Home-buyers go out of town

Tauranga City Council's environmental planner, David Phizacklea, said rising costs of sections and properties in the bigger centres had increased the desirability of outlying towns which were in easy commuting distance of Tauranga.

Another trend emerging was more demand for apartments, he said.

A joint report released yesterday by Tauranga City and Western Bay of Plenty District Councils showed a cross-section of buyers, from retirees to young professional people, wanted property in a "compact urban environment".

"It highlights a changing cultural shift away from the Kiwi quarter-acre, largely because of price pressure, to apartment-style living," said Mr Phizacklea.

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