Settling for more
With the housing market moving more in favour of buyers recently, Rachael Cone from Total Realty spoke with her busy South Island teams to share their insights on the top must-haves for home buyers.
Savvy buyers are making decisions in advance about what they want in their new home to save time viewing lots of properties that may or may not meet their expectations.
One theme that continues to top the wish list is indoor-outdoor flow and how buyers can envision themselves using the outdoor space on offer. Some buyers are becoming increasingly concerned about privacy as we move towards greater intensification, and that’s causing them to look at outdoor spaces through a new lens.
Buyers are also looking favourably at homes that have solar panels. These are becoming increasingly popular, and one busy agent in Christchurch remarked that he is also noticing more skylights being included in well-executed renovations.
Our Nelson agents have been noticing a trend towards an increasing demand for low-maintenance, little-to-no-work-required homes. In other words, buyers want to move in and just put their feet up – the DIY Kiwi spirit is seemingly not as prevalent as it has been in previous years.
Similarly, in holiday haven Kaikoura, our buyers are snapping up lock-and-leave homes with smaller outdoor spaces to maintain. Million-dollar views still dominate the wish list, but ‘easy care’ comes in a close second.
Of course, in Canterbury, schooling remains a top priority, as does space, storage and sun. Bigger and better kitchens continue to be a sought-after luxury in many suburbs. Even with older homes, buyers are looking to ensure kitchens and bathrooms have been upgraded to keep with current trends.
This current market would tell us loud and clear that savvy buyers are not ‘settling for less’ when it comes to their next home. While recent years have seen buyers happily offer on homes that ticked half the boxes on their wish list, now they appear to be waiting for at least ninety per cent, with much less impulse buying being observed.
While a turnaround is being predicted for mid-2023, buyers can, for now, enjoy pursuing their next home with a wish list in hand and favourable market conditions.
0800 663 737 | totalrealty.co.nz
