39/12 Maunganui Road, Mount Maunganui

Wake up on the 5th floor and Pilot Bay is already there waiting for you, stretched out across the living room windows before you've even had your coffee.

This is one of those apartments where the view does half the selling. From the living area and second bedroom, you're looking straight across the bay, boats coming and going, the water changing colour through the day. The master bedroom takes a different angle out to the ocean, so when you close that door at night, it's just you and the horizon.

The kitchen works hard without making a fuss of itself. Good bench space, a breakfast bar for the mornings you can't be bothered sitting down properly, and it opens straight into the living space so whoever's cooking is still part of the conversation. Being up on the 5th floor means the light moves through the apartment in a way you don't get lower down, it just feels brighter, easier.

Both bedrooms are a genuine size, not the squeezed-in second bedrooms you see in a lot of apartment builds. The master has its own ensuite for when you want your own space, and the second bathroom services the guest room separately, so whoever's staying isn't sharing your morning routine.

It's tidy and comfortable as it stands, but there is room to put your own stamp on it if that's what you're after. Some buyers will want to do exactly that.

A secure car park comes with it, which in this pocket of the Mount is worth more than people realise until they are circling the block looking for a park.

For buyers thinking beyond their own stay, the apartment can be added to the complex's letting pool, giving you the option to generate rental income when you're not using it yourself. It's a nice bit of flexibility if you are after a lock-up-and-leave or want the property working for you.

Full body corporate documentation is ready to go, so if you're serious, the paperwork side is simple.

If you've been waiting for a Pilot Bay view without the price tag of a freehold, the 5th floor at The Beaumont is worth a look before someone else beats you to it.