Real Estate in New Zealand

Last updated on Jun 13, 2023

Summary: An expat looking to buy a home in New Zealand should start by researching the local real estate market and familiarizing themselves with the different types of properties available. They should also consider their budget and the type of amenities they are looking for in a home. Popular amenities in New Zealand homes include modern kitchens, open-plan living areas, outdoor entertaining areas, and plenty of storage space. Foreigners are allowed to purchase property in New Zealand, however, there are restrictions on the type of property they can buy. Non-residents are only allowed to purchase residential properties that are intended for their own use, such as a holiday home or a rental property. They are not allowed to purchase land or commercial properties.

How do I find a place to live in New Zealand?

We asked expats how they chose their neighborhood and found a place to live. They answered:

"We chose to rent a furnished house in a beach-side community (aren't most of them anyway?). We drove around New Zealand for seven weeks and found a spot we liked. We bought a local newspaper and looked at about 10 houses from the rental ads and chose one in Snells Beach. That is 10 kms from Warkworth, which in turn is about one hour north of Auckland," said one person in Warkworth.

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About the Author

Betsy Burlingame is the Founder and President of Expat Exchange and is one of the Founders of Digital Nomad Exchange. She launched Expat Exchange in 1997 as her Master's thesis project at NYU. Prior to Expat Exchange, Betsy worked at AT&T in International and Mass Market Marketing. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a BA in International Business and German.

Some of Betsy's articles include 12 Best Places to Live in Portugal, 7 Best Places to Live in Panama and 12 Things to Know Before Moving to the Dominican Republic. Betsy loves to travel and spend time with her family. Connect with Betsy on LinkedIn.