[Lizelle]

Hija all,

Just thought I'd ask:

Hubby got a job in Henderson (Auckland West) :cheers , and now we are looking for a flat to rent.

Anybody have any ideas where to look for flats (currently we are looking in the NZ Herald), and which areas might be good (looking for about NZ$150 pw)?

Thanx
Lizelle

[karltsmith]

Hi Liz,

If you like the bush check out Laingholm area, surrounding suburbs include waimanu bay, Te Atatu Peninsula, Hobsonville, Western Heights, Waitakere, Swanson, Palm heights Sunny Vale, McLaren park Glendene, Kelston and Avondale. All are within an easy commute to Henderson. Further north over the upper harbour bridge is Greenhithe.

There's also railtrack through Henderson!

karl :nice1

[Lizelle]

Thanx Karl,
:nice1

Will do

Cheers
Liz :mrgreen:

[Douglas]

Hi Lizelle, I think you will struggle to get anything decent for $150 pw. :uhoh

http://www.emigratenz.org/HouseRents.html

If your hubby is out looking, he's probably discovering this just now.

Everyone's different but I think it's important, if you have the money, to get yourself a nice place. Makes life much more pleasant. I saw in another thread what your hubby had been offered as a salary. I think you could probably raise your sights a little in terms of what you're going to rent. (Forgive me if I'm being a bit pushy.) :cheers

[Douglas]

p.s. Congratulations on your success. :nice1

[Lizelle]

Hi Karl,

Thanx for the congrats, can hardly believe it myself.

I know $150 is a bit under budget, but it is just untill I get there, and a bit beyond, then I will go out looking (have a couple of months off before the university starts :P ) for a better option while he is working. Seems like a good way to get to know the city, also. :nice1

Not pushy, I said it, so you can comment on it :mrgreen: Could scarcely believe the number when I heard it myself :clap :clap

Cheers,
Zelly :angel

[karltsmith]

Hi Liz,

in that budget range you may be better l.ooking for a bedsit or a house requiring a couple as flatmates...they do come up if not a little rare! You would be looking at about NZ$225 for a 1 bed s/c flat or as a singler flat mate NZ$150-200. I have seen f/f, 1 bed, s/c flat on the shore for NZ£225.....don't know what its like though! As with many things in life you get what you pay for!!!!! I think you seriously need to re-think your budget to avoid being disappointed!!

Karl :nice1

[Lizelle]

Hi Karl,

After looking around a bit, I think I agree with you.
I am not really the housemate type, I am quite fond of my own space :yes .

I think the budget will work better once hubby gets paid the first time. Untll then I am still converting back to South African Rand, and then it gets to sound like a lot. (I know I shouldn't, but we are working with converted money in the beginning, so, there you have it)

Once paid in NZ$, it doesn't really sound like a lot of money (about the same in real terms as in South Africa - actually a bit less)

On the funny side:
I went to the postoffice to post hubby's police clearance certificate to him. Told the girl behind the counter that I want to send this to New Zealand.
Answer: "That's somewhere in the UK, isn't it?" :mrgreen:

Thought that was quite funny. Might explain why so many people doesn't think of NZ when immigrating - they don't even know where it is!

Cheers
Liz

[Michelle and Richard]

Hi Liz

Karl is spot on. You need to at least double your budget, we are in the smallest one bed furnished unit and its $ 265 a week. We are moving to another 3 bed place and thats 500 a week. Yes we are paying a premium for the location and short term rental but most 3 beds are 400 to 450 min.

Auckland is not a cheap place to live.

Sorry to disappoint you but I think its better that you are forewarned. If I can help any more with info on costs etc let me know.

Michelle

[Lizelle]

Thanx Michelle,

Yes, I guess looking at the prices on the internet, and seeing what the place looks like that you are paying the price for is 2 very different things.

Ah well, not the end of the world (I'm youthfull enouth to still be full of enthusiasm, so will just see what happens)

I think the best will be for me to go look at the places once I am there. I am landing about the 2nd of November, so, not long to go now!! :cheers

Cheers
Zelly

[Michelle and Richard]

Hi Zelly

We went out west yesterday, if you get the rental you are looking for you will be in a great part becuase you are so close to some of the most fabulous beaches and rainforest walks.

I notice you are in South Africa, another beautiful place, not sure where you are but much of th garden route area reminds me of NZ

Michelle

[Sarah Jane]

Hi all

I'm worried now as to whether we're going to struggle financially. My husband had been offered a job on the Herald for 70K....will we be able to survive on this?? The more I'm looking at these message boards the more I'm worrying....I don't want our standard of living to go down.
More info needed......

[Bushpig]

70k is a good wage. Above the average wage.

[karltsmith]

Hi Sarah,

on 70K you will be taking home about NZ$850-900 per week. You should be fine on this income!

Karl :nice1

[Lizelle]

Michelle,

I live about 10 hours drive from the garden route, but I have been there a couple of times, and loved it.

WOW, if it is anything like that, I am really in for a treat!! :yes :yes

Now I really cannot wait to get on the plane (only 25 days and counting :nice1 )

Cheers
Zelly