An Auckland couple has purchased a renovated former Brethren chapel in Riwaka for $704,000, paying $55,000 above the asking price after a competitive bidding process that drew six offers. According to K Real Estate agent Rebecca K, the two-bedroom home on Riwaka’s main street sold during an unusually busy winter for the local housing market, driven by buyers who had delayed their purchasing and selling decisions earlier in the year.
Chapel Conversion Draws Six Offers and Above-Asking Sale
The 1920s chapel conversion, which was transformed into a residence in the 1980s, became an instant hit with a wide range of buyers after its listing went live on the last Friday in July. Vendors Paul and Julie Greenway accepted the $704,000 winning bid just eight days after bringing in agents for an appraisal. K Real Estate agent Rebecca K told OneRoof that the former alpaca farmers were “absolutely blown away” by the speed of the transaction. “I think they were really shocked by the whole process because they literally got us in on a Wednesday,” Rebecca K said, noting that the property “knocked it out of the park” with a mixture of interested buyers willing to put pen to paper.
Renovations and Historic Features Seal the Deal in Riwaka
The home’s appeal was bolstered by a clever modern renovation that added a contemporary kitchen and bathroom while preserving original features such as matai floorboards and rimu beams. Vendors Paul and Julie Greenway also conducted a long search to find an original hymn board rescued from a church damaged in the Christchurch earthquakes. Rebecca K described the property as having a lovely homely feel that made everyone fall in love with it, comparing its aesthetic to something out of a magazine. The Greenways previously ran an alpaca farm in the Moutere Valley before initially using the property as a holiday let and moving there permanently last year. They ultimately decided to sell the chapel home to move closer to family.
Winter Market Activity and Regional Pricing Context
The rapid sale occurred amid a surprisingly busy winter season for real estate in the Tasman district. Rebecca K reported a significant flurry of activity in June that carried into July, marking one of her busiest winters across 19 years in real estate. Entry-level house prices for Motueka and nearby Riwaka typically start around $500,000 for a two-bedroom property, with $700,000 sitting at the upper end of local buyer budgets. Additional active listings in the area include a three-bedroom, one-bathroom home at 707 Main Road in Riwaka inviting offers over $529,000, and a three-bedroom property on a 1651sqm site at 74 King Edward Street in Motueka listed for $699,000-plus.
Worth a look