Totally off topic - location, location, location

**Fat Tony** · 16th November 2006, 21:17

Wonder if any of you could help with a bit of info?

Wife and I were having a nosey round the Harcourts real estate site last night trying to get an idea of what the money from our UK house sale would buy us over in NZ. We won't be buying for 12 months, it was just to get an idea, and no doubt prices will have gone up considerably by the time we're ready to buy - just dreaming at the mo

The two properties below fall a bit above our ideal budget, and we just wondered if somebody could shed some light on the areas that these are in as we haven't a clue (planning a visit next year to familiarise a bit). They look fantastic and it seems you get a whole lot more for your money over there, but you never know what's next door/down the road etc on the real estate site, lol

So, anybody familiar with the areas that these two houses are in?

http://tinyurl.com/yzlrjz
http://tinyurl.com/yfgtbx

Thanks in advance

**Karma** · 16th November 2006, 21:35

Personally... they're both in the middle of nowhere.

But I'm a city boy, anything smaller than Auckland / Wellington is too small.

**chanceyy** · 16th November 2006, 21:39

Feilding is a slightly bigger town than Bulls

really depends on what you want

Feilding soil is mostly clay based water does not absorb much in winter ..

Bulls is more free draining (depending on where you are) there is not much there as it is where the main route splits to either head up north or to continue up the west coast ..

its closer to Ohakea air base ( less than 5 mins up the road .. ) but about 30 mins from the two main centres Palmerston North & wanganui .. palmy being bigger ..

feilding is approx 15 mins from the airbase .. not on a main arterial route .. & palmy is only 15 mins away as well is a "bigger" community than bulls (town not villiage ).. & of course at feilding you have the manfeild track

really depends on why you are looking in that area .. i take it you have seen a map of where these two places are ..

**StoneChucker** · 16th November 2006, 21:47

Hi. My suggestion is to do what we did, which is rent. Don't dismiss that too quickly, I only mean for a few months. After a few months in NZ, you'll have a much better idea of where everything is, and what the benefits and drawbacks of each area is.

For example, in Bulls or Fielding, you'll get a really nice house, 4 or 5 bedrooms on an acre or two of land (example) for the same amount you'll pay for nice house in an area closer to a city, with only 3 bedrooms on a normal sized plot. Benefit's of the nicer house are a quieter area and a nicer house!

Drawbacks, miles and miles from anywhere meaningful, little entertainment, few facilities, etc..

It depends what you want, and who you are. Renting for 3 or 6 months will save you in the long run, no point buying a house and not being happy with the area.

**Fat Tony** · 16th November 2006, 21:51

Cool, cheers. Answers my question nicely thanks... neither are in the middle of a drug ghetto then, lol

We're hoping to get away from the crowds Weasel. The UK's getting a little cramped. Loved what I saw of Wellington when I came over a few years ago, just considering different areas at the moment.

We've loads to consider when we're finally looking to buy, including schooling for our daughter, which will be one of the main criteria which influences where we end up, so we'll have to do a load of research before then. We just wanted an idea of what to expect for the money (and obvious that will change dramatically depending on the area)

Mansfield track eh? Hmmmmmm...

Thanks for the info!

**Karma** · 16th November 2006, 21:53

Where you from in the UK?

**Fat Tony** · 16th November 2006, 21:57

Originally Posted by StoneChucker

Hi. My suggestion is to do what we did, which is rent.

Cheers StoneChucker. Yeah, we'll defo be looking to rent for a while to get a feel for things.

We were just dreaming and think ing long-term last night. Running before we'd learned to walk etc, lol

Must be the dark winter nights here in the UK at the mo. Riding to and from work in the dark everyday

**ajturbo** · 16th November 2006, 21:59

[quote=StoneChucker;827461]Hi. My suggestion is to do what we did, which is rent. Don't dismiss that too quickly, I only mean for a few months. After a few months in NZ, you'll have a much better idea of where everything is, and what the benefits and drawbacks of each area is.

quote]

a few months?????????????

hell, after a day would be more the truth!!!
old NZ is a small and unpopulated place... apart form dorkland
also....the houses are just "around the corner" from me...
i realy wouldn't spend that much money on a house around here.... i would aim at the 200-250k mark...just down the road from me ( 1k) is a house on 3-5acers for 250ish.....

**Fat Tony** · 16th November 2006, 22:01

Originally Posted by Weasel

Where you from in the UK?

We're in a small village called Bardsey, about half way between Leeds and Wetherby. It's fairly rural and just 9 miles from Leeds city centre, so the best of both worlds really. It's a lovely spot, and one that we'll be sorry to leave to be honest but the UKs going downhill fast.

Stats on the BBC news site last week reported about 500 British citizens leaving the UK a day!

**Karma** · 16th November 2006, 22:03

Yeh that doesn't surprise me, and if you're from Woolpack country then somewhere like Bulls probably won't bother you too much.

**Fat Tony** · 16th November 2006, 22:05

Originally Posted by ajturbo

i realy wouldn't spend that much money on a house around here.... i would aim at the 200-250k mark...just down the raod from me ( 1k) is a house on 3-5acers for 250ish.....

Heads off to look up Himitangi, lol

**ajturbo** · 16th November 2006, 22:54

Originally Posted by Fat Tony

Heads off to look up Himitangi, lol

lol... on my "street" there are 7 houses.... all within 8ks of each other....
it is a private sale ( no not me) contact the owners... (threw me) i know them well... they are my landlords....
i will paint it any colour you want...

**Fat Tony** · 16th November 2006, 23:05

Originally Posted by ajturbo

lol... on my "street" there are 7 houses.... all within 8ks of each other....
it is a private sale ( no not me) contact the owners... (threw me) i know them well... they are my landlords....
i will paint it any colour you want...

If we were looking to buy right now, I'd be round this afternoon choosing a colour

**Lou Girardin** · 17th November 2006, 05:44

Come over, rent for a while till you get a feel for people and places.
You may not like some aspects of country living here, like bestiality or incest.