This house stands on an elevated site close to Nelson, on New Zealand's South Island, with views across an estuary to the ranges beyond. It was completed in 2018 and has three bedrooms, a study and large glazed living areas opening onto sheltered decks. The…
Visit The Cooper Group's portal (opens in a new tab)Debbie Cooper-Norriss
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Property for sale in New Zealand: new developments and resale homes, listed by the developers and agents selling them, with prices and a buying guide.
Also in the region: Property for sale in Australia
Property in New Zealand on INTRIC runs from NZD 339K to NZD 4.39M, in Auckland. Prices are the sellers' own, in the listing's currency, and change as listings are added.
Mostly not. Overseas Investment Act rules bar most overseas buyers from existing homes. The main exception is a new-build apartment in a development that adds to housing supply. Citizens and residents of New Zealand, Australia and Singapore are not caught by the ban. Always check the exemption with a New Zealand lawyer before paying a deposit.
There is no stamp duty and no general capital gains tax. You pay income tax on rent at 10.5% to 39%, annual council rates of roughly 0.3% to 0.8% of capital value, and tax on gains if you sell a residential property within the 2-year bright-line period. Legal and checking costs run about NZ$3,500 to NZ$5,500.
Yes, where the development holds an exemption because it adds to housing supply. These are mainly apartments in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown. Ask the seller to confirm in writing that your purchase falls under the exemption. Body corporate levies commonly run NZ$3,000 to NZ$8,000 a year.
In practice, rarely. The main banks lend to citizens, residents and qualifying visa holders, and the Reserve Bank caps lending at 80% of value for owner-occupiers and 65% for investors. Most overseas buyers of new builds pay with funds from abroad or a developer payment plan.
Prices are recovering after a 15% to 20% fall in 2022 and 2023, with growth of about 3% to 6% a year and gross rental yields of 3.5% to 5%. Rental vacancy is low, but resale demand from overseas buyers is limited by law. Capital at risk.
No. A home does not count towards residency. The Active Investor Plus visa needs at least NZ$5 million in approved investments, not a house. Since March 2026 holders of that visa may apply for consent to buy one home worth over NZ$5 million.
Country guide · 25 minNew Zealand Investor GuideYour comprehensive guide to buying property in New Zealand — from overseas investment rules to bright-line taxesFreeholdRestricted OwnershipStable MarketRead the guide
City guide · 7 minChristchurchChristchurch is the largest city in New Zealand's South Island and the commercial capital of the Canterbury region, a market that has quietly become one of the country's most compelling for yield-focused investors. Fully rebuilt and modernised after the 2010-2011 earthquakes, the city now offers a rare combination for New Zealand: relatively affordable prices, solid rents, and genuine cash-flow potential. The average Christchurch home is worth around NZ$770,000 - well below Auckland - while typical rents near NZ$530 per week translate into gross rental yields of roughly 4.83% (about 3.1% net), competitive among the country's main centres. After the post-2021 correction, the market has shifted into gentle recovery: prices rose about 3.18% over the year to late 2025 and 2.59% over the trailing three months, with Christchurch outpacing Auckland and Wellington for momentum. The investor playbook centres on established, well-connected suburbs - Riccarton near the university and Westfield mall, the upscale Merivale and St Albans to the north, and value-and-yield neighbourhoods such as Addington, Spreydon, and Edgeware favoured by cash-flow buyers. With median Christchurch house values having doubled over 2009-2024 and Canterbury ranking among New Zealand's fastest-growing regions, the city offers steady long-run appreciation alongside some of the best rental returns available in a stable, English-speaking, freehold-ownership jurisdiction.
City guide · 8 minAucklandAuckland is New Zealand's largest city and economic powerhouse, home to 1.66 million people and contributing 38% of the country's GDP. Known as the 'City of Sails,' Auckland spans a narrow isthmus between two harbours and is built across more than 50 volcanic cones. The city combines world-class dining, a thriving waterfront precinct, and excellent schools with a stunning natural setting that offers beaches, islands, and wine regions within easy reach. Auckland's property market is the most active in New Zealand, with median house prices holding above NZD 1 million.
City guide · 8 minQueenstownQueenstown is New Zealand's premier luxury resort destination, set on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by the Remarkables mountain range. With a resident population of just 52,400 that swells to over 120,000 during peak season, Queenstown defies national property trends — average house values surged to NZD 2.13 million in 2025, driven by genuine land scarcity between mountains and lake. The town is world-renowned for adventure tourism, four-season skiing, championship golf courses, and Central Otago's acclaimed wine region, making it a magnet for international buyers seeking a lifestyle investment.
City guide · 8 minWellingtonWellington is New Zealand's capital city and cultural heart, home to Parliament, government ministries, and a thriving creative sector that includes the world-renowned Weta Workshop. With a compact, walkable CBD nestled between hills and harbour, Wellington offers an urban lifestyle unmatched in New Zealand — boasting more cafes and restaurants per capita than New York City. The city's property market offers better value than Auckland, with a median house price of NZD 860,000 for Wellington City and strong rental yields driven by a large public-sector and university population.
Market insight · 10 min7 Rule Changes Foreign Property Buyers Face in 2026: Saudi Opens, Australia Extends, Canada's Ban Runs OutSaudi Arabia opened. Australia closed for longer. Japan added paperwork and Canada's ban expires on 1 January 2027. Seven rule changes for foreign property buyers in 2026, each checked against the source.
Market insight · 9 minEstate Planning and Inheritance Tax in 2026Inheritance tax in 2026 runs from 0% to 55%. The rate map, the UK residence reform, the US situs trap, and where property passes clean. Capital at risk.
Market insight · 8 minDigital Nomad Bases in 2026Digital nomad visas in 2026: New Zealand, Dominica, Malta, Australia and Malaysia lead the Passportivity index. Tax traps and when to buy. Capital at risk.
Market insight · 11 minNew Zealand Did Not Lift Its Foreign Buyer Ban. It Opened a NZ$5 Million Keyhole.New Zealand did not lift its foreign buyer ban. It opened a NZ$5 million keyhole for investor visa holders, and only about 616 homes nationwide fit through it.