CHARLOTTE COSSAR flicks through the pages of the latest guide to Auckland's real estate market.

Caption1: The second edition of Where to Live in Auckland, released last month, reveals some interesting facts about buying property in the City of Sails.

With the success the Auckland real estate market has experienced during the past year, it is no wonder that the first edition of the book Where to Live in Auckland sold well.

With more than 10,000 copies sold, the improved and updated second edition, released in November, is proving just as popular.

Profiling 50 neighbourhoods in depth, the guide, with its glossy pictures and direct and honest information, is organised into colour-coded chapters split into areas: central, north, west, east and south.

A book with something for everyone interested in real estate, or indeed, Auckland - and we all know City of Sail residents can't resist knowing which is the best street in the neighbourhood or what Mr Smith's house down the road would sell for - it includes a comprehensive introduction.

Detailing trends, housing history, zoning regulations, transportation, the apartment and terrace house market, leaky building syndrome and rental and investment properties, this information is useful when looking at the specific neighbourhoods.

The area profiles include snapshots of trends, typical dwellings and the character of the neighbourhood, prices, rentals, lists of amenities and a synopsis of who lives there.

Publisher Stephen Hart believes the key reasons for the success of the book are the growth of Auckland's population and the buying boom. "Also, buyers don't want to rely on and/or trust real estate agents who might have vested interests. They want researched, independent opinion. A buyer or seller with the book is well-armed with knowledge and this makes them stronger negotiators," he says.

Hart adds that the book has a point of view. "It doesn't sit on the fence. All of the writers were encouraged to tell it like it is, backed up by their in-depth research."

Having sold a large number of copies to homeowners, potential buyers, investors, real estate agents - whom Hart says are some of the biggest customers - and migrants, the feedback from readers was very encouraging.

Says Hart: "We had lots of feedback on the school zones; hence we expanded the schools section to include profiles of selected schools."

Other improvements and revisions seen in this edition include a more upmarket appearance with quality paper and the number of pages increased from 228 to 260, revised real estate trends, prices, star ratings, smart buys, population profile maps and house sales statistics.

And revealed in the mix are some interesting facts. For example: "Remuera has taken over from Epsom as Auckland's highest price suburb with an average price of $891,000" ... "Glen Innes/Pt England prices are up 58%" ... "Parnell/Newmarket has shown the biggest price increase (68%) since last year."

Hart says the success of the book has led to the forming of the Where to Live in Auckland - Buyers' Services.

A service that helps people to buy the right property at the right price, it offers everything from reports for potential immigrants to a full buyers' agency service.

Aimed at the overseas and domestic market, Hart says this type of service is popular elsewhere in the world.

"Buyers' advocates or agencies are popular in the US, UK and Australia, but have been practically unheard of in NZ until now."

There are four services available: the new to Auckland package; smart buyer package; buyers' agency package; and the expert second opinion package.

Costing from $150 (excluding GST), these offer varying levels of service, which can be upgraded if required.

For example, the full buyers' agency service will search and evaluate suitable properties and take over negotiation and auction/tender representation on behalf of buyers.

Says Hart: "We employ expert specialists to help in every aspect of the transaction. Our aim is to save the buyer time and thousands of dollars."

Where to Live in Auckland is available from Auckland bookstores for $39.95 or can be bought online at www.wheretoliveinauckland.co.nz.

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