I have just spent the weekend at the Mount and had a quick look at the far end of Papamoa - the Karewa Parade end.

It wasn't that long ago that there was nothing there at all. I was surprised at the amount of development that has occurred down that way and the area seemed to be very nice indeed, however, I am not sure I could handle living that far out of town. If you do like things a little quieter, take a look.
Recently I was surprised how quickly a property sold in my street.
Not even two weeks had gone by and a property had sold in my street. Now of course the owner may have dropped the price but in my experience most owners don't drop their price in the first two weeks. This probably means a buyer came along and offered what was pretty close to the asking price.
I was also surprised by the yield occurring in the formerly ‘not so hot' part of town, Hartford Avenue. Looking at what is available to purchase down that way and the rents advertised, I would say the yield is about 5.8 per cent (roughly), which is amazing.
These little surprises highlight the need for anyone looking to invest into real estate to really know an area they are considering, do the homework and spend time looking at what is available. Don't jump in boots and all just because a real estate agent tells you it is a great deal. Don't sign up right away because interest rates are low and it looks like the deal might be affordable. Take your time. Get all of the information needed to make a decision, then act accordingly.