[Singel]

Good day everyone,

Before my hubby and I embark on our house hunting expedition, we define a few rules for ourselves :
1) The monthly repayment of mortgage should not exceed 40% of our take home pay which means that the price of the house should not exceed $400K.
2) Good heating facility.
This is a challenging requirement because most of the NZ homes do not have central heating.
3) The house should not require any renovation because :
- we are very poor in DIY
- do not want to deal with contractor because we are new to this country.
4) Less than an hour drive between home and office during the peak traffic hour. Fortunately, we could travel together in one car (do not want to contribute to the traffic jam)
5) Coastal location

Having the above criteria in mind, we drive around east and south of Auckland and one fine day, we came to a coastal area and we spotted a showhome. It meets all our requirements. :nice1
In this new development area, a daycare centre and a primary school will start to build in June 2005 so that it will be ready for intake of students in January 2006. Here is the map of the location : http://www.wattlecove.co.nz/

The 4-bedroom single-storey house that we bought has a land area of 588 sqm and build-in of 204 sqm. The price of the house include full-fitted kitchen, bathroom, ensuite, walk-in wardrobes in all the bedrooms, carpet for the floor and wallpaper for all the walls including the double-garage, lightings inside and outside the house, tiled patio, landscaped front garden, gas-heating points.

Other information that is important when buying new house :
1) Get a good lawyer
2) Buy from reputable developer
3) Walk around the area to have a feel of the environment.

Well, just a quick sharing and wish everyone success with your house hunting.

[debnjohn]

Hello Singel,
did you get No: 5 Blantyre Court? Houses look very nice.
Congratulations on your purchase, and thanks for another informative post.
I particularly like the bit about DIY - rings a bell with us - willing but useless!
John.

[foolsgold99]

Hi Singel,

Your criteria for housing appear to be identical to ours.

We'd been looking in the Howick area, and had never heard of Wottle Cove, it looks just the kind of thing we want.

Thanks

[jubjub]

I want one....... :nice1

[foolsgold99]

Oi, shouldn't you be working ??

[jubjub]

This has really started me getting to think about new builds, the question I have is, are they a fixed price?

What I mean is second hand properties are put on at a price over there and according to Place in the Sun last week, people generally offer 5-10% under, does this apply to new builds as well?

The UK system does have new builds at fixed price and second hand properties are a negotiable price. We have only ever bought new builds.

Anyone know?

Cant believe we can afford something like those at Wattle Cove, they are gorgeous.

[annaerb]

Hi there Singel,

I'm a Kiwi and grew up in Sth Akl from my early 20's with my OH living there as well.
My OH contracts to Fletcher/Dempsey/Kingsley Homes and supplies all the steel for their New Housing.
If you want extras in the House just tell them & they will add it into the price ie; if you want a firplace put in or like my mother in law who has gas heaters around the place.
My Mother In Law lives in Lothian Brae, if you look on the Wattle Cove map you will see it.
It's a lovely area and the prices seem reasonable too. The only thing that would concern me is the High Schools out that way.
You will be close to the RSA (Returned seviceman Assoc) where you can go for a drink & meal plus they have bands etc or the Cosmopolitan Club which is bigger and probably nicer. You have manukau shopping centre near by Botany downs about 20 mins away and Papakura is not too far away as well.

I live in Maraetai which is Rural/Coastal and about 30 mins from where you will be we have new sub divisions out this way BUT the sections start at $250,000 www.sbay.co.nz

If you need to know anything let me know

Carol

[Singel]

The price of new houses are fixed whereas the second hand ones are negotiable. IMO, no matter how well maintained the houses are (unless we don't mind the wall colour or decor), there are bound to be some DIY needed e.g. clearing stains on wall, carpet or bathroom. We prefer to relax at home and use our spare time for recreation and social rather than fixing things in the house.

For new houses, they are maintenance-free with 7-year MasterBuilder guarantee. In Wattle Cove, the developer control the ambience of the surrounding environment. One of the household has a huge satellite dish at the front of the house and the developer got the family to remove it. In fact, our house purchase contract has this rule stated. BTW, Fletcher Residential Group is NZ biggest residential developer for quality homes.

In Holland, we paid NZ$590K for a 1980s house which the land size is half of what we got now and required major renovation to modernise it. :no

We found out that the membership fee for joining the Golf Club is NZ$600 per year. :cool

Well, I have to stop now to do my cooking.

[Aug & Feb]

drooling drooling......:P

annaerb... what with the high school out that way....? good, so..so, lousy ?

:yes