[gina]

Hi
This probably sounds like a realllllly stupid question but what does "lifestyle" mean? I don't mean as in your style of life but Im coming across it on real estate sites as in the type of house you want and also on postings about areas to live in "prices are higher as it is the closest lifestyle area to town." I have given up searching for myself as I keep going off on a tangent. Thanks.

[tim&em]

I'm pretty sure it's just a classification they use to indicate properties for people who prioritise their "lifestyle" over other factors (closeness to work, proximity of shops and bars etc.).

From what I've seen this usually means countryside, a good amount of land, space to keep animals/grow your own food etc.

[gina]

Thanks tim&em. Good luck with the house sale and best wishes for April

[nickydwuk]

I asked the same question last year and this is what I was told

'A lifestyle block is a parcel of land (with house of course) of anywhwere between 2 and 15 or so acres.......most seem to be around 5 (ish),they cost around the same price as a house in large cities'

Hope this helps.

[pieeater]

In breif,Lifestyle properties are usually properties with a bit of land.There is a term here' ten acre dream' this refers to the Kiwi idyll to 'own a bit of dirt'.Somtimes they are called 'Hobby Farms' Lifestylers use their land for many different purposes.Some raise stock.Cattle,Sheep,Llama's,Alpaca's,Goat's,usually people have Chooks veggy gardens etc.Some have Horses,some Donkeys.Others may be Gardeners and grow Olive's,Macadamia's,Fruit etc.It's up to you what you do with your land it's usually used as a resource and can supplement your income to a certain degree.There is a whole industry here built around lifestylers now with glossy magazines full of tips on 'how to' and advertisers offering services.

[kowhai]

Lifestyle blocks are firm favourites with Real Estate agents. People are seduced by the notion of owning their own piece of land , nice house etc. However the reality is these properties can be very hard work. An agent told us that these properties are soon back on the market, once the initial novelty wears off.

[Nick88]

I agree with all of the posts. If you get a lifestyle block you need to know how to use it, and it needs to be the right size for the use you are intending. Some are quite big, 10-15 acres and can carry a few cattle for the freezer. Some are only 1-2 acres and you are at risk of running out of grass for the beasties in the summer.

The council plan where I am has a minimum block size of a hectare (2.5acres) which is really pointless. A block of this size is too small for cattle and too big for a lawnmower. Having said that, we live on a 1.5ha block and have used it to create a thriving business (no animals) and I mow the land not used by the business. My wife and I have the technical know-how to create a business of this type, but not everyone does. Caveat emptor.

[benandclare]

I agree with all of the posts. If you get a lifestyle block you need to know how to use it, and it needs to be the right size for the use you are intending. Some are quite big, 10-15 acres and can carry a few cattle for the freezer. Some are only 1-2 acres and you are at risk of running out of grass for the beasties in the summer.

The council plan where I am has a minimum block size of a hectare (2.5acres) which is really pointless. A block of this size is too small for cattle and too big for a lawnmower. Having said that, we live on a 1.5ha block and have used it to create a thriving business (no animals) and I mow the land not used by the business. My wife and I have the technical know-how to create a business of this type, but not everyone does. Caveat emptor.

Sounds very interesting Nick could you elaborate more ??

[nippa&pippa]

I got "lifestyles" block, 10 acres of land in rural location 35km from christchurch city. i agree with others, it is lovely dream to have lands for kids to play on it, to have animals for foods and to grow crops as we grew hay for animals' feed. It is lots of jobs involved but we were prepare for it unlikely our previous owners sold it after a year as they find it hard to cope with it plus two full time job!! You need careful plan what are you going to do with lands?? Are you prepare to go to argi-college like my OH is doing at moment (in fact he is at chainsaw classes today and tomorrow!!) all paid for by goverment!! just need to pay small fee like $200 for a year course :nice1 as it help you to prepare and manage your lands ;)

[Familyofmonkeys]

We have bought a small lifestyle block of 2 acres. We could have bought something bigger, but didn't want to spend the considerable amount of time that would be needed to maintain a larger block. We haven't built yet as busy carefully planning use of land. We intend to grow alot of own veggies, have some fruit trees, chickens (for eggs...not for eating) etc. Also considering having 2 breeding female alpacas if we are able to put aside enough land and get some sort of shelter and irrigation in place so not too dry. We feel this is managable as I don't work, but there is a saying..."give them 2 years".....alot of people seem to love the idea of land and just aren't prepared for the maintenance work involved.

[Nick88]

Sounds very interesting Nick could you elaborate more ??

Certainly. What sort of thing would you like to know?

My wife and I are degree qualified horticulturalists, and we have set up a very specialist nursery. It is not rocket science to operate, but we needed our technical abilities to set it all up in the first place. It is a very intensive use of the land, and used a heck of alot of capital. Mistakes have been costly for us, but would be insurmountable for someone that didn't have that knowledge base to begin with, as they would be more numerous.

