Original subtitles

- I'm on a hunt to help find everyday Kiwis their perfect country house.

Things are a little different out here in the country.

You still have the hustle and bustle.

Your neighbours can sometimes be a bit noisy.

Time moves a little slower.

But you don't get this...

in the city.

www.able.co.nz Copyright Able 2023

I've made my way 90 minutes north of Auckland to the beautiful beachside town of Mangawhai.

Today we're house-hunting with Tatjana, a busy working mum of two.

She's looking for a home big enough for the boys when they come to stay,

but also somewhere she can entertain friends when they come to visit.

Now, as a businesswoman, she's really aware of wanting to add value to whichever property wefind,

so I've kept that in mind for the three properties I'm taking her to today.

Today we're in the gorgeous beachside town of Mangawhai

with Tatjana, a business-owning mum of two looking to take a break from Auckland's hustle and bustle

and breathe in the fresh air up on the sunny northern coast.

I think I could have a few chickens out here as well.

Yeah, live the rural lifestyle. - Yeah. - You've gotta embrace it.

We'll be touring three seaside properties, each one bursting with potential.

Can I shock you?

- There's nearly 90 lime trees on this property. - Wow.

- And later on, I catch a wave into Aotearoa Surf School

to learn a little from the masters who taught Tatjana how to hang 10.

- You've gotta go with our motto ― surfing is for everyone.

- And once people get up that first time, there's no looking back, eh?

- Oh man, they come in next weekend.

- Trading in peak-hour traffic for the sunrise swell,

Tatjana has chosen Mangawhai to call her new home ― and really, who could blame her?

- Hi, I'm Tatjana, I'm a mum of two boys.

I moved up to Mangawhai in January as I'm looking for a bit of a lifestyle change.

You know, being in business and working, we spend a lot of time on our phone, on our devices,

and I really just wanted to escape that, especially for my children as well.

So thinking of them and their future, and I'm just slowing down a little bit

and just enjoying every day ― the simple things, the simple life,

and I thought semi-rural would be the right move for us.

So before committing to buying up here, I thought I'd rent for a while

and see if I can hack that semi-rural lifestyle.

But after I came up here for a holiday, I really fell in love,

and it wasn't just, like, the beautiful beaches

and the landscapes, but the people were really, really friendly, and I just felt at home.

- Armed with a healthy budget of 1.5 million,

Tatjana's after an open-plan home with an office

and at least three bedrooms for when her boys come to stay.

She's also on the hunt for a decent bit of land

to potentially add some other income opportunities to the property.

So let's get cracking with today's house-hunt.

I've got a good feeling about this one. I think I can find her something she'll really love.

Did one of those houses really take your fancy

- to the point where you'll put an offer in? - Yes.

- All right. OK, I'm really keen to find out which one.

For those seeking a change of pace, Mangawhai beckons with its alluring charm and natural beauty.

Nestled along the Northland coast, this serene haven promises picturesque beaches,

lush landscapes,

and a warm community atmosphere.

With surfing, hiking and, of course, the inviting townsfolk,

it's a no-brainer as to why Tatjana has chosen to make the move up north.

Diving in to house number one, I hope Tatjana likes olives, because, well, we've got a lot ofthem.

Let's see if this home could fit that new lifestyle Tatjana has been searching for.

Tatjana. - Hi.

- Kia ora, how are you? - Good, thank you. Nice to meet you. - Lovely to meet you.

- Yeah. - And a beautiful place ― Mangawhai. - Looks pretty good so far.

- Tell me a little bit about why Mangawhai? Why are you here?

You've been here for a few months already, haven't you? - Yeah, I have.

Late last year, I came for a holiday and fell in love with the place ―

and the people as well and the beaches and... - Yeah.

- ...just the landscape in general. So I started surfing, actually

with the surf school up here, which has been really, really amazing.

- So a whole lifestyle change is waiting for you

when you find your dream home here. - That's right.

- OK. Speaking of your dream home, this particular spot here,

it used to be a big olive grove. There's olive trees everywhere. - I can tell.

- And just down the road, wineries as well.

I'm not sure if that interests you at all, Tatjana?

- Ticks a box. - Yeah? Great.

Easy sort of a stumble home from there at the end of the night. - Yeah, no doubt.

- The home has a pool out the back and a Jacuzzi as well,

and as you can see, it's already got a little bit of a landscaped area

all set for a shed or for a separate living area that you could use as well. So...

- Yeah, I agree, I think I could put another little house, a second income, on there maybe.

- Potentially. Shall we get inside and take a look around?

- Yeah, I'd love to. Let's go. - Let's go. House number one.

OK, Tatjana. Welcome in. - Ooh!

