pippalonghorn

Thank you for being so honest. I do feel as if I was being nosy now

TommyLuck

Not at all.

I would politey tell you to mind your own business if I didn't want to share. I have put actual figures down of course, that's kind of irrelevant.

But this is what this site is about; giving people the information to help them emigrate and settle whever they're going or thinking of going to.

People who are active on here now and others who aren't so much these days were and still are a mine of information for me personally, and that isn't easily found. Now I'm here and part of it, it's time to give some of that back.

The reason I'm happy to divulge this particular detail about my own life is to prove that something can be done if you present a decent enough case to the lender in question.

Of course every case is different, but banks are willing to be flexible if there is something in it for them.

BEVS

... and , of course, enough of the filthy lucre for the bank to indemnify on interest alone.

What that tells me is that you can negotiate if you have the collateral behind you to do so , which is the same the world over.

Of course TL you came with a returning Kiwi too. That does help whether or not anyone likes that fact.

Bo-Jangles

With the populations being almost equal in number I couldn't think of a more obvious candidate for comparisons.

There are many similarities and none more so than when the World was mired in financial crisis and talking about the PIGS (Portugal, Ireland and Greece). New Zealand was well up there wallowing beside them in terms of being a small economy with massive overseas debt and probably still is but everyone has shut up or forgotten about that.

The Weezer

We are definitely leaving New Zealand in the next few months and will be selling our property. We've been keeping an even closer eye than usual on our local market (we've always kept tabs on houses and prices).

Unfortunately, I think it will be very difficult, if not impossible for you to find a house that is not a complete do-up for that price, even in South Auckland. There are a few selling at the moment under the 400,000 mark, but there're probably pretty awful, or in a really awful area. You never know, though, you might get lucky, but bear in mind the usual problems with houses in Auckland, which is lack of heating and insulation, with the attendant proliferation of mould and damp. It gets plenty cold (at least indoors) here, so you'll either need to make the house liveable, or go native and just learn to harden up. Anyway, if you do find a place, make sure it's not in Otara. That's the one neighborhood I suggest you avoid at all costs.

By the way, the house we're selling is not a first time home buyer's kind of house, otherwise, I'd say make me an offer!

Good luck!

ExpatLife

All the best to the folk in NZ re your property moves. I hope all works out whether you are buying or selling; coming or going. Think I won't respond on the Irish issue as runs the risk of hijacking this thread, but needless to say I think a bit more unpacking of the issue is relevant for NZ, as it is for Oz and other countries. As an Australian (overseas), I'd just be happy if we could get the Bledisloe Cup back from the All Blacks! All the best Kiwis.

Bellasmum

Thanks' EL. I am sure the Wallabies will get their hands on the cup, but this Kiwi hopes it wont be anytime soon.

BEVS

Welcome back from your hols Bellasmum.

Bellasmum

Thanks Bev, we had a great time at the beach.

madao

**FURTHER UPDATE**

We saw 5 open homes today, all 3 bed. 4 were priced for negotiation, 1 for auction. Price wise was anywhere from $319K to $369K. Auction one is unknown just a vague $300 - $500K from the agent. lol.

We we're going to see 6 but just driving in to the area alone put us off that one but I don't think that's a bad hit rate.

All for negotiation were newly refurbed by developers ready to go with staged furniture. There is obviously money in buying cheap, quick refurb and selling on.

One was still in the process of being done over so it was an interesting jump over a locked fence after the agent, who we met at the previous property, said to go have a look.

The auction one is an unknown quantity. I will go along on Monday evening to see what happens but I think it will go for way over our budget. Adverts that say for auction annoy me as you dont know if it's a waste of time even going for a look if it will go for way beyond your budget.

The others we looked at today though were all good, just not quite ticking all the boxes we want. Although there were some big'ish sections the houses were 85 - 100sq M, dining areas or kitchens a bit smaller than we would like.

Interestingly they also all had new decks but only small ones, big enough to fit a small table and chairs. They all had the potential to be bigger though but I guess the developers put a small one it to say it's got it without having to spend to much. The first house we saw the agent said they could extend the deck if we purchased.

I'm working tomorrow but I've lined the missis up with another 3 viewings.

The Weezer

Madao, I'm quite surprised you found those prices, but good for you, maybe you'll find what you're looking for. Perhaps you are looking further from the airport and CBD than the suburbs I mentioned? A few months ago a two bedroom house on a busy street, with no garage and very small section, close to King's College in Otahuhu sold for $490,000. It was an older home, refurbished, but had no heating, and very minimal insulation and no double-glazing, not even the inferior aluminum kind without thermal break.

Today we also went to an auction, for a 3 bed, 1 bath home advertised as "pristine." It smelled and was not well refurbished, but the bidding went up to nearly $800,000 and did not meet reserve. It sat on a 1/4 acre, though, hence the high price. Probably it sold after negotiation for around that price.

I forgot to mention, the rougher areas of Manurewa are to be avoided too, in my opinion. They have a notorious reputation, are a bit scary even to me, a seasoned South Aucklander, and I don't imagine they'd be as good an investment as other areas, for that reason.

BEVS

It did look a bit good TBH

Justcol

Only if you live in certain areas, there are massive areas of the country that are still easily affordable,
the only reason prices are so high in certain areas is because stupid people are prepared to pay stupid prices.
The knock on effect now will be that the rest of us will have to endure at least 2 interest rate hikes this year
which are only going to be done as an effort to control the lunatics in auckland

TommyLuck

The vast majority of nations, big, medium sized or small have massive overseas debt, so I'm not sure what your point is?

Bellasmum

Never let the facts spoil a good tale aye