Real estate

Whakatane and Ohope are popular residential locations. House prices show solid capital growth, but still represent excellent value compared to larger population centres such as Auckland and Tauranga. Coastal properties are at present fetching premium prices but a 3-bedroom home in Whakatane is currently around $250,000. Apartment living is now an option for Whakatane and Ohope residents with a large apartment complex recently completed at West End, Ohope and another planned for Port Ohope. Redevelopment of the downtown riverside area in Whakatane has begun with the construction of a 5-storey apartment block with another planned in the same area.

Rural lifestyle opportunities presented by the subdivision of (mainly) hill country properties have seen a major shift in dwelling patterns in recent years, a trend which is expected to continue. These developments allow people to enjoy the tranquillity, views and small-scale farming opportunities of a rural setting while still being within a short drive (typically less than 20 minutes) from their workplaces and urban facilities.