Tag: Local Council

Buying a Property

April 21, 2010

Most people find the process of purchasing a property a daunting and scary experience, but rest assured it can be one of the most fantastic experiences. The first step to undertaking a property purchase is research and understanding what it is you need to be looking for. This blog is designed to give you some useful tools to help you.

Step 1. Understanding the market and area in which you want to purchase a property. There is lots of information available on line today.

Some of the resources you could use would be the local property press, quotable value, real estate agents property advertisers, estate agents or statistics from the Real Estate Institute of NZ to name a few.

Step 2. Speak with a professional Mortgage Broker to assess your ability to borrow funds and how much deposit you will be required to pay once the Agreement is confirmed unconditional. They will also look at the best loan structure to suit your needs.

This will also help you guage the price market in which you can buy.

Step 3. Check with the local council as to what the annual rates are. Is there any water charges applicable? How much will the insurance cost? What are your Conveyancing and Settlement fees? These costs will also need to be factored into your budget.

Step 4. Make a wish list of what it is you are looking for in the house in your market price.

Some things to consider :

- Schools.
- Public transport.
- Library.
- Shopping Centres.
- Sports and Recreation facilities.
- Banks.
- Post offices.
- These are but to name a few.

Step 5. Take your time and visit open homes to see what you get for your investment. Never buy on emotion. I have personally been guilty of this and it can be costly.

Step 6. Prior to entering into any Sale and Purchase Agreement make a trip to the local Council and check the property file. You will find a lot of information about the property you are intending to purchase.

Step 7. Once you have found your dream home contact your Conveyancing Practitioner to get the appropriate advice about what conditions should be included in your Sale and Purchase Agreement. They can also conduct a Title Search to see what encumbrances are registered as there could be some which affect the use of the land.

Above all enjoy the experience. When you engage the right Professionals the process will be hassle free.

If there is any further information you need please contact us, or is there anything in particular you would like to know?

Please leave your comments and feed back below we would love to hear from you Kim :)

A Code of Compliance Certificate is issued by Council when the Council is satisfied with any building works to a property have been completed under the consent complies: – The New Zealand Building Code at the time of issue of the buildingĀ  consent (for consents issued prior to 31/3/2005) or the building consent for consents issued from 31/3/2005. Once the Code of Compliance Certificate has been issued it will be recorded on any LIM Report and on the property file held by Council. For building consents issued from 31/3/2005 projects should be completed within 2 years of the granting of the building consent. If the works do not comply the Council will issue a notice to fix identifying areas of non-compliance. What are the benefits to you the property owner?

  • Selling your home.
  • Applying for loans or other financing.
  • Applying for insurance.
  • Safety and peace of mind.

Before undertaking any project contact your Local Council about the process.

Happy renovating.

Our understanding in order to obtain a Safe n Sanitary Report from your Council for for any structure/improvement which is not permitted prior to 1992 the following is the process:

1. A Building Inspector acceptable to Council attends the property and completes a Report.

2. If any works are required to be attended to then these will need to be completed before the Report can be filed with the Council.

3. The Report is then filed at Council.

4. Council issue a letter acknowledging receipt of the Report, that they will place the Report on the property file, no further action will be taken but no responsibility is on the Council.

Remember for further information do not hesitate to contact us or your local Council. Kim

Land Information Memorandum

August 25, 2009

We highly recommend you obtain a Land Information Memorandum from your Local Council when purchasing a property. The LIM is a valuable document which details the Council records in relation to the property. An application is made to the Council and a fee is payable. The fees vary from Council to Council but when you consider the investment you are undertaking what is the cost of a couple of hundred dollars to get the right information and protect you. Generally a LIM Report will take approximately 10-15 working days to be completed.

Some general information contained in a LIM Report will be:

1. Features of the land, such as potential erosion, slippage or hazardous.
2. Stormwater and sewerage drainage.
3. Rates information.
4. Consents and notices affecting the land and building issued by the Council.
5. Building Certificates.
6. Use of the land.
7. Any pending orders or notices.
8. Any other information the Council deems relevant.

Please note the above is only a brief outline.

We highly recommend you make any Agreement for Sale and Purchase subject to a LIM Report condition and discuss this with your Conveyancing Practitioners.

Warm regards Kim Principal

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