Canterbury Houses for Sale: Christchurch and the South Island's Plains

Christchurch has a flat grid layout, a large central park (Hagley Park) and a rebuilt central city. Popular suburbs include Fendalton and Merivale for premium family homes, Riccarton near the university, Sumner and New Brighton by the sea, and Halswell and Rolleston in the new southern and western growth areas. Beyond the city, Selwyn and Waimakariri districts have commuter towns such as Rolleston and Rangiora.

Queenstown is not in Canterbury, but the high country holiday towns of Lake Tekapo and Methven are. Christchurch airport has international connections and is the gateway for Antarctic programmes and South Island skiing.

The Overseas Investment Act restricts most non-resident, non-citizen purchases of existing residential property in New Zealand, with exemptions for Australians and Singaporeans and for those with certain residence visas. Hence, many overseas buyers of Canterbury property are in fact visa-holders already living in the country. The rules, including how investor visas interact with home purchases, have been changing, so confirm the position with a New Zealand lawyer.

Our New Zealand buying guide, financing guide and market analysis cover the process. Also note the earthquake history: check for repairs, land category and EQC or Natural Hazards Commission claims on older homes.

A typical purchase involves a sale and purchase agreement, often with conditions for finance, a builder's report and the council LIM report. Settlement happens 20 to 60 working days after contract, and the lawyer holds the funds in trust. Auction sales are common in Christchurch and are unconditional, so complete your homework first. There is no stamp duty, and no general capital gains tax, but the bright-line test can tax gains on residential property resold within a set period. The tax treatment is different for people who are tax-resident overseas, so speak to an accountant.

On inspection, look at the underfloor insulation and the heating source, since many older Canterbury homes were built before insulation rules. Check the section for drainage and whether it sits in a flood-management area near the Avon, Heathcote or Waimakariri rivers. Ask for the earthquake repair history and any EQC or Natural Hazards Commission claim paperwork. A registered valuer can confirm the figure before you bid at auction.

See Auckland, Wellington, Otago, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Northland. Canterbury tends to be cheaper than all but Otago and Northland in some segments. Start at the New Zealand hub or check budget homes under cheap New Zealand property.