If you’re considering a move to the Bay of Plenty from the U.K. - or elsewhere overseas - a Tauranga man may be just the person to help. Londoner Steve Mathews migrated to Tauranga (he married a local some years ago) at the beginning of the year with his family, and after their own house-hunting dramas, launched www.nzpropertylocation.com
Basically, Steve, working with a U.K. based partner, tackles the ‘daunting task’ of achieving your dream Kiwi property. His services cover everything from pinpointing the right property for purchase or rent, to detailed reports on what’s available in a particular area. Steve can organise any consultants’ reports required, and advise on lawyers, architects, builders, and other professionals. With a background in logistics, Steve Mathews is well qualified. He’s pleased with the level of interest the site is generating, from placing small ads in the British Sunday Times and Telegraph newspapers. 'More and more Brits are looking to escape the U.K. in search of a better quality of life with NZ and Australia on the top of their wish list,’ he says.
Sticking with the theme of keeping life simple, if you’re coming from overseas and want a home all set to move into, size up Silverwood Park at Bethlehem. Project manager Paul Craig says the idea was that all people would have to do was just turn the key in the door and walk in. ‘All they need is their blinds and if they talk to us we will probably be able to get them a good price on those as well.’
The finished houses are complete to the extent that all are fully carpeted and each section has been fully landscaped. But don’t think it means cloned houses that all look the same, because the development is unique: the houses were designed by five different architects so ‘they’ve all got their distinct characteristics,’ says Paul.
Stage 1 consists of 19 four bedroom homes, available for sale either at completion or prior to construction, at which point it's possible for the buyer to choose interior options. And there are no ‘pocket handkerchief’ sections at Silverwood Park; they range from 650sq metres to over 1200 sq metres, with houses priced from $595,000 upwards.
Silverwood Park is in the heart of the Bethlehem settlement, and has its own boardwalk and water feature in the form of a pond. It’s within easy reach of the new Bethlehem Shopping Mall, a major garden centre, Mills Reef Winery, Fernland Hot Pools and Bethlehem College. See Silverwood at : www.silverwood.co.nz
