In Aotearoa New Zealand, owning a home has long been treated as the goal. And it may well be yours. But that doesn’t mean renting is simply the bit before real life begins. Depending on your age and stage, it may be exactly what suits you now.
Perhaps you’ve moved for work, are finding your feet in a new city, combining households, downsizing or simply not ready to commit to one place. Renting gives you room to choose a home for the life you’re living now, without having to make a long-term property decision at the same time.
More freedom to move
Your circumstances can change quickly. Renting can make it easier to follow a job, move closer to family or try a different part of town before deciding where you want to settle down.
The right place, right now
Renting may give you access to a location or style of home that would be difficult to buy at this point. That could mean a shorter commute, room for extended family or simply living closer to the people and places that matter to you.
Fewer homeowner responsibilities
As a tenant, you still need to look after the home, keep it reasonably clean and tidy and report anything that requires attention. But the landlord is responsible for the property’s maintenance and major repairs, along with major costs such as rates and property insurance. For some stages of life, having fewer jobs and surprise bills to deal with is a welcome trade-off.
Time to work out what comes next
Renting can give you breathing room to save, make plans or decide where you really want to be. You may still intend to buy. You just don’t need to have every answer today. Renting can be a stepping stone or simply the arrangement that suits the next few years. Either way, the right home is the one that works for your life now.
Have questions? Get in touch with your local Barfoot & Thompson branch, or talk to your dedicated property manager today.
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