New Zealand

October 24, 2008

• Buying a Ski Field: Unusual Property Investment

  [caption id="attachment_905" align="alignright" width="230" caption="Mt Lyford Ski Field and Lodge"][/caption]
  Most ski fields around the world are leasehold operations. (…)

October 22, 2008

• Are Bank’s Fair Weather Friends?

  So what’s the experience like if you need to re-finance a loan or raise new money in the current economic storm in Australia or New Zealand? (…)

October 6, 2008

• Using a Buyers Agent - A Good Idea?

  Buyers agents are enjoying a resurgence in Australia’s difficult residential property market. (…)

September 30, 2008

• RealTrades: Nice Idea Pity About the Implementation

  Recently we looked at innovative ways to sell in a falling market and now I want to review a new real estate trading website just launched in the New Zealand market: realtrades.co.nz
  The idea is that in a falling real estate market people are prepared to be flexible when they sell their home, investment property or business and may prepared to trade for part or all of the selling price. (…)

September 29, 2008

• Creative Financing: Way of the Future?

  The slower market particularly in top end property in Auckland is seeing some innovation in the New Zealand residential property scene. (…)

September 12, 2008

• Interest Rates in New Zealand - How Does it Work?

  We wrote recently about the Reserve Bank of Australia cutting the official interest rate and of course near neighbours, New Zealand’s Reserve Bank has cut their interest rates. (…)

August 27, 2008

• Can’t Afford Your First Home? Try this Strategy!

  The headline caught my eye:
  “Built for Two - from first-home buyers to empty-nesters, our small lot special has options for everyone. (…)

August 25, 2008

• Reverse Mortgages: In Retreat in Australia

  The reverse-mortgage market is in full retreat in Australia, with the fourth lender this year announcing it is pulling back. (…)

August 22, 2008

• NZ Property Websites: PropertyTalk

  Propertytalk used to have the obscure url propertytalk.co.nz but has since gone international as propertytalk.com and expanded its property investment forum to cover the countries to which the Kiwi diaspora migrates to: notably Australia, UK, Asia and North America. (…)

August 18, 2008

• NZ High Rise in Sales Trouble?

  Sentinel, is New Zealand’s tallest and newest NZ$137 million luxury high-rise, and there could be some good deals on re-sales for the smart investor. (…)

August 13, 2008

• Buying Real Estate in Australia: the Offer Process

  When buying a property in Australia or New Zealand the usual agreement is by “private treaty” when the buyer makes a written offer and the seller either accepts, rejects or counter-offers. (…)

August 1, 2008

• Cheaper to Rent than Buy in New Zealand, Maybe

  New Zealand’s house prices and interest rates are at their highest rates for years. (…)

July 27, 2008

• Trans-Tasman Emigration and House Prices

  New Zealand is a country with a population of only 4 million people - about the same size as Sydney - but with its own currency, fiscal policy and property market. (…)

July 24, 2008

• Australia’s Most Expensive Cities

  Just released, Mercer’s 2008 Cost of Living Survey makes some interesting reading for those considering a move downunder, that is to Australia or New Zealand. (…)

July 18, 2008

• Investing in Australia and New Zealand Real Estate: Rules for Non-Residents

  Foreigners Buying Australian Property
  Australia restricts what real estate non-residents can buy. (…)

July 15, 2008

• New Zealand House Sales Drop: Will Interest Rates Follow?

  There appears to be mounting evidence that New Zealand’s current interest rate cycle has hit its top: which will be a relief to those paying nearly 11% on their mortgages. (…)