Winner of $25 ‘piece of NZ’ selling prize property

Winner of $25 ‘piece of NZ’ selling prize property

8 June 2010: A Waikato property which was won earlier this year in a unique promotion organised as part of a church’s fundraising campaign has been put on the market by the winner, but this time it’s being offered for sale by more traditional means – a Harcourts auction campaign.

The prize property has been put up for sale through Harcourts by Warwick Hutchinson, who won the Karapiro property in February after participating in the high-profile “Buy a $25 piece of NZ” promotion organised by Michelle and Murray Smith of Bridges Church in Cambridge.

Attracting more than 45,000 entries and helping raise more than $1.2 million towards the cost of a new church and community centre, the promotion saw the Smiths offer a set of six iconic Waipa District photos for $25, which in turn put people in the draw to win their lakeside property, which features an upmarket five-bedroom house and two self-contained guest units

Harcourts Cambridge Sales Consultant David Soar says the excellent, well-located property marketed by the Smiths as a fabulous “one million dollar” family home is scheduled to be auctioned on Sunday 18 July, with an advertised reserve of $775,000.

As he explains, Mr Hutchinson enlisted Harcourts to market and sell the property after taking some time to consider his options and to allow the Smiths to make arrangements for their future, even delaying settlement to take the pressure off them and letting the Smiths stay rent-free until mid-September when the future owners will take possession.

“Given he grew up nearby and the property has so much appeal, Warwick did seriously consider keeping it and living here himself,” Mr Soar says. “However because his work, his existing home and most of his family and friends are in Auckland, where he has lived for more than 40 years, Warwick eventually decided to give someone else the opportunity to own and benefit from this prize property.”

Mr Soar says he expects 1/542 Maungatautari Road will attract considerable interest, particularly with its elevated position, panoramic views and the income stream available from the two units that adjoin the large, modern five-bedroom home built on the landscaped section.

“Within walking distance of Karapiro Domain, which is the venue for the 2010 World Rowing Championships, just five minutes from Cambridge and offering spectacular views of LakeKarapiro and MaungatautariMountain, the location is superb. When you add in the spacious, near-new five bedroom home and the bonus of two self-contained guest units it’s a very appealing package indeed.

“Given all of its features and the huge amount of publicity the property has had we expect a lot of interest in the lead-up to the auction, which will be at 1.30pm on Sunday 18 July at the Don Rowlands Centre, Mighty River Domain, Maungatautari Rd, Lake Karapiro, unless the property is sold prior.”

ENDS

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