Southern properties attract hot prices

And the realignment of the state highway at Normanby is at least partially responsible for the increased popularity of the area, according to local real estate institute president Roger Carter.

When the realignment of the highway was confirmed back in 2002, then real estate president Roger Burdett had predicted property values in the area would rise.

Several houses in the area have sold in recent months, and there has also been considerable interest in lifestyle blocks, Mr Carter said.

Lifestyle properties in the Beaconsfield and Claremont areas were becoming popular as they were less expensive than those in Hadlow and many came complete with sea views.

Mr Carter noted a couple of new homes had been built on Scarborough Road.

Several lifestyle blocks had been sudivided off farming properties, but there were not a lot of such properties available.

Transit New Zealand has indicated several lifestyle blocks will go on the market later in the year when it sells off land not required for the road realignment. Advertisement Advertisement

Residential properties in the south end of Timaru were also attracting more interest with the prices being paid in the Harborough and Melton street areas being considerably higher than in the past.

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