If you want some feedback on living in NZ by people who have actually done it. I recommend the following website. e.g. Jessica is an American living in NZ - see www.expatinterviews.com/Jessica.html. They mention $NZ250-300K price for a house in Wellington. I would not be so inclined to invest that much at this time because property prices are still falling in the cities in most OECD countries. Stick to the countryside if you are buying, and go as cheap as you can and do some repairs. She advises buying when the exchange rate is low, which it should be for some time now, making it not such a bad time for lenders if they have offshore income.
Living expenses are pretty high in NZ - particularly utilities and land rates. Its just $A600-800 in Australia, but in NZ its more like $1300 per annum. Utilities are double those in Australia, despite NZ having cheap renewable options like hydro and geothermal - with no fuel cost.
I am amused that Jessica is ecologically friendly. Yes NZ does draw 75% of its energy from renewable sources, but if NZ takes in more migrants that just might no longer be the case. If you want to be ecologically friendly, you really need to install a wind turbine or solar panels. Solar does not make a lot of sense, though wind turbines do since its often windy in NZ, and whereas you get few hours of sun with cloud and winter, you can get winds blowing 24 hours a day. Not every day mind you, but they are very persistent.
I looked at wind turbines - but the cost of installation was $24,000 minimum, which is too much.
Living expenses are pretty high in NZ - particularly utilities and land rates. Its just $A600-800 in Australia, but in NZ its more like $1300 per annum. Utilities are double those in Australia, despite NZ having cheap renewable options like hydro and geothermal - with no fuel cost.
I am amused that Jessica is ecologically friendly. Yes NZ does draw 75% of its energy from renewable sources, but if NZ takes in more migrants that just might no longer be the case. If you want to be ecologically friendly, you really need to install a wind turbine or solar panels. Solar does not make a lot of sense, though wind turbines do since its often windy in NZ, and whereas you get few hours of sun with cloud and winter, you can get winds blowing 24 hours a day. Not every day mind you, but they are very persistent.
I looked at wind turbines - but the cost of installation was $24,000 minimum, which is too much.
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