[ourquest]

I can certainly see the appeal of a lifestyle property, but as they say, be careful what you wish for. There are so many opportunities in NZ to experience space, whether it be an urban park or D.O.C. wilderness area.
Having said that, does anyone know if there are covenants in place on lifestyle blocks enforcing upkeep? What I am getting at here is that it might always be possible to allow a significant portion of your block to restore to native bush. In this way your size of land ensures your privacy and preservation of your views, without requiring mowing (except of course for the cricket oval you might want for the kids).

[Nick88]

Ironically putting in native bush can bring about the imposition of covenants on your land. DoC then gets to have a say in the management and use of the land, without contributing to the cost, of course.

I have heard of owners planting stands of Kauri or Rimu as a forestry plantation, and having to get letters from DoC and the Council acknowledging that it is for forestry and that it will be cut down in the future. Even then the Council could change their minds and oppose it at a later date. I have also heard of people having trouble removing Pohutukawas that have been planted in inappropriate places (esp in Akl).

[Tia Maria]

The term lifestyle always make me think of the Good Life:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Good_Life

Don't know why, but I loved it when I was younger!

Cheers

Tia

[benandclare]

Certainly. What sort of thing would you like to know?

My wife and I are degree qualified horticulturalists, and we have set up a very specialist nursery. It is not rocket science to operate, but we needed our technical abilities to set it all up in the first place. It is a very intensive use of the land, and used a heck of alot of capital. Mistakes have been costly for us, but would be insurmountable for someone that didn't have that knowledge base to begin with, as they would be more numerous.

First of all I'm with Tia in that I've always viewed "lifestyle plot" in the Good life mould, i.e. producing food for yourselves and maybe some surplus for friends and neighbours in the years of bounty.

Nick , so many questions for how you've turned your plot into a going commercial concern from an ex agriculturalist who loves looking over hedges to see what everybody is up to.

What sort of specialist nursery are we talking about, native NZ plants or exotic imports from a past age?

Or something else?

What were the problems you encountered and how did you overcome them ?

Would you have had the same problems in your home country , was it climate or bureaucracy ?
Or disease?
Are you organic?
Where are you?
Would you be prepared to help other folks set up similar nurseries?
Was it something you had in mind before you moved out here?
How did you identify your market?
Do you sell direct to the public or wholesale to the garden centres or mail order?

That's probably enough for now :yes

If you feel more comfortable happy to receive PM and will be treated in confidence

Cheers

Ben

[Moorf]

http://britintheboonies.blogspot.com/2006_07_06_archive.html

:p

On a more serious note - a "lifestyle block" is usually a house and land of 5 acres or more (we're on 2 and it's certainly not a lifestyle block) - a "lifestyle property" can be anything really and doesn't always include land (might be spa, pool, tennis court, small paddock, location, view, closeness to beach or mountains or a lake etc.).

[Sam B]

Ughhh, you're scaring me with all this talk of people only lasting 1 year on their blocks. We've not even built our house yet, but we're already worn out trying to keep this house going whilst managing the land we've bought - it looks such a mess at the moment, Californian thistles everywhere, fences starting to break, long grass - storm drains filling up with weeds. Phew.

Our lifestyle block is 7.6 hectares (agh!) but 4 hectares of this is covenanted bush. that bit's easy - we can't touch it. 3 hectares is sloping paddocks that we don't really want - just introduced myself to the farmer next door and he's happy to graze his sheep on it - phew. That leaves a hectare or so of land for the house, proposed orchard, veg patch, gardens etc, which will be great (I hope) when we're living there, but is just hard work now.

Then there's the 1 km of steeply sloping driveway with storm drains to be maintained - I have the blisters to show for this w/es weeding.

But I hate living in town, surrounded by neighbours, I hate them listening to our rows, and I hate listening to their tvs, I can't wait to be away from it all. I'll let you know how long we last!

[Moorf]

We feel this is managable as I don't work, but there is a saying..."give them 2 years".....alot of people seem to love the idea of land and just aren't prepared for the maintenance work involved.

Yep, that's exactly what they say around here, and I've seen it happen. But, nothing ventured, nothing gained - don't let it put you off Sam - you seem to appreciate the work that is needed - the maintenance is just as hard in the beginning - but once you have it working to your needs it gets easier. Okay, so some might find it isn't the dream they thought it was, but you won't find out if you don't try.

It's harder for families where both parents are working - IMHO it takes the stress off if someone is home to potter and maintain, or if you can afford to get in someone to help (as we now do during the period when everything grows at alarming rates!!) as it can become a part-time job and tying if you're constantly fire-fighting during the light evenings and weekends.

IMHO!

[nippa&pippa]

It's harder for families where both parents are working - IMHO it takes the stress off if someone is home to potter and maintain, or if you can afford to get in someone to help (as we now do during the period when everything grows at alarming rates!!) as it can become a part-time job and tying if you're constantly fire-fighting during the light evenings and weekends.

IMHO!

