Buying Tips

Find the Right Property With Confidence

Buying a property is an exciting milestone—whether you are purchasing your first home, moving into your next home, or looking for an investment opportunity.

At Horizon Real Estate, we help make the buying process easier by giving you practical guidance, local market knowledge, and professional support from the initial search through to settlement.

The key to a successful purchase is understanding what you need, what you can afford, and what is available in the market.

Know What You Need

Before you begin your property search, take some time to think about what you and your family actually need from a home.

Consider:

The size of your household and how it may change in the future
The type and size of property that suits your lifestyle
Proximity to schools, shops, public transport, and other amenities
Your work and commuting requirements
Access to parks, recreation, and other activities you enjoy
Whether you are looking for a long-term home or a property that may suit your future plans

Having a clear idea of your priorities will help you focus your search and avoid spending time viewing properties that don’t meet your requirements.

Understand What You Can Afford

Knowing your budget before you start seriously looking at properties can make the buying process much easier.

We recommend speaking with your bank, mortgage adviser, or financial professional to understand your borrowing capacity and establish a realistic budget.

Where appropriate, obtaining pre-approval for finance can also put you in a stronger position when you find the right property. It gives you a clearer understanding of your purchasing power and can allow you to act quickly when opportunities arise.

Remember to consider more than just the purchase price. Your overall budget may also need to account for legal costs, inspections, valuation fees, insurance, moving expenses, and other costs associated with purchasing a property.

Know What Is Available

Once you understand your requirements and budget, it’s time to explore the market.

There are many ways to discover available properties, including:

Online property listings
Real estate websites
Property portals
Open homes
Local market information
Real estate agents

At Horizon Real Estate, our team can help you identify properties that match your requirements and keep you informed about new opportunities as they become available.

Stay Updated

Tell our team what type of property you are looking for and provide your contact details. We can help keep you informed about suitable new listings and properties that may be worth considering.

Work With a Local Property Professional

A good real estate professional can save you valuable time by understanding your requirements and helping you focus on properties that genuinely suit your needs.

Our team can provide local market insight, arrange property viewings, answer your questions, and guide you through the purchasing process.

Understand Local Property Values

Before making an offer, it’s important to understand what similar properties in the area have recently sold for.

Consider researching:

Recent comparable sales
Current properties on the market
Property location and surrounding amenities
Land size and floor area
Property condition and features
Current market conditions

Attending open homes can also help you understand what is available at different price points and how properties compare with one another.

Our team can help you better understand the local market and provide relevant property information to assist with your decision-making.

Found the Right Property?

Finding a property that feels right is exciting, but it’s important to take the time to complete your due diligence before committing to a purchase.

Before making an offer, consider obtaining information about comparable sales and carefully reviewing the property’s condition, documentation, and any relevant reports.

Depending on the property and your circumstances, you may wish to arrange:

Building Inspection

A professional building inspection can help identify potential issues with the property’s condition that may not be immediately visible during a viewing.

LIM Report

A Land Information Memorandum (LIM) can provide important information held by the relevant local authority about the property.

Independent Valuation

An independent valuation may provide an additional assessment of the property’s market value and can be particularly useful depending on your financing arrangements.

Legal Advice

We strongly recommend obtaining independent legal advice before entering into a Sale & Purchase Agreement.

Making an Offer

When you are ready to purchase, your real estate professional can guide you through the offer and negotiation process.

Depending on how the property is being sold, the process may involve:

Making an offer
Negotiating price and conditions
Agreeing on settlement terms
Reviewing the Sale & Purchase Agreement
Meeting any finance or other conditions
Paying the required deposit

Take the time to understand all terms and conditions before signing any agreement.

For important legal or financial matters, always seek advice from your solicitor, conveyancer, mortgage adviser, or other appropriately qualified professional.

Understanding the Sale & Purchase Agreement

The Sale & Purchase Agreement is an important legal document that sets out the terms agreed between the buyer and seller.

Before signing, make sure you understand:

The agreed purchase price
Deposit requirements
Settlement date
Conditions of the agreement
Chattels included with the property
Any other special conditions

In New Zealand, buyers are provided with the Residential Property Sale and Purchase Agreement Guide, which explains important aspects of the purchasing process.

We recommend discussing the agreement with your lawyer before signing.

Purchasing at Auction

If the property is being sold by auction, the process is different from a standard negotiated sale.

Before bidding, make sure you have completed your due diligence and understand the auction terms.

This may include:

Arranging finance or having appropriate funding available
Completing a building inspection
Reviewing the LIM and other relevant property information
Having your solicitor review the auction documentation
Understanding the deposit requirements
Establishing your maximum bidding limit

If you are successful at auction, you will generally be required to sign the agreement and pay the required deposit immediately.

Never bid at auction without understanding your financial limit and the terms of the auction.

Once Your Offer Is Accepted

Congratulations—your property journey is moving forward.

Once the offer has been accepted and any applicable conditions have been satisfied, the transaction progresses toward settlement.

Your solicitor or conveyancer will work with the relevant parties to complete the legal and financial requirements.

Make sure you stay in contact with your legal and financial advisers and provide any documents they require promptly.

Settlement Day

Settlement is the day the purchase is completed and ownership of the property is transferred to you.

Before settlement, we recommend arranging a pre-settlement inspection where appropriate.

This gives you an opportunity to check that:

The property is in substantially the same condition as when you agreed to purchase it
Agreed chattels remain at the property
Fixtures and included items are present
Any agreed work or conditions have been addressed

Once the settlement process has been completed and your legal and financial obligations have been fulfilled, the keys can be released and you can begin your next chapter as a property owner.