Whangarei: City of 100 opportunities

Jacqui Sorenson knew exactly what to look for when she bought an investment property in Whangarei earlier this year. That's because she's a property manager at Whangarei Real Estate (Just Rentals Northland) and knew what the city's tenants want.

The $205,000 Raumanga property is a three-bedroom house with garage. It's fully fenced, insulated and had a heat pump fitted already. Allowing pets makes the property much easier to rent. She has just rented the Fairburn Road property at $300 per week, which is slightly below market rent.

Raumanga isn't always tenants' first choice and Sorenson warns landlords looking to buy investment properties in Whangarei to know their suburb before buying. Many of Whangarei's lower priced suburbs have good pockets and bad pockets - which you'll only find out if you drive around.

Median sales prices in Whangarei City are below the national levels, making the city accessible financially. Prices on starter homes suitable for rental start at just below $140,000. A 10% deposit on that isn't onerous to raise.