Home owner or looking to buy?
Buying a Home in Southland
Thinking about buying a home in Southland? Explore how to buy a home in Southland, including real estate listings, house prices, school zones, and support for first home buyers. Here’s what you need to know:
- The government provides this website with information about buying and selling homes in New Zealand.
- Real Estate Listings – Find homes for sale on TradeMe Property, Realestate.co.nz
- School Zones – Check which schools are in your area with the Ministry of Education’s Zoning Map - Find your nearest school | Education Counts
- School bus routes
- House Prices & Market Trends – Compare current prices using QV. Also Market Insights - realestate.co.nz
- LIM Reports – A Land Information Memorandum (LIM) gives you details about a property’s history, zoning, and potential risks. Get one from:
- Invercargill City Council LIMs | Invercargill City Council
- Southland District Council - LIM's | Southland District Council
- Gore District Council - Land Information Memorandum (LIM) - Gore District Council
- First Home Buyer Help – You may be eligible for a First Home Grant or a KiwiSaver First Home Withdrawal.
Most banks have a guide to buying your first home.
Home Insurance - For most people, their house is their most valuable asset. As with all types of insurance, you have choices depending on what types of insurance best suit your needs, and how much you are looking to pay for that insurance.
To understand the intersection between what can be covered by the national natural hazard fund if an event was to occur and what requires private insurance, view here.
Understanding Your Home’s Value
Learn how to check your Southland property’s value, access council valuations, apply for rates rebates, and understand market trends. Southland property values are updated regularly, and there are several ways to check:
- Council Property Valuations – Check your home’s rating valuation via:
- Invercargill - Rates search | Invercargill City Council
- Southland - Rates search | Southland District Council
- Gore - Property Search - Gore District Council
- Online Valuation Tools – Websites like homes.co.nz - Free Sales Histories and Estimated Values For NZ Homes and QV provide free property estimates.
- Rates & Market Trends – Data about housing affordability and supply is available through Data Insights Southland Hub (DISH) Housing — Southland Data
- Rates Rebate – If you’re on a lower income, you might qualify for a Rates Rebate. Find out more at https://www.govt.nz/browse/housing-and-property/getting-help-with-housing/getting-a-rates-rebate/
Renovating Your Home
Understand Southland’s building consent rules and find advice on when you need a consent before renovating or extending your home. Always consult a building professional or your local council.
Talk to Your Council First.
- Early discussions with your local council can help you understand zoning, timelines, and exactly what's required for your project.
- Invercargill City Council - Book an appointment | Invercargill City Council
- Southland District Council
- Gore District Council - Building Consent FAQs - Gore District Council
Licensed Building Practitioners - Search the LBP register for qualified builders, roofers, architectural designers and other licensed trades across New Zealand. There are seven classes of LBP’s – brick and block laying, carpentry, design, external plastering, foundations, roofing, site and all. Find more information about these here.
Before you start, check whether you need consent and what the process involves:
- Do You Need a Consent? – Some projects, like adding a deck or renovating your kitchen, may not require consent. Others, such as structural changes, do. Find out at Do you need a building consent?
- Understanding the Consent Process – If you do need a building consent, here’s what to expect: The building process: An overview
Making your Home more Energy Efficient
Get practical advice on maintaining your Southland home, from improving energy efficiency to meeting Healthy Homes standards.
There are a range of healthy-home checking tools available:
- Genless
- Homefit
- Energy Efficiency & Insulation – Get help with insulation and heating upgrades through the Southland Warm Homes Trust
- Check if you are eligible for a Warmer Homes Grant - Check your eligibility for a Warmer Kiwi Homes grant | EECA
- Awarua Synergy | Energy Efficiency Savings | Heating | Insulation
- Healthy Homes Standards – If you’re a landlord, ensure your property meets insulation, heating, and ventilation standards. Learn more at Healthy homes » Tenancy Services
Tips for a Healthy Homes – The Invercargill City Council has a range of short videos with tips for a healthy home.
Looking for a Bank that does sustainability lending: