What are the top factors to keep in mind when searching for a place to live in your city?
Real estate in Tauranga, in particular the beachside suburbs, is very buoyant and property values are rising. The summer holiday months are the most popular buying times, especially for out-of-town owners who want to secure an investment or holiday home in the region. Apartment living is becoming more popular and available. Good-quality rentals can be very difficult to find during the summer months and many beachside properties are only available short term. A personal reference or testimonial from a previous landlord or real estate agent can be helpful in securing highly sought-after rental properties.

When choosing a place to live, some important factors to consider are safety, location preference and individual needs. Depending on your preferences, you may want to find a place close to a school, church, transportation, shops, medical facilities, work and, most importantly, in an area that is secure and safe. As with other cities in New Zealand, choosing the right place to live is essential to a pleasant and safe stay in Tauranga.
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What are the most popular neighborhoods in your city for expats?
There are a number of popular suburbs that appeal to professionals and families. These areas may have high capital-gain value, be close to the city or beaches, or be peacefully located near quality schools. In Tauranga, the most sought-after suburbs are the Avenues (inner city), which is zoned for the city’s two single-sex high schools; Matua, an established peninsula suburb of good quality with substantial, residential dwellings; and Bethlehem, a new suburb of high-quality family homes. Mount Maunganui - in particular, the downtown area - has some of the highest capital gains in the region and is highly sought after. Papamoa is another beachside suburb that attracts a lot of interest from families seeking a new home close to the beach.
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Do expats tend to buy or rent their homes?
Newcomers to New Zealand rent initially. If they are staying longer than one year, they may then want to purchase a home. This gives them time to understand the housing market. While looking for permanent accommodation to rent or buy in Tauranga, you can opt to stay at motels, serviced apartments or holiday houses, as well as hotels. Please refer to websites below for further information.
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Typically, will I be required to pay additional money up front (such as a deposit) before moving into leased housing? If so, how much is common?
When renting, you are required to pay a bond equivalent to two or three weeks of rent. This is held in a Trust Account by a third party and returned at the end of the tenancy providing there is no rent owed or damages to the property. Rent is always paid in advance, usually weekly or fortnightly and, if the property is obtained through a letting agent, there will also be a fee to be paid of one weeks' rent plus GST (Government Service Tax), currently at 15%. You could be required to have 5 weeks' rent prior to moving into a rental property: two weeks' rent in advance, two to three weeks' bond and one week to cover the letting fee.
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Are utilities generally included in the price of rent, or are they extra?
Utilities are usually in addition to rental prices. They are seldom included in the rent.
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Are there special security concerns I should be aware of in regards to my home or choice of neighborhood?
Tauranga is generally considered a safe city in which to live. Some areas are considered less desirable due to their lower standard of housing and schooling.
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I’m not sure if I should bring my appliances. What is the electric current, Hz and plug shape in your city?
The electric current for New Zealand is 230-240 volts. The electrical hertz (Hz) is 50 hertz of power. Plugs have two or three prongs in a triangular shape. Although adaptors are available, it may be better to purchase small appliances on arrival.
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Type I plug - Oblique flat blades with ground (inverted V)

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Do you have any other accommodation information that might help me?
Good rental properties are hard to find and it is advisable that transferees have a personal reference or testimonial from a previous landlord to assist in securing highly sought-after rental properties.
Some useful terms:

  • Flat - a dwelling normally shared by  a group of people
  • Townhouses - several properties on shared land
  • Units - dwellings joined to each other; normally single story
  • Bach - small holiday home
  • Bungalow/villa - older, wooden home; single story on own piece of land
  • Cottage - small, older, wooden home
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IMPORTANT NOTE:
Crown Relocations has made every effort to present accurate information. However, regulations, rates and other variables are subject to change and Crown Relocations cannot accept responsibility for the errors that might result. Should you have any questions or need additional information, please contact your local Crown representative.