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2194 days ago

Tips For Buying Your Next Home

Garry Tranter from Price My House for Free Limited

Kia Ora Neighbours!

Six tips to help you with your journey on the property ladder.

1. DECIDE WHAT YOUR LOOKING FOR
Before selling, figure out what your next steps are going to be. Are you upsizing or downsizing? Are you aiming to become mortgage-free? Or do you have pre-approval on a new loan? Then you can start investigating the number of homes in your search area that fit the bill and how much they may cost you.

2. PURPOSE
Why are you considering a move? Are you looking for a larger, long-term family home? Are you willing to sacrifice a longer commute time for a better lifestyle? Or are you looking for a property to invest in, with a good capital gain forecast? A long-term plan vs a short-term investment will each paint a different picture.

3. PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE
It’s important to think ahead when buying a home – around seven years is a good benchmark. Your kids will become teens, your teens will leave home (or not) or your parents may need to move in as they grow older. Ask yourself “will this home still work for me in seven years’ time?”.

4. EMPLOYMENT
Factor in your current commute times and travel costs, but also think down the line. For example, right now you may be a young couple both working full time, but are you preparing to start a family? If one person will stay home with the child, it makes sense to purchase a home closer to the other person’s office.

5. DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE
Just like a first-time buyer, it’s important to do your due diligence. That means the usual LIMs and building reports, but should also include things like a meth test. Make good use of your real estate agent – they are a wealth of knowledge not only about the home, but the local area.

6. KEEP AN EYE ON THE MARKET
Your property journey doesn’t end once you’ve signed on the dotted line and moved into your new place. For most New Zealanders, a home is the biggest investment made in a lifetime and, in many cases, it’s relied upon to help fund retirement. So, like any big investment, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on trends or changes in the market. The realestate.co.nz New Zealand Property Report or REINZ sales data are two handy sources of information.

More messages from your neighbours
19 hours ago

It’s Riddle Time – You Might Need an Extra Cup of Coffee!

Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

Nobody has ever walked this way. Which way is it?

Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.

Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.

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3 days ago

Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.

This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
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Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.

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Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
  • 84.7% Yes
    84.7% Complete
  • 13.9% No
    13.9% Complete
  • 1.4% Other - I'll share below
    1.4% Complete
1585 votes
6 hours ago

BLACKHAWK CORGI RACES SUNDAY NOV 17

Michael from Trentham

Who is the fastest Corgi in NZ?

This will be decided on Sunday, November 17 at Belmont Domain, Lower Hutt with racing starting at 2pm.

Thirty Pembroke and Cardigan Corgis will take to the 60 metre track for racing like no other.

Competition comes from as far away as Auckland and Whanganui and if you want to stretch it a little - Scotland - with the very recent arrival of Skye and his owners from the other side of the world.

The youngest to compete is 7 month old, Atlas whilst Bonnie at 14 years is part of the seniors (nine and over) event.

Spectators very welcome to this sixth annual championship organised by the Wellington Welsh Corgi Club.