Chinese spooked by ban
Chinese investors’ interest in New Zealand property has already been dented by the foreign buyer ban introduced by the Government, a Chinese real estate website says.
The Overseas Investment Amendment Bill passed on Wednesday will stop foreigners not intending to live in New Zealand from buying existing homes. While Australian and Singaporean investors are exempt, these rules will apply to Chinese investors.
Juwai, a global website for Chinese property buyers, said a falloff in Chinese buyers in New Zealand was already evident ahead of the ban.
Spokesman Dave Platter said: ‘‘It has been the bad luck of Chinese buyers to become visible in the market at the same time as interest rates hit rock bottom.’’
Data from Juwai shows the quarterly measure of Chinese interest in New Zealand housing fell by 31 per cent in the June quarter compared to the previous quarter, as measured by buyer inquiries to its website.
‘‘Taking the long view, Chinese interest started at very, very low levels in 2014, grew significantly in 2015, really peaked in 2016 and the first quarter of 2017, then declined over two quarters,’’ Platter said. ‘‘The proposed ban gave demand a shot of adrenaline and buying hit its third highest level on record in the first quarter and is now nearly back at levels last seen in 2015.’’
Chinese buyers spent $1.1 billion on New Zealand residential properties last year, and were the largest group of foreign buyers.
In the June quarter, overseas buyers accounted for less than 3 per cent of national house transfers, according to Stats NZ.
The new bill banning most nonresident investors from buying property could also mean that smaller developments under way wouldn’t be completed, the Property Council said.
The Overseas Investment Amendment Bill does allow nonresident investors to purchase new apartments in large developments and multi-storey blocks bought off the plans.
Property Council New Zealand head of advocacy Matt Paterson said due to restrictions on smaller housing developments and stand-alone housing many of these projects would go unfinished.
‘‘Smaller developments are more common in New Zealand, so with more hoops for investors to jump through, they might become more cautious and if they find it too hard, they’ll take their money elsewhere,’’ Paterson said.
The ban made New Zealand look more unattractive to overseas investors, he said.
‘‘We will see less interest, and the flow on of this will be that we’ll build less than if the ban hadn’t come. Housing takes a lot of capital and we don’t have a lot of that locally’’
Earlier this year Trade and Economic Development Minister David Parker announced plans for the ban had been relaxed to allow investors to buy apartments after pleas for tweaks poured into Parliament before the submissions deadline earlier this year.
When the bill passed Parker said the ‘‘significant milestone’’ would help make the dream of home ownership a reality for more Kiwis.
On Thursday Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that many other countries had similar legislation to the Overseas Investment Amendment Bill.
But Paterson said the Overseas Amendment Bill went further than other countries.
‘‘In Australia foreign investors can’t buy existing homes but the can build standalone housing. New Zealand’s legislation goes further and has more restrictions.’’
Australian and Singaporean investors will be exempt from the ban due to free-trade rules, but must be screened by the Overseas Investment Office.
Anyone holding a resident visa who has been living here for at least a year including at least 183 days in the past year, will still be able to purchase a home.