Your Ultimate Guide to Buying a Home in Christchurch
Finding the right home is an exciting journey, filled with feelings of pleasure, pride, and anticipation. Whether you’re searching for your first home, your next family home, or a smart investment property, our team at Ray White Barrington is here to guide you every step of the way.
Navigating the Christchurch property market successfully comes down to three things: knowing what you need, understanding what you can afford, and having an expert guide to what’s available.
Step 1: Define Your Ideal Christchurch Lifestyle
Before you start browsing listings, it’s crucial to think about the lifestyle you envision. The perfect home is more than just bricks and mortar; it’s about how you want to live.
Consider these key aspects:
- Your Household: How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need now and in the next 5-10 years?
- Location & Amenities: Do you want to be close to the vibrant cafes in Addington, the shopping hubs in Riccarton, or the excellent schools in Spreydon?
- Work & Leisure: Think about your daily commute and how close you want to be to parks, recreational areas, or the Port Hills for weekend activities, a key benefit for suburbs like Cashmere and Sydenham.
- Future Plans: How long do you expect to live in this home? This will influence the type of property you choose.
Step 2: Know Your Budget & Get Pre-Approved
Understanding your financial position is the most powerful step you can take. We highly recommend you:
- Speak with your bank or a mortgage advisor to determine your borrowing capacity.
- Obtain pre-approval for your home loan.
Having your finance pre-approved puts you in a strong negotiating position. It means you can make a ‘cash offer’ on a property for sale by negotiation or bid with confidence at an auction, giving you a significant advantage in sought-after areas like Hoon Hay and Somerfield.
Step 3: Find the Best Properties in Barrington & Beyond
This is where the search begins! Our team has its finger on the pulse of the market across southwest Christchurch.
- Start Online: Our Ray White website is updated daily with the very latest listings. You can also find our weekly open home lists to plan your weekend viewings.
- Partner with a Local Expert: A significant number of homes are sold before they are even advertised publicly. By connecting with a salesperson at Ray White Barrington, you gain access to off-market properties and expert advice. We can save you hours of searching by shortlisting homes that perfectly match your criteria in Sydenham, Addington, and other target suburbs.
Stay Ahead of the Market: Sign up for our weekly email to get the newest listings sent directly to your inbox.
Step 4: Understand Local Property Values
To make a confident offer, you need to understand the current market.
- Research Recent Sales: Ask us for a report of recent sale prices for similar homes in your preferred suburbs. Knowing what homes are selling for in Spreydon versus Hoon Hay is invaluable.
- Visit Open Homes & Auctions: Attending open homes and auctions is one of the best ways to get a real-time feel for the market and see what properties are worth.
Step 5: You’ve Found The One! What’s Next?
When you find a property you love, it’s time for due diligence. We are here to help you:
- Review Legal Documents: If the property is being auctioned, we will provide the auction agreement for your solicitor to review. You will also receive the “New Zealand Residential Property Sale & Purchase Agreements Guide” as required by law.
- Organise Inspections: We strongly recommend arranging a building inspection and obtaining a LIM report from the council. An independent valuation can also provide peace of mind.
- Make an Offer: We will guide you through writing up a formal offer in a Sale & Purchase Agreement. Once negotiations are finalised and the agreement is signed by both parties, you will pay the deposit (typically 10% of the purchase price).
Step 6: Settlement Day – The Keys Are Yours!
Settlement day is when the ownership of the property officially transfers to you.
- Pre-Settlement Inspection: Before the final transaction, you should conduct one last walkthrough of the property. This is to ensure it’s in the same condition as when you signed the agreement and that all agreed-upon chattels are present and working.
- Congratulations! Once the solicitors have confirmed the funds have transferred, we can release the keys to you.
Welcome to your new home!