- Yeah, so, yeah, less than two years old this home,

so obviously it's a really modern feel in here.

A big open-plan kitchen-living-dining room.

So how does it feel to you, this space?

- Yeah, I do love the open-plan feel, and I can see the flow going straight outside.

Definitely light and bright, and it's looking good so far.

- So the size of the home being 139m2, it's not a huge home.

It is a big property, though. How does that sort of sit with you at the moment?

- Yeah. Well I'd like to see a little bit more, and I'm sure we can make it work.

Do you think the boys would like this kind of house?

- Oh, I think they wouldloveit, yeah. - Yeah.

Well, that's the lounge and living area. Shall we take a look through the main bedroom?

- Yeah. Let's go.

I like the simplicity of it. It's clean, obviously being contemporary and open plan,

high ceilings, lets in a lot of natural light,

and you've got that indoor-outdoor flow, which I just love.

- So, this would be your bedroom in here.

Not a huge space, but I really like how it's got the access to that private dining area.

- It's definitely got a nice relaxing feel to it, that's for sure,

and I think there's a bit of a en suite going on there.

- That's right, en suite and walk-in wardrobe ― always a bonus. - It's a must.

A lot of clothes?

- Yeah. And shoes. - Yep.

And obviously with the boys, there's two bedrooms

down the other end of the house. - Yeah, they can be down there.

- Miles away. Yeah, you can relax down here.

- I might even get through a book. - Yeah.

Hey, well, I'll let you wander around the rest of the house by yourself.

I'll be outside, so when you're done, just come and find me out there, and we can have a chat.

- So the size of the house might be a little small just with the two boys and working fromhome.

I think I'll need to add another space where I can work from, like an office.

- How about this backyard? I mean, the house is one thing, but I think it really comes to life out here.

You've got the fireplace, the hot tub, and the pool is heated. How does this sit with you?

- I definitely appreciate the nice clean lines and simple design.

The outdoor area really does tick those boxes for me. - Yeah?

- I think I could have a few chickens out here as well.

- Yeah, live the rural lifestyle. - Yeah. - You gotta embrace it.

So the next thing we need to talk about with this property is obviously the price.

I feel like you're liking this house, aren't you? - Yeah, I definitely do.

Price-wise, I think this could be north of 1.5,

just considering the size of the land, the location and beingso closeto the vineyard.

- Yeah. And you did say there was wiggle room in the budget. - There is wiggle room.

I definitely can see that I can add value here as well... - Right.

- ...you know, adding another space or another minor dwelling, adding a garage.

So there are possibilities there. - OK.

So, they're looking at more like 1.8 for this property...

- Mm-hm. - ...but you do get a lot for that.

- The property is a little over my budget. It's not a deal breaker, though.

I can see where I can add value, and I know there's a lot of value

in the location and the size of the land here too.

- Well, that's my first option for you, but I've got two more up my sleeve.

So let's head to house number two. - Let's go.

- Still to come ― we have two very promising options amongst the rolling hills.

Plus, I check out the swell at Aotearoa Surf School.

- I'm up north in the sunny beachside town of Mangawhai, helping Tatjana leave behind the big city

for a more laid-back lifestyle by the sea.

This second house might be a little small for Tatjana,

but I could really see her getting her hands dirty and possibly transforming it to suit herneeds.

OK, Tatjana, house number two.

So, a little bit closer to the town centre where we are and the house itself is 172m2 footprint

on around an acre of land, however, two bedrooms. - Got you, got you.

- So the question is ― do you think your boys would be happy sharing a room here?

- Temporarily, I'm sure it'll be OK.

I can see there's a garage, so... - There is.

- ...make improvements if I needed to.

- Let's get inside and take a look around.

Here we are ― another open-plan living room.

Actually, why am I even trying to tell you about this? You used to be a real estate agent, didn't you?

- That's right, yeah. - So I want you to sell me the house. What would you say?

- Well, I definitely see a huge load of potential. We've got a big-open plan space.

You've got a beautiful northern aspect, nice and sunny. - Yeah.

The kitchen, for me, a little bit small.

I'd probably open it up, create a bit more of an entertainer's kitchen

- Yeah, yeah, a little bit more space.

But you do have neighbours of calves at the moment.

Looking out from your kitchen, you can see some cows through there.

- It's a great outlook. It's better than what I had in Auckland.

- Yeah. That's the benefit, though, living out in a place like this,

your neighbours are cows instead of your neighbours being...

- Other animals. - Exactly.

- Now, the bedrooms at either end of the house are pretty much identical size.

They've both got en suites and walk-in wardrobes, so take your pick, really.

Should we go to... that one? Cool. - Yeah. Let's go.

- All right. So this is the western end of the house,

and I was thinking this might be the room that your boys would stay in when they're here.

I think they'd love this place. They've got their own sliding door access out to the front yard,

their own walk-in wardrobe, and, of course, the bathroom as well. - That's a winner.

- How long do you reckon the bathroom would stay looking as clean and tidy as that,

with a 10- and a 12-year-old running around.

- Oh, it's not going to. - It's not gonna last.

- Can you say them enjoying this bedroom though, do you think? - Oh yeah, no, I'm sure theywill.

It's a pretty good-sized room, to be honest.

- Yeah, so even if it was just a temporary solution before,

as you say, you make those renovations in the short term, this could work.

- Absolutely. It's definitely workable.

- Well, again, I'll let you spend some time in the home without me.

So once you are done, I'll be out in the backyard. - Sounds good.

- All right. See you shortly.

- It's definitely very quiet and peaceful here.

I really like the location because it's actually not far from town at all,

really close to the shops and even the beach,

so that is a big tick for me, and that's why I would really consider this location.

- Hey. - Hey.

You got sporty kids? Are your boys into their sports? - I do.

- Yeah? Rugby, cricket, football? - Football. Yeah.

- Look at that backyard, you can get a football pitch on there easily, lots of opportunity here.

And I think again, as we were talking about inside,

it's all about potential for this property isn't it? - Yeah.

- So looking at this side of the house,

if you can put your imagination goggles on, look around, how would you see it in the future?

- I can see there's a really neat spot here for an extension, so maybe a master wing comingout here.

And after seeing that last property, I'm kind of dead set on a pool now,

so nice little lap pool here, maybe? - Great spot for a pool.

- I'd love to have a pool, for sure, I think, yeah,

after seeing that last property, it's definitely on my list of things

that I'd like to have ― and definitely Jacuzzi.

If I'm gonna have the pool, I've gotta have the Jacuzzi too.

- So, having walked through the home, what do you think this place is worth?

- I would see this property coming in slightly under budget.

I would guess around the 1.3 mark.

- Ahh. - That might leave me a little bit of room to do those things.

- Well, after showing you one above your budget, the first house,

I thought I'd better show you one below. So you're right ― 1.3,

around the 1.33 is kind of what they're thinking at the moment. - OK.

The price, I think, is quite reasonable, you know, being a considerably new home.

And I think it's the location that really does it.

So I see value at that level. I would just need to make

a few changes to make it really suit me and the kids.

- So we're on the right track, you reckon? - Yeah.

- Potentially, that's an option? - Yep. I can add value here for sure.

- I like it. We've got one more house to show you, though, so let's head off.

When we return, I chat with Che from the local surf school

and find out what keeps people coming back to Mangawhai...

- We're a skip and a jump from everything that New Zealand has to offer.

- ...and later, we make our final stop with some of the most stunning vistas that grace this region.

- Having been in Mangawhai for a few months now,

Tatjana can't stop talking about her newfound love of surfing,

so I couldn't help but drop by Aotearoa Surf School and chat to those that got her up on the board.

- So, Che, rumour has it you're running the best little surf school in Aotearoa right here in Mangawhai.

- That's right. Yeah, we've been operating here since 2002.

You know, we're passionate about surfing, passionate about the community.

We're a skip and a jump from everything that New Zealand has to offer.

- What do you love most about it, mate?

What got you into it, and what keeps you going?

- Well, it's not all― it's not all blue water, white sand,

but I just love the smiles on the dials, you know. - Yeah.

- It's just seeing people enjoy themselves and, you know,

overcoming things that they never thought they could do.

You got to go with our motto ― surfing is for everyone.

The first thing is to get out there and, you know,

just to begin a lesson, learning, standing up, riding that wave.

Once you're up and riding, you get that stoke, and you just want to come every weekend.

- So people can come here and stay with you as well,

so you can really get immersed in surfing for a wee while.

- We offer surf-and-stays or just straight accommodation for those that already surf.

We have four eco pods and three glamping tipis.

You know, we do surfing and beach education days.

We do full overnight camps down in Mangawhai.

- Awesome. Sounds fun. - It's super fun.

- So we heard about your surf school through Tatjana,

who we're looking for a house with. - Yeah.

- She was raving about you guys. - Oh, cool.

Yeah. I mean, Tatjana, earlier this year, you know,

she came to the area, she contacted us, said, 'I want to learn to surf,' and we got her into Surf Sistas,

and, man, she's up and riding and smiling, and, you know,

it's freedom it's, it's being able to go to the beach,

it's being able to achieve on your own, but experience it with your family and friends, it's...

Yeah, there's nothing like it.

- And once people get up that first time, there's no looking back.

- Oh man, they come in next weekend.

