Start with the home you need and the life you want it to support. A first home, a smaller property and a house with space for a growing household can lead to quite different searches. Decide which features are essential, where you can compromise and how much upkeep you want to take on.
Browse our current properties for sale, check open-home information or contact the salesperson named on the listing to discuss a viewing. Tell them what you are looking for and ask specific questions about homes that interest you.
Talk to your lender or mortgage adviser about a realistic buying budget, the deposit and the conditions of any lending approval. Allow for legal advice, inspections, insurance, moving and ongoing ownership costs as well as the price. Our Loan Market page is an adviser option if you would like help exploring finance.
If this is your first home, ask your adviser which current support or KiwiSaver options may apply to you and confirm the requirements with the relevant provider. Do not build your budget around an assumed entitlement. Choose a lawyer or conveyancer early so you can get advice before signing or bidding.
Take a short list of your priorities to each viewing. Consider how the rooms work together, storage, sunlight, heating, ventilation, parking and access. Look for maintenance you would need to budget for, and ask about any visible signs of dampness or deterioration. A second visit can help you judge the street and setting at another time of day.
Ask what property information is available, which chattels are included and whether any alterations have been made. Take notes so you can compare homes afterwards. An open home helps you decide what to investigate; it does not replace an independent building inspection. Settled’s viewing guidance provides a useful checklist.
For a section or lifestyle property, investigate access, boundaries, services, water, wastewater, site conditions and planning restrictions. A large site or rural setting does not itself establish building or subdivision permission. Read Settled’s property research guidance and arrange advice appropriate to the property.
Negotiation, deadline and tender: ask for the relevant documents, the offer procedure and closing time, and whether earlier offers may be considered. Decide your price and terms with your advisers. Ask the salesperson to explain any multi-offer process rather than assuming you will get another opportunity.
Auction: register your interest early and have your lawyer review the terms. Auctions are normally unconditional, so complete your property checks and confirm property-specific finance before bidding. Set a limit and understand the deposit and settlement requirements. See Settled’s auction guidance before taking part.
The salesperson works for the seller. They can explain the property and process, but your lawyer and other independent advisers protect your own interests. Have your lawyer review an offer before you sign, including any finance, inspection or other conditions you need. An accepted offer may be legally binding; get advice about the exact agreement rather than relying on a verbal understanding.
Keep track of the agreement’s deadlines with your lawyer and lender. Plan insurance, funds, utilities and the move around the agreed settlement. Arrange a pre-settlement inspection and discuss any issue with your lawyer promptly. Confirm how and when keys will be available rather than booking a move on an assumed handover time.
This page is an online buying guide you can return to throughout your search. For the wider process, read Settled’s home buying journey and the sale and purchase agreement guidance.
Assess the property as a home to maintain as well as an investment. Look at realistic rental evidence, likely ongoing costs and the work needed before a tenancy could begin. An advertised rent is not proof of an achieved rent, and an estimate is not a guarantee of occupancy.
For a simple gross-yield comparison, annual rent divided by the purchase price, multiplied by 100, gives a percentage. If using weekly rent, multiplying it by 52 assumes a full year’s rent with no vacancy. Gross yield leaves out rates, insurance, repairs, management costs, finance, tax and purchase expenses, so it is not profit or cash flow. Allow for those costs and periods without rent when considering affordability.
Check the condition, lawful use and compliance information before committing. Read Tenancy Services’ current healthy homes compliance guidance, including how exemptions and records apply, rather than assuming a tidy-looking home is ready to rent.
If tenants are already in place, have your lawyer review the tenancy information and how the sale affects your responsibilities. Do not assume you can move in or change arrangements on settlement. For the wider financial decision, read Sorted’s property investment guide and seek advice suited to your finances. Discuss tax treatment with your accountant using Inland Revenue’s current rental-income guidance.
For more local context, read our Levin property guide.
Explore current listings or meet our Levin team. For a general property enquiry, call 06 367 0661 or email levin.nz@raywhite.com.