17 May 2022
Come to Cambridge… there’s no reason not to
Having won an award for most beautiful large town in New Zealand, it’s no wonder Cambridge is the second highest online searched suburb in the country. So what exactly can buyers find in Cambridge? Lugtons’ Cambridge Sales Manager, Matt Gilray shares the town’s secrets.
For the 10-year period dating 2011-2021, Waipa District’s population grew at 2.2%; that’s compared to a 1.6% growth for the rest of New Zealand. Put in numbers, that’s a growth from 47,700 people in 2011 to 59,500 in 2021. It’s no wonder Cambridge’s property market is hot.
Lugtons’ Cambridge Sales Manager, Matt Gilray, is one of those people contributing to the district’s growth. Matt and his wife moved with their two young daughters to Cambridge in 2019, leaving the hustle and bustle of Auckland behind.
“Cambridge is such a friendly town, it has amazing schools, and it’s given us a very different lifestyle,” Matt says. It’s for these reasons, and the town’s proximity to Hamilton, Auckland and the Bay of Plenty, that is cementing Cambridge’s reputation as ‘the place to buy’.
What Cambridge has to offer
Much like its namesake in England, Cambridge, New Zealand boasts a certain charm. From its heritage villas to its many notable, century-old trees, the walking trails of Lake Te Koo Utu to the cycling paths of Te Awa River Ride. Residents and visitors alike are spoilt for choice when it comes to dining out, with Good Union, Onyx Restaurant, Paddock, Alpino and Alpha St Kitchen & Bar just a few of the town’s eateries catering for brunch, lunch, and dinner.
While outdoor activities are easily accessible, and dining options are never much of a drive away, it’s the quality of lifestyle that Cambridge offers which has buyers from Hamilton, Auckland, the Coromandel, Tauranga and Rotorua, flocking to open homes and auctions.
“Pricing in Cambridge is very Auckland-esque, but you get a lot more bang for your buck and the quality of living is certainly higher here,” says Matt.
Properties sold in the first quarter of 2022 range in price from a $660,000 two-bed, one-car brick home in zone for popular secondary schools to a $1,810,000 six-bed, two-car Hinuera stone home, just a six-minute drive from Cambridge town centre.
Who’s buying in Cambridge?
The Waipa District has built its own identity over the decades, fondly referred to as the Home of Champions, in reference to the many sportsmen and women who reside there. But the region, and Cambridge in particular, has grown in commercial popularity over recent years, with businesses and organisations seeing it as an accessible gateway to the golden triangle.
“It’s much easier to work from home these days and a large Cambridge property gives buyers the space to do that,” says Matt. “But for those who do commute throughout the week, Hamilton is 20mins up the Expressway and, once the SH1 Waikato Expressway and Hamilton bypass is complete, Auckland will only be a two-hour drive. It’s made it much more attainable in a day.”
Lifestyle and Residential Consultant, Aimee Belton has been selling property in and around Cambridge since her move to the town in 2011. “Cambridge is such a beautiful town to be in because of its excellent schooling, safe geological position, low crime rate, business growth opportunities and its supportive community,” she says.
Aimee believes this could be why property prices tend to remain relatively stable in Cambridge, even in times of flux. “Cambridge has its own little bubble or micro ‘value’’ climate even when other parts of New Zealand see house values drop,” she says. “It’s the high desirability factor that makes it a great place to future proof your investments in property.”
Land in high demand
Matt and the Lugtons Cambridge team sell residential and lifestyle property across the Waipa region. Beyond Cambridge that takes into account Leamington and Karapiro and further afield, Te Awamutu, Kihikihi, Pirongia and Ohaupo.
“Te Awamutu and Kihikihi are often stepping stones for first home buyers who eventually want to buy in Cambridge,” Matt says. Three and four-bed homes here can be found between $400,000 and $800,000.
With Waipa’s population growth and the many benefits Cambridge and its surrounds offer, it’s also no surprise that land is in short supply and high demand. Pockets of land are still appearing on the market but Matt says they’re being purchased as quickly as they appear. The most recent land earmarked for development sits behind Cambridge’s St Peter’s School and overlooks the Waikato River. Hundreds of new sections in this development will go on the market in early 2023.
“Cambridge’s market certainly reflects its desirability for buyers of all walks of life,” says Matt. “We’re selling to young couples who want to get on the property market, families who want a lifestyle change and better schooling, those ready to retire but still enjoy an active lifestyle. Cambridge and Waipa offer it all!”
Interested in quality of lifestyle in Cambridge? Talk to the Lugtons Cambridge team today.
