Houses for Sale Gisborne

Posted by Neil Walker on December 3, 2009 · Leave a Comment

early example of 1900's cottage

When you live in a community like Gisborne, you tend to think that everyone knows just what houses for sale in Gisborne are like. However, when you consider that most viewers to this site do not live in Gisborne, I thought it appropriate that I take time to discuss just what houses for sale in Gisborne are really like.Gisborne has a population of about 10,000 households who live within a 5 km radius of the city. When the city was colonised in the late 1800′s most of the residential development was confined to a 1 – 2 km radius of the Gladstone, Palmerston and Awapuni Road areas. There was little development across the river, mainly more stately residences with greater land holdings. Most of those inner city dwellings are no longer standing and even the homes built in the early 1900′s are becoming scare. The city does not have a lot of restored older homes. Unlike bigger cities throughout Australia and New Zealand, there does not appear to be a strong demand for the quaint old homes in Gisborne.

Since those early days there have been periods of strong housing developments in the city. The Californian bungalow (1920′s – 1930′s) proved popular at the time and remain a popular choice with home buyers today.

an ever popular Californian bungalow

Art deco homes (1930′s – 1940′s) also flourished throughout the city, but have not remained as popular as they are in Napier (Gisborne’s closest city 2 1/2 hours drive away).

During the 1930′s and 1940′s the labour government introduced the “state house.” This was to provide a home for hard working kiwi’s. Standards of construction were very high and even today ex state houses are highly sought after through out New Zealand. There are several of these homes in Gisborne. Most were weatherboard but some were stucco. Later in the 1970′s the government continued to build state homes, but it is generally felt that they were not as good as the early state homes.

the ever enduring ex state house - still very popular

During the 50′s and 60′s Gisborne saw many new bungalows constructed in the suburbs. Weatherboard exteriors, iron roofs and concrete pile foundations were the standard construction specs.

The 1960's bungalow - popular with investors and first home buyers

These continue to be sought after by investors and first home buyers.

While there were a steady supply of new homes built in the following decades, the demand for new affordable homes fell sharply as Gisborne lost a lot of the established industries that had been cornerstones to the local economy.

In more recent times the bulk of new homes being built have been higher end homes. There continues to be a good market for these types of properties, particularly in the retirement sector.

While these properties that I have noted above are common examples of house for sale in Gisborne, there are several more up market homes also available .

For a selection of available houses for sales in Gisborne visit Walker Real Estate’s website.