Housing

Whether you’re looking for an outdoor lifestyle, a place in the heart of a city, or a family home with plenty of space, fresh air and room for a garden, you’ll find it in New Zealand. There’s a wide range of choice in location and style, so you’ll have every opportunity to match your new home to the lifestyle of your dreams.

In terms of style, the first thing you’ll probably notice is the diversity of New Zealand housing. Charming, restored, turn of the century cottages and Victorian villas are found in every city and town. Alongside, you’ll find homes built in a wide range of styles, from brick or wooden bungalows to modern glass structures and contemporary townhouses.

In the cities, you’ll have the option of inner city living in apartments. In the suburban areas, most homes are stand alone, with large gardens or ‘sections’ as they’re called here. Because space in the past was never an issue, New Zealand homes were usually built as single level residences. In recent years though, two and three storey homes and townhouses have become popular.

Beyond towns and cities, there are rural lifestyle opportunities, often less than an hour’s commute from the nearest city. Lifestyle blocks with several acres of farmland are especially popular, but there is also plenty of choice of homes on smaller blocks of land set amongst bush, or near a beach, river or mountain.

Along with the variety in styles of New Zealand housing, here are a few things to note

Light and sunshine
New Zealand homes are generally built to make the most of the light, with plenty of windows and usually with glass doors opening onto a balcony, a deck or the garden. New Zealanders prize this ‘indoor-outdoor flow’ especially for barbecues and summer living. For maximum sunshine and warmth, look for properties that face north.
Appliances
New Zealand uses 220 volt power so, if you’re coming from a country such as the USA that uses 110 volt power, you may need to replace appliances. Or if your appliances are dual voltage, you may just need an adapter.
Heating and insulation
Although many New Zealand homes are insulated, most do not have central heating or double glazed windows. Most have open fires, wood burners, gas or electrical heating.

New Zealand is now focusing on increasing insulation standards, as a way of reducing the need for new power stations, and to improve general health. For more information on how New Zealand is conserving energy, visit the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority.
Floor coverings and lighting
When moving into a property in New Zealand, you’ll find the floor coverings, curtains and wall lights are usually all in place. So is the oven. You can replace them if you want, but it is usual for those items to stay with the property when it’s sold or rented. However it is not compulsory . These items are referred to as ‘Chattels’. If the sale document doesn’t state “and chattels”, the vendor is entitled to take them with them.
Building materials
Newcomers to New Zealand are often surprised at the extensive use of timber in houses here. It’s used in exteriors as well as interiors, and was the traditional building material for many years and is still widely used in modern building. Brick homes became popular for a while but in recent years, the building fashion has moved toward a Mediterranean look, with a flat roof, no eaves and a plaster-style finish. But be aware that there have been some weathertight problems with a number of homes built in this manner.
Affordable
Compared to prices overseas, you’ll probably find your money will go a very long way in the New Zealand housing market. Which may be why, per our census, nearly 67% of New Zealanders own their own home. The market – for buying and renting – does fluctuate of course. In the past year, housing prices rose 5.1% over the same period, September 2008 to September 2009, according to the Real Estate Industry of New Zealand. And the average house price today is under NZ$350,000.

First steps to finding a home

Most people coming to New Zealand start by renting a property while deciding where to settle. Will you be in a city or would you rather live in the nearby countryside and commute? Do you want a completely new lifestyle, in a rural setting, perhaps in the bush or by a mountain or the sea? Or how about a small town in the middle of nowhere? It’s all readily available, right here in New Zealand.

To help you plan your next steps, here’s where to find more information about: