Finding your first home

Decide what you want in a home

Want to know what to look for when buying a house in New Zealand? There are aspects you should check at every home you view, such as maintenance or damage issues, but the rest really comes down to your lifestyle and future needs.

We suggest coming up with your own personal house buying checklist, split into non-negotiable and nice-to-have features.

The type of home you want

An important first step is considering the type of home you want. There are lots of options - a stand-alone house, a townhouse, an apartment. Or does buying land and starting from scratch with a new build sound more like you?

Let’s look at just a few pros and cons for each property type to help you decide…

Stand-alone home

Townhouse

Apartment

Some other things to consider for your list might include:

• Work out the minimum number of bedrooms and bathrooms you need.
• Make a list of your ideal locations, based on house prices, school zones, work, and other key factors that apply to your lifestyle.
• Think about the entire property. Would you like a garden? Does the property need to be fully fenced for the safety of kids or pets?
• Consider the need for a garage and how much off-street parking you need.
• Decide whether you want a home that’s ready to be moved into, or do you fancy a doer-upper?

Once you know what you’re looking for, you need to know where to look for your first home. There are many different ways to search for the right area for you, which can often be done from the comfort of your couch.

You can view listings and find property value insights from the following websites, which can help you determine the best place to buy your first home:

• OneRoof
• Realestate.co.nz
• Homes.co.nz

Along with your list of personal must-haves, there are other aspects to check at an open home. It's the perfect opportunity to look around for any defects to ask the owner about. You might also want to check for any obvious signs of mould or dampness, and don’t forget to ask about insulation.

Open homes are also a good time to talk to the real estate agent about the property title, if there’s shared access to the property, and any restrictions on the property. Regardless of the answers, it’s a good idea to get legal advice about these matters down the track, should you decide to proceed with an offer.