Hamilton.

Looking at things long term, it’s clear Hamilton has been — and will continue to be — a safe place to invest. Property values in Hamilton City have grown strongly over the last five years, and the city has held its value better than several other main centres through recent market corrections. That resilience is driven by the lower price entry compared to Auckland, which keeps the city affordable for both owner-occupiers and investors, and by the scale of infrastructure investment now underway across the region.

Hamilton sits inside the “golden triangle” with Auckland and Tauranga — an economic zone that accounts for roughly two-thirds of all freight movement in New Zealand. The Waikato region is responsible for around 20% of the country’s total exports, with agriculture, dairy, biotechnology, light aviation, transport logistics, science research, education and healthcare leading the local economy. This is a diverse employment base, which matters when you’re holding rental property through a cycle.

The city’s population is forecast to grow by tens of thousands of residents over the next decade, and Hamilton City Council estimates at least 18,000 new homes are needed to meet that demand. Several large projects are in flight to deliver them — including new sustainable communities at Peacocke and Rotokauri. Peacocke, one of Hamilton’s largest greenfield areas, is supported by a $290.4 million funding package from the Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund covering a new bridge, main roads, parks and water networks.

On the eastern side of the city, the Ruakura Inland Port is bringing thousands of future jobs and reshaping suburbs like Fairview Downs. New townhouse stock continues to come on stream in Frankton, around the hospital in Melville/Bader, and in the established northern suburbs of Rototuna, Flagstaff and Huntington. This is a city where rezoning and density changes are still actively creating opportunities for investors and developers.

Tenant demand is broad. The University of Waikato and Wintec draw a steady student cohort; the hospital precinct draws medical staff; and the wider economy draws working families into established suburbs like Glenview, Hillcrest and Hamilton East. Residents get a city lifestyle with rolling Waikato countryside on the doorstep, Auckland an hour’s drive north, and the Bay of Plenty about 90 minutes east.

The key to clever property investment is to buy in a growing market — one where demand for both property and rentals is increasing steadily. Hamilton fits that brief, and Ben works the local network here every week to find investors the right deal at the right price.