[Jon-and-Lou]

Hiya guys,

Just after a few words of advice please ... feeling a little daunted about making our move permanent by throwing all our money into a house.

We have offered on a house, conditions of LIM and builders report.

LIM all sorted, builders report was ok barr a couple of minor points - windows had no head flashing and hence need sealing, and a bulb to be replaced.

Vendor has agreed to sort this - and we go unconditional today.

So, we have to inspect prior to settlement?

and what happens with regards deposits, and final payments?

What are we doing?????

[Janey]

Hiya
We are in the same situation as you when you go unconditional you pay a deposit on what was agreed on your sale and purchase agreement.

A week before settlement you go and inspect the place to ensure all the chattells are still there that are included it also gives you a chance to measure up for anything ie Fridge etc the remaining amount is paid shortly before settlement to your lawyer so they can transfer it on settlement day to the Vendors
good luck!

[Moorf]

And your lawyer should make an appt with you on settlement day for you to go and pick up the keys... :nice1

[canajanz]

The best news for UK housebuyers coming to NZ is that all the real estate games played in the UK like gazzumping and last minute back outs can't happen here.

When you make an offer subject to stated conditions, if those conditions are met, then you have deal.

May I ask though ..... those of you who have bought from abroad ... how do you know before you get here where you want to live? How do you choose a house sight unseen?

I don't think I'd be able to do that :-/

[nickydwuk]

Hi Lou, our estate agent was excellent. We paid our deposit when we went unconditional and the week before we settled we went to the property for a final look round. On the day of settlement we went to the solicitor in the morning and signed all the mortgage papers as this had been arranged by a migrant banker in Auckland. We then arranged to have the balance paid to the solicitor by the end of the day so the solicitor could pay it into the vendors account. We collected the keys the following day - but that was our choice. Good luck.

[Moorf]

May I ask though ..... those of you who have bought from abroad ... how do you know before you get here where you want to live? How do you choose a house sight unseen?

I don't think I'd be able to do that :-/

I was all up for buying before we came but am sooooo glad we didn't, I'd have made all the wrong choices - amazing how nice houses can look from halfway around the globe but when you get here they're shacks with pitbulls for neighbours.

Still, some people won't come without jobs, and we did - so it's all part of the risk-taking element/decisions of emigrating...

[Jon-and-Lou]

We are here in NZ, so have seen the house in the flesh!

We quite fancied the idea of buying from the UK, such that we'd have somewhere ready for our arrival but thanksfully we didn't as what you see on the internet isn't always what you see in reality. life.

[Spooky]

I was looking at houses on the internet all day long for the past few months and seriously considered that we too were going to buy offshore. But we've come to realise it's quite a bold step, and unless we have friends (and forum associates, *wink* *hint* ) to check out these places in advance for us, it might be safer to rent for a couple of weeks first and then look for a house to call your home.

[IanR]

I was looking at houses on the internet all day long for the past few months and seriously considered that we too were going to buy offshore. .....

I can't believe anyone would be daft enough to even consider buying in that way?
Still, takes all sorts...

[Janey]

after 12 months of viewing the net daily one recce visit and a week of questions to work cooleugues the gut feeling for the area we liked was right we viewed everything that meet our criteria and are unconditional this does not happen for everyone and if we had not found a property suitable we would have rented for longer!

[nickydwuk]

I can't believe anyone would be daft enough to even consider buying in that way?
Still, takes all sorts...

We were daft enough to buy that way. The house we saw online was just a set of plans but with a very helpful estate agent and some excellent forum members who checked the area out and took pictures we went ahead with it and even arranged a mortgage from the UK. We have since arrived and seen the house in person and are sure we made the right move. If it hadn't been a brand new house we would never have considered it. We move in this weekend and can't wait to have a place we can call home.