Overseas Kiwis eye return
Kiwis abroad are investigating the prospect of buying property back home.
Real estate agents and a moving company have reported increased offshore inquiries, while online traffic data is up for realestate.co.nz and Immigration New Zealand’s ‘buying a home’ page.
Valentina Avecilla, a New Zealand citizen who has lived in Argentina for the past 12 years, said Covid-19 was ‘‘the last straw’’ for her.
She intends to buy in New Zealand and move back later this year. ‘‘I know that interest rates are at a historic low, so I gather it’s a good time to buy.’’
Avecilla said New Zealand’s lack of new Covid-19 cases showed it was a ‘‘safe place to be now and in the future’’.
In Argentina, there have been nearly 500 deaths and more than 13,000 confirmed cases.
New Zealander Penny Keet, who has lived in various countries over the past 20 years and in South Africa for the past five, said the coronavirus outbreak had made her consider bringing forward New Zealand retirement plans.
Covid-19 has made her ‘‘more aware’’ of the need for better medical facilities, which she felt New Zealand offered.
Keet said Covid-19, as well as her daughter wanting to study in New Zealand, were the two things making her consider the move back.
Another New Zealander, who asked not to be named, was now browsing for a house in New Zealand and intends to quit his job in Australia later this year.
On a temporary visa in Australia, he said Covid-19 highlighted how unsupported he would be if he lost his job.
In April, Australia encouraged all New Zealanders on temporary visas to return home as they were not eligible for government payments.
Justin Haley, from Bayleys Christchurch, said that since lockdown his company had handled inquiries from offshore New Zealanders as well as those who returned for lockdown and had since decided not to head
‘‘I know that interest rates are at a historic low, so I gather it’s a good time to buy.’’ Valentina Avecilla