To cut a long story short, we got tired of waiting for Wellington’s construction-boom to end (its still going gang-busters, with building costs through the roof).
The only way we can swing it with available finances is to live on the property while we build… not a realistic option for our virgin Raroa Road site.
Tired of providing for our landlords’ pension funds, we decided to check out what the local built-property market had to offer.
Wellington City and immediate suburbs offered some opportunities which we very nearly tendered on, but a property in Korokoro (a hilly suburb of Petone, across the bay from Wellington cbd) grabbed us in a big way (we bought it back in May 06):
- large site (also very steep) – more than enough space for an extra building (or two)
- existing cottage / shack – in a bit of a state, 1930s cedar number – but with loads of potential for a ‘do-up’
- stunning views over the Hutt Valley / Rimutakas / Wellington harbour
I’ve turned über-diy king (I’m doing all the work myself, putting all these plywood ideas into practice …). We started just a year ago, and there is another year or so to go before we’re ‘done’.
Then we can get on with the design and construction of a new studio2 on the hillside above the existing cottage… after a suitable break of course.
What about our Raroa road property and incorporated studio designs? We plan on selling it in 6mths or so – it can help pay off our Korokoro property mortgage…