- I wish I could hang around a little longer to catch the sunset,

but this house hunt is not done yet, on to house number three.

- Right. Our third and final option for you.

This is a quirky one, and what I think you will love about this is the options for you here.

So the current owners have already started embarking on a bit of an Airbnb journey.

Not finished, but there is the potential to rent out some property on this section, so―

- Like a bit of scope. - Yeah.

That could be something you could be in to, right? - Definitely.

- The next question I have for you is ― do you like margaritas? - That's my favourite.

Well... Yes!

- ...can I shock you?

There's nearly 90 lime trees on this property.

Yeah, I think this could be a bit of you, I reckon. Let's get inside.

- There's a lot of limes to work with here, so after I learn how to juggle,

I'm sure there's a great market to be able to do―

like, sell these limes and actually create an additional income for myself.

- So funnily enough, just like the first two that we visited,

it's a really similar layout in terms of that long open-plan kitchen-dining-living areas.

- I don't mind it at all. Just being open plan is great, but it's more about the flow

that goes straight outside, and I can fit plenty of my friends

around the table out there. - Absolutely.

Again, they'll be here all the time once you move up to Mangawhai.

I think the lime trees have really got me.

That's all it took, eh? As soon as you heard lime trees, you're like, 'Sold!'

- It's really appealing. - Yeah? - Yeah.

- You like this place? - I do.

- Really? - So far.

- Let's have a look at that main bedroom just down here.

OK, so a nice-sized main bedroom, again with an en suite and a walk-in wardrobe,

and the view to your thousands of dollars worth of lime trees. - Love it.

I think it's really relaxing. It's really peaceful here,

because you're so far away from the main road, you just don't hear anything

but the birds and the trees, and I get to keep an eye on the limes, so suits me, yeah.

I think inside the house has got a lot of scope.

I can see myself sort of replicating a similar style to the first house that we saw, adding,you know,

a lot of value there and just configuring it to exactly how I want it.

- I think I'm calling this the view of the day ― what do you reckon? - 100%. I love it.

- But how are you feeling about this house?

- I'm quite excited about it, actually. - Are you?

- Yeah, I see quite a lot of potential.

- So again, you're not afraid of a little mahi,

putting in a bit of work to get this property to where you need it to get to?

- Not at all. I consider it as adding value.

- I like it. Well, speaking of value, price ― where do you think this one sits?

- I would say it has to be around the 1.4 mark, considering the location, the size.

- That's what we're looking at, right on budget. - Wow.

- So 1.495 is what they're asking at the moment.

Well, three completely different houses we looked at today, so I know you've got a lot to think about.

Once you've made that decision, though, let's get back together again.

We'll talk through it. - Sounds good.

- What a great day of house-hunting we had today with Tatjana,

seeing some of the best that Mangawhai has to offer,

but has one of the three potential homes caught her eye? Can't wait to find out.

After having a little time to think it over,

Tatjana is ready to catch up for a chat, and boy, did she sound excited.

Tatjana. - Hey.

- Kia ora. - Kia ora.

- How are you doing? - I'm doing very well, thanks.

- So I hear you have been able to make a decision,

or at least, you know which way you're leaning at this stage, don't you?

- I think so, yeah. - Well, don't tell me just yet,

cos we'll talk about those options that you had one more time.

The first place was that beautiful new home. It had the pool. I know you liked the pool.

- Oh, I remember that place. - Yeah? - I remember.

- Great. And then we looked at that second house, again, another nice long property;

two bedrooms, though, that was potentially a little small for you, wasn't it?

- Yeah. I mean it was a good-size home.

With the two bedrooms, I suppose, there was a bit of reconfiguration

needed there to make it, you know, really work for us long term. - Yeah.

And then the third property, a really interesting section,

the quirky home with the limes. - Ooh.

- A lot of limes, yeah. - The lime house, yeah.

It really appealed to me, you know, from the outside at first,

and I think there's quite a bit of scope there to add some value,

which is something that I was really looking for.

- But the question is ― did one of those houses really take your fancy

to the point where you'll put an offer in?

- Yes. - All right. OK.

I'm really keen to find out which one.

- The last property, Cove Road. - House number three? - Yeah.

- House number three with the― Is it the lime trees?

Is that what put you over the edge? - It's the limes.

The potential there, you know, you've already got these sort of

Airbnb-style sleep-outs, sort of, established.

The lime trees are another income. - Yeah.

- That had a lot going for it.

- That is amazing. So, look, hopefully the offer is accepted,

so all the very best. Good luck with it.

- Thank you. Fingers crossed. - Hopefully that's your new home.

I am so stoked that Tatjana went for the house with the limes.

Yeah, I'll definitely be stopping in for a margarita ― or two ― next time I'm in Mangawhai.

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