– Sahar Omidvar bought a $1.8 million home on Herald Island but plans to sell for business expansion.
– The property, 113 Ferry Parade, has potential for redevelopment, including building a jetty.
– Herald Island features a strong community vibe, with family-centric events and a focus on conservation.
When Sahar Omidvar went shopping for a home close to Hobsonville Point Secondary School, she’d never heard of Herald Island. But one trip over the causeway to the Auckland suburb had her sold on its delights, and she soon bought a sailor’s cottage which came with, of all things, a turret.
Omidvar paid just over $1.8m for the three-bedroom waterfront home at 113 Ferry Parade, and had plans to demolish the property and build something new on the 923sqm site, but her plans changed as the family’s mushroom business, Mushborn, boomed.
“We were looking to buy a house close to the high school and when we went to Herald Island, we absolutely fell in love with the island. It was perfect for us to be close to Kumeu for our business,” Omidvar told OneRoof.
Buyers are being encouraged to ignore 113 Ferry Parade’s CV of $1.85 million. Photo / Supplied
113 Ferry Parade had belonged to a sailor who had passed away and was being sold by his estate. The Omidvar family met his nieces and nephews at the auction and now affectionately call the previous owner “Uncle Willy”.
His house was full of nautical-themed paintings, model boats, trophies and other memorabilia, which the Omidvars will now pass to the next owner.
Omidvar told OneRoof that her family had loved living on the island, which spans 40ha in the Upper Waitematā Harbour and is home to around 700 people.
“The view is magical,” Omidvar said, noting that 113 Ferry Parade faces the channel. “The boats are always there. The other side is quite tidal.”
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The family had planned to build their dream home on the island, as many neighbours have done before them, replacing the original baches with modern luxury homes. However, the Omidvars want to sell up and invest the proceeds of the house sale into an expansion of their Mushborn brand.
Barfoot & Thompson listing agent Anik Arundel told OneRoof that the property had a lot of potential, and buyers could, with approval, build a staircase down to the water and even build a jetty. In her listing, she calls on buyers to ignore the CV of $1.85m and “discover the magic”.
113 Ferry Parade is one of four properties for sale on the island. All four are being marketed by Arundel, Leila Morris and Zoe-Lou Morris, of Barfoot & Thompson, West Harbour.
Ripe for redevelopment is a four-bedroom home at 123 Ferry Parade, on Herald Island. Photo / Supplied
67 Ferry Parade is a fully renovated 1950s home for sale by negotiation. Photo / Supplied
One of the other homes for sale, 123 Ferry Parade, sits on 1386sqm, has a CV of $2.1, and was ripe for redevelopment, Arundel told OneRoof. “It has huge panoramic views of the harbour and the deep-water channel, so you’re always seeing boats come and go. The value is in the land, and it needs a project. Either renovate or rebuild. It’s a magnificent spot, big, and it borders the reserve,” she said.
67 Ferry Parade is a fully renovated 1950s home, with full street frontage and sloping access to the water, while 6 The Terrace, which has a jetty, is a do-up or pull-down, depending on buyer appetite. “Feedback has been to demolish and build something beautiful on the land. The section itself is very unique, north westerly facing, so you’ve got the evening sun, which everyone loves at the moment in winter. You can roll or push your kayak or paddleboard into the water at high tide.”
Arundel told OneRoof Herald Island had a unique vibe. “It still holds that very Kiwi lifestyle, with children being able to play on the street and in the domain.”
Do-up or pull-down: 6 The Terrace goes to auction on August 8. Photo / Supplied
The island was very family-centric, and most residents had grown up there. “Community events like the Christmas Parade and Anzac Remembrance Service are very popular among locals,” she said.
“There’s a library located on the island which hosts markets and other community gatherings. It’s a great place for children to spend an afternoon reading and picking out some books.
“Being an island, there are numerous beaches, boat ramps and a wharf, with water sports being a huge part of everyday life.”
She added: “There’s a strong environmental committee on the island. They look after the reserves and even private residences. If residents have questions, they can always go to the environmental committee. It has always been a priority to conserve what’s on the island,” she said.
Around 21 houses have sold on the island in the past two years, with the majority fetching over $1m, and one fetching $3.5m.
Arundel said many of the new-build homes on the island could easily sell for more if they came up for sale. “The architecturally designed masterpieces that we appraise and get invited to, those are in the multi-million range. It’s just a matter of when they come onto the market.
“It’s exciting to witness the passion and capital being invested into the island.”