[KD17]

We read in the local paper recently that rental prices are going up due to them being very much in demand and people are offering more than the advertised price, which I'm sure delights landlords..

We heard that if you see a rental you like, it's best not to ponder over it as by the time you go back and say you want it, it's gone, and very likely for more than advertised.

We don't know if this only applies to Wellington or if it's happening in other regions, but we think it's dreadful.

From what we've heard prices are going up each time the property becomes vacant and is re-rented.

In our opinion some of the rentals we've seen in & around Wellington here have been in a pretty poor state for the rate they are asking (hence us taking the one we did out of Wellington) but out budget is not very high 'till we get regular work, so that could also be a reason why they don't look that great.

I know house prices are also increasing, but we won't be looking to buy for a while yet so haven't investigated that side much yet.



Keith & Debby

[gil]

We read in the local paper recently that rental prices are going up due to them being very much in demand and people are offering more than the advertised price, which I'm sure delights landlords..

We heard that if you see a rental you like, it's best not to ponder over it as by the time you go back and say you want it, it's gone, and very likely for more than advertised.

We don't know if this only applies to Wellington or if it's happening in other regions, but we think it's dreadful.

From what we've heard prices are going up each time the property becomes vacant and is re-rented.

In our opinion some of the rentals we've seen in & around Wellington here have been in a pretty poor state for the rate they are asking (hence us taking the one we did out of Wellington) but out budget is not very high 'till we get regular work, so that could also be a reason why they don't look that great.

I know house prices are also increasing, but we won't be looking to buy for a while yet so haven't investigated that side much yet.



Keith & Debby

Big article in the NZ Herald about it recently (sorry, don't have the link). We took this rental site (or is it sight?) unseen as we had missed out on a couple and it looked like a second month in the motor lodge if we didn't :( Fortunately, it's really nice! :D
Roll on job (for OH :D) and we can buy...

Gil
xx

[jess]

Here's the NZ Herald article (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=302&objectid=10420149) about the same thing going on in Auckland.

We found it to be pretty competitive in Welly, meaning that anyone with issues - like wanting a short term or flexible lease, or having dogs - was almost dismissed, since landlords knew there would be plenty of people with no pets who were willing to go long term.

But even a little distance out of the city itself there is less pressure.

[KerryS]

Auckland is especially bad in the Jan-Feb period when students are also looking for accommodation. They often group together and get a decent rental between them, making them even more scarce.
I was lucky in my current house, as the agent told me the wrong time for the open house and he and I showed up an hour before it was due to start. I took it there and then.
I've gazumped in the past, when I was desperate for a place - I offered the landlord an additional 10 bucks a week to ensure that I got it...
The rental market can be quite cut-throat. I'm glad I'm almost out of it completely.

[Rabbit]

We rented a property in Khandallah for 9 months and I was constrained by choice due to having a dog. The rental was tired and damp and added big time to the stress both on us and the dog (the dog has since passed on).

Our current rental is a brand-new house with central heating and for less rent than before.

As we no longer had a dog we had more choice.

In hind-sight, I would have preferred to have left the dog back home with one of my parents, it would have been better for him, them and for us.

Also look outside the box e.g. outside the centre of Wellington.

Put alot of effort into looking for the right rental, the costs of getting it wrong can be expensive e.g. moving costs, grief, hassle etc.

[wanderingoregonian]

We looked at about 6 places... all found on trademe. It was a range - some we could have waited a day or two to make up our minds, some with a line of 20 people giving the agent their contact details. We ended up with something nice, and after seeing everythign else we took one look and took it. Granted this is in the 1 bedroom apt market in welly.

[KD17]

Also look outside the box e.g. outside the centre of Wellington.


Definately agree there - it's cheaper to live outside the centre too, and what better than to drive in with those stunning views eh?

and besides... it makes you feel like you're actually going somewhere too.



Keith & Debby

[Rizak]

However, I also hear that gas is dearer there than here. Counting that into the equation, is it still cheaper to live further away?

I completely understand how certain intangibles would certainly improve the quality of life like being away from the hustle/bustle, having beautiful vistas to view each day, etc.

However, I'm thinking of the differences between saving a bit more money vs. saving a bit more time.

The house we live in right now (in Canada) isn't the nicest and is on a cramped lot. However, it is a quick 10 minute walk from my front door to sitting at my desk. That means I don't have to drive or park to get to work. We're right downtown, so there are other things to think about and it takes a while to get to see some nice scenery, but we agreed to those conditions when we bought the place. I think we're further ahead based on our criteria.

[Trigirl]

the most important thing (as rizak refers to) is to know what matters to you. people have different criteria for their home. for some its indoor space, or land, or heating, or views, or being close to the sea, or being close to work.

we were prepared to pay a lot more to be able to walk to work. one of the best things about moving here for us is not having to commute by car or train. but then we didn't want loads of land or huge views etc so we had areas we could compromise on. but its important to know in advance what those areas are - especially in welly where property gets snaffled up very quickly indeed.

[Ana&Steve]

However, I also hear that gas is dearer there than here. Counting that into the equation, is it still cheaper to live further away?
Just an observation, we rented a cr@ppy 4-door Honda (hub caps were tied on:laugh) that we drove all over the NI, Auckland to Welly and back, and only had to fill the tank twice (once right before returning it). So while the gas (petrol) is pricey compared to North America, the little beater cars in NZ have great mileage per tank!
Ana