From award-winning food, wine and outstanding architecture, to art deco and warm balmy days - Hawke’s Bay has something for everyone. Character buildings drenched in heritage were part of the appeal for Bayleys Hawke’s Bay Residential Sales Manager Sally Jackson.

“Hawke’s Bay is a really special place. I moved here about 25 years ago from the UK and never left. It's been a fantastic place to bring up kids and see them grow up here too.”

While it’s a smaller region, Jackson says it has a big international appeal.

“Napier’s Art Deco scene is a huge pull for foreign tourists as well as the top wineries and restaurants.”

“People travel here just for the Art Deco Festival because I think there's only one other place in the world that has a concentration of buildings like that.”

Despite being hammered last year by Cyclone Gabrielle, the resilient region is still bustling.

“We've still got a couple of bridges that are out, but other than that, they are currently being rebuilt. Everything is pretty much back to normal.”

“We are seeing businesses that were closed now start to open, and we’re starting to see the people who were affected by the cyclone being able to get back into the property market. They’ve mostly been paid out and they’re firmly looking for their next home.”

Jackson says the silver lining of the cyclone was an almost complete infrastructure refresh across the region.

“A lot of those roads had to be rebuilt, and that has really benefited the local community.”

With more people on the hunt for a home, the market has seen a much-needed boost too.

“I've been in real estate three years and every year people say spring is going to be so busy and it hasn’t been. But this year, we have seen a change occur, and that's right across our entire team.”

“It’s good to see people making that decision to move. There are more people attending open homes, and that’s because interest rates are also improving.”

So what are the four up and coming areas catching Jackson’s eyes, and what can you expect from each of them?

NAPIER CITY

Jackson calls Napier City the Art Deco capital of the world and not only that, but it’s positioned right on the coastline.

“We've got some really awesome apartments being developed there so that's really exciting and they are really changing the landscape.”

“There are some high spec apartments. They go up to about $5 million for a penthouse, but there are also some lower priced ones there as well.”

Up in the hills and Taradale, Jackson says there’s a fantastic land development called Mission Hills.

“They have developed acres of land up there with incredible views right across the ranges out to sea. You can see as far as Mahia on one side, and then almost get glimpses of Ruapehu on the other.”

“Those sections are selling down well. They're priced reasonably but have the feeling of premium living.”

Jackson says the development has also just signed a deal with one of the retirement villages, and there’s a commercial centre being built too.

“There will be a real mix of housing in Mission Hills. The largest, I think, will be three-, four- or five-bedroom homes. There will also be some townhouses in there, but predominantly it’s for mum and dad buyers coming in to build their brand new home in a beautiful location.”

The price range for those runs from around $475,000 to the upper $600,000’s.

Jackson says there are also a selection of older homes in the area for buyers looking for something a bit more established.

“So with Napier city, you've got the area by the sea and then you've got two distinct hills. One's called Bluff Hill, and one's called Hospital Hill.”

“They are where the more traditional houses and character homes are as well as plenty of villas that have been renovated.”

So what can you expect to pay? Jackson says right now the median sale price in Napier City is $705,000.

HASTINGS

When it comes to Hastings, Jackson says there’s a lot of variation.

“It has got some industrial areas, and then it’s got the city of Hastings. It’s got lots of government departments located there, a massive local council, and then it feeds out into some smaller suburbs such as Flaxmere and Frimley.”

There’s a lot of character homes in the area, with a lot of people who move in to work for the local government or at the hospital.

“The hospital is also located in Hastings, and that's got a huge employer base. There are also some amazing parks with the local council having invested heavily into their green spaces.”

All of which seamlessly connect to the local cycleways - “so you can pretty much get right across the region.”

Jackson says Hastings city attracts a lot of first home buyers, with some moving up and into their second home.

As for the local amenities, the city has had a huge revival in recent years.

“The entire town centre is now a thriving area full of small restaurants and cafes that are doing really well and winning awards on a national level.”

If you’re wanting to venture slightly further afield, Jackson says there are a great selection of wineries available to visit and do tastings at.

“People can go out on bike tours, minivan tours or self-guided tours.”

“There are well known places like Elephant Hill, Craggy Range out on one side of the coast, and then Trinity Hill as well. The wine tastes incredible and the food offering is amazing.”

The median sale price for a home in Hastings is around $665,000.

HAVELOCK NORTH

On the outskirts of Hastings city, there’s a lot of lifestyle sections that feed into more rural areas in Havelock North.

“Lifestyle properties within the Hastings and Havelock North area have increased year on year dramatically. I think we've had approximately 25 sales over the past quarter.”

“We're definitely seeing people either coming in from farms and wanting a smaller area to move into, or people deciding that they want that sort of semi-rural life and choosing that lifestyle option.”

The schooling in the area is also attractive for families.

“There are lots of private schools, and we are seeing people moving into the area specifically for that.”

A major drawcard is also the Iona Havelock North Development.

“People have been waiting in the wings for this to come along, and so we're getting really strong interest and lots of inquiry coming in for that new neighborhood. It is lovely to see that the development includes access to our cycle ways too.”

When it comes to amenities, Jackson says Havelock North is full of beautiful boutique-style shops and eateries.

“It's got a real village feel to it. There’s also a beautiful new hotel that's been there for a couple of years called Porters and that sits above this beautiful restaurant called Malo which has won a number of awards.”

There’s also something for the locals who are into the outdoors too.

“It's close to beautiful walkways and beautiful cycleways. There’s also the amazing Te Mata Peak, which is the big mountain in Havelock North. There’s lots of walking trails there, and lots of biking trails, if you're into mountain biking.”

“After all of that you can then easily head back into the village to rest, relax and recover.”

Jackson says right now the median price for a Havelock North property is just over $1 million.