You get lots of choices and the chance to choose the sort of
lifestyle you want for you and your family, whether you're buying or renting.
Housing in New Zealand is very varied. Whether you’re
looking for an outdoor lifestyle, a place in the heart of the city or a family
home with room for the kids to run around in, you’ll find it here. Your options
include suburban homes, rural living and lifestyle blocks, apartments, flats
and town houses.
All of these choices are listed on Trade Me, a popular real
estate website in New Zealand.
Rentals and house prices
Prices for both renting or buying homes vary widely, and are
often more expensive than some migrants expect. (The Kiwi dream of home
ownership for all keeps housing demand and prices relatively high).
But to give you a benchmark, the national median rental is
around NZ$350 per week for a three-bedroom home. In central parts of Auckland
and Wellington, the same property would rent for between NZ$580-660 per week.
If you’re considering buying, the national median house
price was NZ$365,000 in April 2012.
As a general rule, the big cities are the most expensive,
and Auckland the most expensive of them, while prices tend to be lower in the
South Island.
Prices fluctuate of course, so for more detailed information
on rents and house prices try Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment or for
buying, Quotable Value.
Renting
Like many new arrivals you’ll probably start your stay by
renting while you get a feel for your new location and decide what sort of
accommodation you want longer term.
Rentals in New Zealand are regulated by the Residential
Tenancies Act and administered by the Building & Housing Group within the
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment. They provide standard
contracts that outline the terms of the contract and both sides’
responsibilities. They also hold the bond, and
provide a dispute resolution service.
Obviously there are lots of places to find places to rent,
including newspapers, but a popular place to start is online at Trade Me – a New
Zealand institution and more popular here than eBay.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has more
detailed information about renting.
Buying
While you may feel the urge to buy as soon as you arrive to
help your family feel settled, it’s a big decision and you shouldn’t rush
in. Owning your own home is part of the Kiwi dream.
Once you’re ready to buy, you’ll find the buying process is
well organised and regulated to ensure a fair process for both buyers and
sellers. It can take as little as three to four weeks to complete the purchase
once you’ve found the place you want.
For Government information about building and housing
visit The Real Estate Agents Authority.
If you do decide you want to buy, make sure you get a LIM –
Land Information Memorandum. It’s a document produced by the local Council that
includes all sorts of important information about the property you’re
considering.
Also be aware that some homes built with a plaster finish
(mainly in the 1990s) have developed problems with weather tightness. If you’re
considering a home of this type, visit the Ministry of
Business, Innovation and Employment for useful information.
For a guide to property valuations and reports visit Quotable Value.
If you own a property in New Zealand you're charged rates.
This is an annual fee issued by your local council to fund public services such
as rubbish collection and libraries, and is based on the value of your home. It
can be a substantial amount so check with your council before committing to a
property.
Houses and apartments to let are advertised in local
newspapers and property websites such as:
