We’re thrilled to hear Steve’s classes have got you all so fired up – it’s fantastic! We’ve been just as excited about NZ property for 3 years now and often feel like a kid in a candy store!

But basically no one can answer those questions about where to invest in NZ except you! There is no one place is better than another solution – each has…[Read more]

I know everyone is against real estate agents (and often for good reason), but for those unable to get to NZ themselves you can use a Buyers Advocate that specialises in NZ property.

Melbourne based Nigel Kibel is a reputable buyer with a good track history of purchasing NZ property for Australian investors. His web site is…[Read more]

Hi Pavlina

It depends who you are using to manage your property and whether they are a member of a professional body (like REINZ).

Usually inspections are done on entry and exity of tenants and again every 12 or 24 weeks, more commonly 12 weeks or 3 months.

You don’t always see the reports, they are not furnished to landlords as a matter of…[Read more]

Can’t recommend one in Christchurch – but any good NZ accountant can help out. We highly recommend John Phibbs at Lynch Phibbs http://www.lynchphibbs.co.nz for Aussie investors, or Ann Loudon at StreetSmart Group http://www.streetsmartgroup.co.nz for local investors. Both are in Auckland, but they are excellent.
If your Aussie based then you’ll also need a good…[Read more]

Steven is spot on with his advice.

And our NZ investments are stand alone – all funds are sourced via a NZ broker who is absolutely excellent at getting money for Aussies.

Now in all fairness it does also have a little to do with your NZ investment structure, and how geared up your portfolios are.

Our experience is that if you are 80% LVR or…[Read more]

Hi,

Kiwi Property Investor Magazine does do reports on vacancy rates in towns. It’s a little difficult to get hold of if you’re not in NZ but try here: http://www.propertyinvestor.co.nz/

Landlords.co.nz has a useful article which says you can get the vacancy rates from REINZ:
http://www.landlords.co.nz/article1231.html
The article is well worth…[Read more]

In NZ there is no certificate of occupancy requirement (although this is likely to change sooner rather than later) and it’s been easy for people to build extensions, units, granny flats, etc. outside the proper building code.

LIMs are, in a way, your certificate of occupancy. So it is definitely the inconsistencies in the LIM or what’s missing…[Read more]

As Invercargil investors we must say that what is imprtant is not to put all of your eggs in one basket. Your NZ portfolio should have a balance of high yielding properties (and yes these can be found in Invercargill) and high capital growth properties (in Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, etc.).

I have to agree with all of Westan’s comments -…[Read more]

We haven’t received anything of the like so I’m guessing you’re special! All jokes aside I would say that you’ve found your way onto some immigration list that identifies your forwarding address in Australia (e.g. are you having rates notices forwarded to you or something similar?).

I suppose you could solve this mystery by phoning one of them…[Read more]

Hi

Yes, the definition of cross lease is “A legal means of facilitating joint ownership of a freehold section of land with individual ownership of the buildings on that section.”

Now thes best place to get a valuation is to checking out Quatable Value at https://www.qv.co.nz/default.htm or commission a valuation from a valuer.

We have a cross…[Read more]

Hi Leigh
Did you get the book yet?

Sigrid de Castella & Antony Anderson

http://www.kiwiproperty.biz
New book “The Guide to New Zealand Property Investing – Australian Edition”
Available at our web site along with other NZ Resources for Australian Investors

Hi Zucan

There are some great buyers agents around like Nigel Kibel of Property Know How or Karin MacKay of Australian Property Buyers (both in Melbourne but they buy all over Australia and Nigel in NZ). These two are reputable and will tell you upfront whether they han help you.

Whilst research and due diligence are incredibly important so is…[Read more]

Yep I’d have to agree with Anne. You need to start the legal process as soon as you can rather that waiting and hoping it will get better – it won’t.

The beauty of having a propety manager is that they do all of this for you, and they vet the tenants which is why we never manage our own properties.

But if you’ve chosen to self manage it’s a much…[Read more]

Yes, Nigel – a small and unfortuante setback for property investors, that’s true.

However for those wanting to know more about this curly topic, here goes. You can still chose straight line or diminishing value for depreciation. Or you can choose not to depreciate at all.

Building, land and chattel values are based on the written valuation at…[Read more]

Bottom line is if you want to take advantage of NZ’s depreciation, and the potential to not get caught with CGT in Australia you need to set up a struture in NZ that will enable you to repatriate money in OZ.

It’s important to understand that according to the ATO any Australian entity or person making a capital gain anywhere in the world is…[Read more]

Couldn’t agree more – LIM (Land Information Memorandum) checks are essential, as omissions in these can seriously affect your sale price if you want to exit a property with a “LIM defect”.

Best bet if you can’t do it yourself is to get a building inspector to do it all for you – it’s worth the money – but make sure you get someone who is well…[Read more]

Sorry Techhowse
Too many late nights and lack of coffee this morning – apologise for the mis spelling!
Sigrid

http://www.kiwiproperty.biz
New book “The Guide to New Zealand Property Investing – Australian Edition”
Available at our web site along with other NZ Resources for Australian Investors

Hi Technowise
There are some great areas to invest in but you will need to focus on a balanced portfolio – combining investments with positive cashflow (usually South Island or smaller towns) with investment which will generate capital growth (large towns, particularly Auckland).
Best of luck.
Sigrid

http://www.kiwiproperty.biz
New book “The Guide to…[Read more]

Hi Del
Point taken – our apologies – will be more discrete in future.
Regards
Sigrid & Tony

http://www.kiwiproperty.biz
NZ Resources for Australian Investors

Hi everyone

I know I’m coming in at the end of a long conversation here but subdivision in NZ is very different – best option is to cross lease residential blocks with multiple dwellings on them. Commercial is a different proposition.

Rates and contributions vary depending on the city and the council fees involved, and will definitely be more in…[Read more]