With the dream of owning a home in some of New Zealand's larger cities, particularly Auckland, getting further and further out of reach for many people there is a growing trend to move to smaller cities in order to realise the Kiwi home-ownership dream. In our office (based in Hamilton), we have people that live in Auckland, Hamilton and Cambridge working within it, so we had some fairly robust discussion on what is better; city life, country living or something in between. Here's our take on the pros and cons of moving to a smaller city.
Pros
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- Rent is usually more affordable
- House prices are usually more affordable
- With house prices lower, deposit amounts will also be less too, making it easier for first time buyers
- Your commute to work will often be less (assuming you get a job in the city/town that you live)
- More 'lifestyle' options (eg lifestyle blocks, larger sections)
- Closer knit communities, more of a 'community' feel
- Amenities (dairy, supermarket, shops etc) are usually easily accessible and often within walking distance
- More options for schooling – possibly lack of zoning so not restricted to only the neighbourhood school. Also potentially smaller schools and smaller class sizes
- Safety – more likely to know neighbours/friends family living nearby
- Less traffic
Cons
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- Can be less job opportunities than in larger cities
- May have to travel to a larger town or city for job opportunities (so still have a commute)
- Pay may be less compared to doing the same job in Auckland
- Public transport pretty poor/non-existant in small town NZ (compared to larger cities)
- Depending on how 'country' you go, you may be quite isolated (in terms of location)
- Less/restricted amenities (often no chain stores or selection of stores eg maybe only one supermarket)
- Cost of living potentially more expensive – petrol usually more, captive market so stores may charge more/offer less specials
We have consultants throughout NZ so if you're thinking of making the move to a different city get in touch with the local consultant to have a chat about how NZHL could help you into a home.
The information contained in this article is of a general nature and should not be taken as advice. It reflects the opinions of the writer only and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of New Zealand Home Loans