Tell me about this!! Yep it is hard on families with both parents are working or one of parents stayed at home looking after young children...especially baby, phew!
We have encourage our 4years old and 2years old children to help out with weeds (even they managed to pull out good plants :laugh ), look after cows and vegetable/herb patch, while baby asleep in the pram nearby.

My OH suggest to people with lifestyles block, go to agri-college courses www.agribusiness.ac.nz as he have found it very useful, cost you just $250 for whole year course (this for 10acres lifestyles course btw) as long you got visa. It not on every weekend etc, he just attended at weekend and next one is three week time, very spread-out over a year. They offer all sort types of courses and available all over NZ...

[Familyofmonkeys]

My OH suggest to people with lifestyles block, go to agri-college courses www.agribusiness.ac.nz as he have found it very useful, cost you just $250 for whole year course (this for 10acres lifestyles course btw) as long you got visa. It not on every weekend etc, he just attended at weekend and next one is three week time, very spread-out over a year. They offer all sort types of courses and available all over NZ...

Think my OH will be doing that eventually. He wants to learn about fencing at the moment, plus a ton of other stuff he doesn't want to pay anyone else to do.

[nippa&pippa]

Think my OH will be doing that eventually. He wants to learn about fencing at the moment, plus a ton of other stuff he doesn't want to pay anyone else to do.

Funny you mentioned fencing as my OH is attend next class on fencing in 3 weeks time!!

[Lupin]

Technically I *haven't* got a lifestyle block as it's 1.66 hectares (so a little under 4 acres) but I have got a lifestyle thing going on. We wanted a big garden with bush views and no neighbours, but one of the first things we did was fence off our 'garden' and put the lambs out on the remaining 2.5 acres or so. Phew!

Then we bought a seriously dilapidated old ride on mower that is really small and ideal for the 10 year old. Now we sit on the deck and watch the kids ride round and round and try to encourage a considered mowing technique, although I've abandoned my hankered for stripes, lol.

[Pip]

Its a tricky one this one! I thought we had a lifestyle block, its the same size as lupin's - 4 acres, then again under someone elses definition of 2 - 15 acres, I guess we do!

that aside, we found it quite hard to find something larger than a standard section but smaller than a ten acre block. I think if you have ten acres, you really have to do something with it. We just about manage with four, but would prefer 2 acres really. some of ours is Olive trees, so its just a case of mowing the strips of lawn between the rows and the garden (about 3 hours on a ride on every 3 weeks). apart from the garden, the remainder is paddocks which we've lent out to people with horses.

then again, we love the space and the freedom it give us. Also the knowledge that no-one can build on our doorstep. I know someone who bought a section on a new estate and at first it was great, but as all the other houses went up and more and more building appeared, they started to feel very cramped and overlooked.

its sort of swings and roundabouts really - it does all take time, mowing, spraying etc - but for us, the positives outweigh the negatives, but it depends on whats important to you personally..

[Familyofmonkeys]

Its a tricky one this one! I thought we had a lifestyle block, its the same size as lupin's - 4 acres, then again under someone elses definition of 2 - 15 acres, I guess we do!




Very true....our land is not technically a lifestyle 'block'....more of a 'plot'. That said we fully intend to do 'lifestyle' stuff (as opposed to having just a big garden) with our land and the majority of the immediate neighbours are doing the same.

[Lupin]

that aside, we found it quite hard to find something larger than a standard section but smaller than a ten acre block. I think if you have ten acres, you really have to do something with it.

This is so true! I think the ideal garden size is about 2 -3 acres as it's easy to graze the outer lot (or let the local farmer) and have a massive garden in peace and quiet without having every weekend eaten up with maintenance, unless that appeals of course!. They don't call it the Life Sentence Block for nowt :nice1

[Lupin]

I started a Permaculture course last night- at our school. Makes me feel so proud to live here- our community is so small and yet last night I attended a two hour workshop (first of 8 plus 2 practicals) in our school library (with 10 others all local and interested in Permaculture) at the same time as community cricket was happening, luckily not clashing with community tennis or the social club.

Why *isn't* everyone moving to rural Hawkes Bay?

In case you're interested: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permaculture and http://www.permaculture.org.nz/

[JandM]

it's easy to graze the outer lot (or let the local farmer)Browsing the properties for sale, we've often been attracted by lifestyle homes, but then thought of the practicalities of the land we wouldn't want to be working on. Are there, then, enough farmers or horse-owners around who'd be wanting to use the extra? - I wondered, given the wide open empty spaces of NZ, if they wouldn't have all they need on their own places?

[frittfam]

Lifestyle - refers to a larger piece of land You might call them plots.

[Lupin]

Here in Hawkes Bay grazing tends to be quite in demand, not sure about other areas. I would imagine if you weren't worried about making cash from it you'd have no problems getting local farmers to run livestock over it for you and you'd make some friends to boot :)

[pieeater]

When we first moved onto our 8 acres and we didn't have any stock a local dairy farmer was only too willing to graze our place off for us.I used to come home to a a couple of crates of beer left on the step every now again.It all helped us too integrate.