Is there any affordable housing available in Auckland? Mayor Len Brown certainly thinks so. So when he and his team offered to show Duncan Garner what's on offer in Auckland's western suburb of New Lynn, we jumped at the chance. The Merchant Quarter apartments are part of a new complex situated right next to New Lynn train station, with Lynn Mall and the town shops literally over the road. Starting at $250,000, these are being snapped up like hot cakes. Check them out at www.merchantquarter.co.nz. But what about non-apartment living? Mayor Brown took us to Barfoot & Thompson to see what they could offer in the sub-$400,000 price bracket. They showed Duncan two properties, one on the market at $255,000 and one soon to be auctioned. Take a look round these properties. Would you live in either?

source: data archive