastic. It's a great community.”

He says the appeal is obvious when you compare it to other main centres, especially when it comes to job availability and commute times.

“The big industries here are farming, fishing and forestry. Forestry brings a lot into the region, plus we’ve got our ports and the Eastland network with lots of great jobs throughout there.”

“Most of the time you’ll only spend five minutes in the car on the way to work, but the added bonus is one of the country’s most stunning beaches is an equal distance away.”

With its natural landscape, Gisborne also has a huge recreational appeal too.

“Hunting, fishing and all of those sorts of activities right on your doorstep.”

Bousfield says the house prices in the region are also just as appealing.

“The overall median price hovers around the late 500 thousand, and that means houses aren't entirely out of reach. It’s just a good, relaxed vibe here.”

Bousfield has lived in the area for 14 years, and says it’s been a privilege to watch the change and growth of the region.

“I started in real estate in 2014 and came in during what was a relatively subdued market. Then as we moved towards 2016 and into 2017, we really saw that market take off.”

“There was a real demand for purchasing good property, and off the back of that there was a requirement for more sections and more options for people to develop.”

He says there was a time when the Gisborne area was seeing 25 auctions a day. Now on a good day there’s around 8 or 9, but Bousfield says it’s great to see a more consistent number come through.

So, what are the four up and coming areas catching his eye, and what can you expect from each of them?

WAINUI

Bousfield says Wainui is Gisborne’s coastal suburb.

“Wainui Beach is renowned as one of the most beautiful, pristine beaches on the coast. It's always been an incredibly popular destination.”

He says up until recently sales have been slow, but with housing becoming more affordable things are picking up.

“With the economy improving and optimism increasing, people are now looking back at those areas as destinations within their reach, given that prices have come back a bit.”

Bousfield says the location is unbeatable, and there’s also a great selection of schooling.

“There’s a big opportunity out there now.”

There’s also a big and varied selection of housing to suit a range of different people and their needs.

“It is partially developed into brand new housing, but there’s still some original beachfront baches out there that would be 70 to 80 years old. Many still have their original native timbers but have renovated interiors.”

“You’ve got new builds, large luxurious homes, and more basic and affordable bach type homes. There’s something for everyone.”

The beachfront living is also really convenient too, being just a short five to ten minute drive into town.

“There you’ll find all the pharmacies and supermarkets, but if you’re not keen to venture too far there’s a store you can buy coffee from and a restaurant opening up soon.”

Bousfield says a mix of young families and retirees mostly seem to settle down on the Wainui coast.

So, what can you expect to pay? Right now, the median sale price in Wainui is $1.12 million.

TE HAPARA

Bousfield says you reach Te Hapara during the drive out of Gisborne and towards Hawke’s Bay.

“It’s not the furthest suburb out of the town centre, but it’s the one with the highest number of sales in that area. That’s because it’s considered really good value for money out there.”

He says there’s a lot of high-quality homes in the suburb, with a median price that sits close to half a million dollars.

“If your budget sits in the $600,000 - $700,000 range, then you’ll get a really, really good home. You’ll probably get a good four-bedroom home on a lovely section.”

“There’s also great schooling, and it’s close to all the amenities you’ll need. You're only a few minutes back into town to the supermarkets and those types of stores.”

Bousfield believes it’s a great option for both owner-occupiers and investors too.

“There are strong rental returns. So, if you’re purchasing around the median price your rental return on that's going to be phenomenal.”

“The average rent sits around $650 per week, but with a rental shortage in Gisborne there are some places that are going for as high as $850 per week.”

When it comes to the availability and variety of housing, Bousfield says you’re “spoilt for choice”.

“For a suburb that has around 70 odd sales a year, there's going to be a number of open homes and a number of different options.”

Te Hapara is also just a short four-minute drive away to the centre of town, or there’s a selection of small cafes and a petrol station in the heart of the suburb.

The median sale price for a home in Te Hapara is $575,000.

TAMARAU

Bousfield says Tamarau is often referred to as ‘Wainui west’.

“That’s because it sits on the town side of Wainui. So, it's not coastal, but you could probably walk out your front door and down to Wainui beach during a 15 - 20-minute stroll.”

“There's also a fantastic new cycleway that brings you straight back into town.”

Tamarau is also home to a selection of new housing.

“There’s really good quality housing out there. There’s the Sponge Bay development that was established over a five-to-10-year period when houses were built there.”

“They're all good modern houses and the areas adjacent to that development are good too. They’re your older 1950s - 1960s styled properties. It's a popular spot for those who can't quite make Wainui work but want to feel like they’re still a bit coastal.”

Most of the houses are all stand-alone on individually zoned sections, all with plenty of space surrounding them.

“They’re probably up to 800 metres squared, which provides ample room for a backyard and room for the kids to play.”

Bousfield says the median price is $545,000, but to secure a home in Sponge Bay he believes the price may sit closer to $800,000.

“There were only 10 sales in 12 months in the suburb, so the stats may be slightly skewed based on a couple of lower valued sales in that time.”

“The area tends to attract younger families who often look at it as a steppingstone into Wainui.”

GISBORNE CENTRAL

When it comes to Gisborne central, Bousfield says properties there are affordable and convenient too.

“There's a number of great streets around there with some great options for housing.”

“You can walk out the front door and hang a left into town to find a nice place to dine, or you can hang a right and head down to the beach.”

It’s also a great location for young professionals.

“There’s some new restaurants that have opened up down on the beach, and there’s also the ability to walk to work and not have to deal with traffic.”

Like Te Hapara, Bousfield says the rental return on property in Gisborne Central is also high.

“There's a number of apartment buildings on the river, but if having your own house and section fenced off from the neighbours is your thing, then that's certainly available here too.

As for the demographic of the central suburbs, it’s mostly the young workforce or retirees.

“There's a lot of retired people in the apartments whose kids have moved out and they don't need space in a full house.”

Bousfield says right now the median price for Gisborne Central property is $545,000.