The Buyer’s Brief
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The Buyer’s Agents
Issue 02
A property perspective from The Buyers Agents.
Written by Tamzin Stevenson, Founder & Principal Agent
Some of the most important things you are buying are the things you cannot change.
In this issue we look at preparation, at what sits beyond the house itself, and at some of the considerations involved when buying from overseas.
A Note From Tamzin
One thing I have noticed recently is how many buyers come to us after they have already spent months searching.
They know the suburbs. They are watching new listings. They have been through open homes, researched recent sales and, in many cases, made offers. Yet they are still unsure whether they are approaching the purchase in the right way.
Searching for property is one part of the process. Knowing which property is right for you, what it is worth and how best to secure it is another.
Before the right property is found, buyers should understand their finance position, have the right professionals around them and know how they will approach due diligence.
Tamzin Stevenson
Founder & Principal Agent
From the Buyer’s Side
Buyer Insights
Representation matters wherever you are buying from
Some clients are local but time-poor. Others come to us after months of searching, sometimes after missing out several times. Others again are buying from another region or from overseas. A sales agent is engaged by the seller. A Buyer’s Agent begins with the buyer, understands the brief, then searches the market against it. Our role is not to sell a particular property. It is to help the buyer find the right one.
Preparation is your advantage
The best time to prepare is before you find the property you want. Finance is part of it. So is having a solicitor ready, understanding what due diligence you may need, knowing the costs, and being familiar with the different methods of sale. Know your own parameters too: what you will compromise on, where your ceiling sits, and which risks are acceptable to you.
Look beyond the house to what you are buying
A renovated kitchen or good styling makes a property immediately appealing. The things that matter most are usually harder to change: location, land, orientation, access, neighbouring properties, development around you, and the position of the home on its site. When comparing properties, separate what can be improved from what you are buying permanently.
The Questions Behind a Property
Why we called the council
We were assessing a property with two things worth investigating: a substantial section and a townhouse development going up next door.
Rather than assume, we asked the council whether the land could be subdivided and what servicing considerations applied.
The development next door raised its own questions. How many levels? How far from the boundary? Where would the second-level windows be positioned? What would it mean for privacy and outlook once finished?
Good due diligence is not looking for reasons not to buy. It is gathering enough information to decide.
The Buyer’s Brief
A Few Signals Worth Watching
2.50%
Official Cash Rate
50 Days
National Days to Sell
$760k
National Median
The OCR is holding.
The OCR has remained at 2.50 percent since 8 July, with the next review on 2 September. For buyers, the important question is less about trying to predict the next move and more about understanding what you can comfortably service over the long term.
Properties are taking longer to sell.
Fifty days nationally, two days longer than a year ago, with sales down 10 percent and inventory up 9.3 percent. More stock and slower turnover usually means there is room to complete proper due diligence rather than committing under pressure.
Prices are holding, not running.
The national median was $760,000 in July, down 0.7 percent on a year earlier. In a market moving sideways, the advantage sits with the buyer who is prepared rather than the buyer who is quick.
Sources: Reserve Bank of New Zealand, Official Cash Rate decision, 8 July 2026. REINZ Residential Property Data, July 2026, released 13 August 2026.
Featured Reading
Worth Your Time
Feature
Buying New Zealand Property From Overseas
Buying from overseas brings an additional set of considerations, from understanding who can purchase to navigating the process from a distance. We contributed to a guide with NZ Legal on what overseas buyers should understand before they start.
Buyer Question
“Should I wait for spring before I start looking?”
Not necessarily.
Spring brings more property to market, but more choice can also bring more buyers.
Starting earlier gives you time to understand the areas you are considering and refine what you are looking for. It also means that if the right property is found before the spring lift in listings, you are ready to assess it.
The better question is often not when should I start looking? It is am I ready to buy well now?
Looking Ahead
Coming in Issue Three
As we move into spring, we’ll keep sharing what we see from the buyer’s side, including how conditions and opportunities are changing across different regions.
We’ll also look at the decisions behind a successful purchase, and share our next expert collaboration for those considering a move to New Zealand.
