Top 5 Auckland 'houses' for less than $500,000

A sub-$500,000 house in Auckland (Trade Me)
A sub-$500,000 house in Auckland (Trade Me)

The Prime Minister says there's affordable housing aplenty on Trade Me. 

"Oh well look, again, there'll always be a range of prices. If you go on Trade Me this afternoon and Google property $500,000 or less in Auckland, you'll find there's quite a few," John Key said on Wednesday. 

Top 5 Auckland 'houses' for less than $500,000

Well, Newshub has accepted the challenge and, sorry first-home buyers, it's not great reading.

If you search property under $500,000 on Trade Me you get 1253 listings. 

But let's break that down. If you only search for properties with some sort of building -- townhouses, apartments, houses and units, there are 873 listings. Just houses? There are 345. But a lot of them aren't fit to move into. 

Of the houses, one fifth of them are for relocation/removal, and 23 of them actually have an asking price over $500,000. One of them is even listed as asking price over $975,000. 

Top 5 Auckland 'houses' for less than $500,000

So what's left? We've picked out the top five under $500,000. 

1. House Boat

Top 5 Auckland 'houses' for less than $500,000

If you want to avoid skyrocketing land prices, why even live on the land? Head out to sea, catch a fish for breakfast. First-home buyer's dream. 

2. On the pier

Top 5 Auckland 'houses' for less than $500,000

Again, you're not on land but if you want to avoid the risk of capsizing this might be a better option. 

3. Classroom

Top 5 Auckland 'houses' for less than $500,000

Given the lack of classroom space in a lot of Auckland schools, you might be competing with them to get your hands on this. But for young families, it's probably already child-proofed, so one less thing on the to-do list.

4. Car showroom

Top 5 Auckland 'houses' for less than $500,000

Unfortunately, that "No Deposit" sign doesn't refer to the sale of this "house", but do some wheeling and dealing and they might throw in a car on the cheap?

5. House or garage

Top 5 Auckland 'houses' for less than $500,000

A short hour-and-15-minute drive to central Auckland in off-peak traffic -- this is two-for-the-price-of-one. A house, and you could rent out the garage. Steal. 

And for those that have a little more cash to splash -- here's a bonus. 

Top 5 Auckland 'houses' for less than $500,000

 

Asking price $592,000 -- two bedrooms, 50 square metres in Papakura. Who knows what potential it holds, the advertisers don't tell us anything more. Is it the toy houses they've shown in the picture? 

Newshub.