Lake Wanaka is continuing to appeal to Kiwis as a place to own property with the resort experiencing buoyant property sales, according to First National real estate agent Grant Winsloe, who says New Zealanders view Wanaka as a safe and resilient location with stunning scenery.

“Wanaka feels like a safe haven compared to the bigger centres and especially the rest of the world at the moment. The lifestyle offered here is second to none. People are now thinking ‘if I can work from home, let’s choose our home in the best possible location.’”

“The market has been extremely buoyant over the past months. It started strong in June 2020 against all expectations and the heat has continued to build since then,” he says. ”We didn’t even experience much of a slowdown prior to the election as we would normally expect.”

As a long-time Wanaka resident, Grant has been in sales most of his life. He and his wife Lynette brought up their family in the area and have both been part of the local real estate industry and community for 20 years, building a solid network of contacts.

“ I really like all aspects of the real estate business and working with clients on a wide variety of projects. It’s a pleasurable process making sure the sales journey is an enjoyable experience for everyone involved.”

“People live in Wanaka by choice and are generally not stuck in a rut so the level of happiness and calm here is very noticeable – actually it’s contagious. Locals strive to keep this vibe here because it really is a very special place to live,” says Grant.

First National real estate agent Debbie Forrest works alongside Grant on property sales and together they make a formidable team.

Debbie is a Central Otago local who swapped her 23- year hairdressing career for real estate.

“ I am very results driven and like to focus on delivering successful outcomes for all our clients. The industry here is very easy to be enthusiastic about and there are great investments to be made in Wanaka.”

“ We currently have the Marina Terrace Apartments ready for market that are architecturally designed by Mason & Wales so these are five-star properties with stunning views out over Lake Wanaka,” she says. “There is a choice of a variety of apartment layouts and designs and we can show people all the options. These apartments are so close to downtown Wanaka you rarely need a vehicle to get to the cafés, bars and shops that are right on the doorstep.”