Offshore Guidebook | Real Estate Investor Magazine Offshore Guidebook 2013 | Page 29

During the housing boom from 2001 to 2007, house prices rose 123% (87% in rea l terms), including 24% in 2003, 12.5% in 2004, 14.5% in 2005, 9.6% in 2006, and 7.7% in 2007. House prices started to fall in early 2008, as the global crisis spread to New Zealand. During 2008, house prices fell 8.95% (-11.93% in real terms). Then in 2009, house prices rebounded by 5.42% (3.4% in real terms). However in 2010, house prices fell by 1.65% (-5.45% in real terms). In 2011, house prices recovered slightly, rising by 2.8% (0.93% in real terms). New Zealand’s economy was projected to expand by 2.2% in 2011, and 3.1% in 2013, partly due to the rebuilding plans in Canterbury, according to the IMF. Non-residents are generally allowed to buy houses in New Zealand. However, purchase of property does not give the buyer the right to live permanently in the country. TEN FUN FACTS ABOUT NEW ZEALAND: New Zealand is the first place on earth that receives the first ray of light. It specifically glints first on the small town of Rangitukia in North Island. 2 New Zealand established a state-run tourism department in 1901 – the first in the world. 3 The world’s smallest marine dolphin and the rarest sea lion thrive only in New Zealand’s waters. 4 The heights of Mount Everest were first conquered by Sir Edmund Hillary, a New Zealander. 5 The first Rugby World Cup in 1987 was won by the New Zealand All Blacks. 6 Vineyards located in the southernmost tip of the world belong to New Zealand’s Central Otago region. 7 Wellington’s old Government Building is the biggest wooden structure in the southern hemisphere. 8 In 1893, New Zealand gave women the right to vote. It was the first country to do so. 9 Only three countries in the world have two official national anthems – Denmark, Croatia, and New Zealand. 10 The median days-to-sell of dwellings declined to 33 days in September 2012, from 37 days a year earlier, and total dwellings sold increased by 8%, to 5356 units. Residential mortgage loans were up 3.2% y-oy, according to the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ). More than 58% of the total outstanding residential mortgages had floating interest rates in August 2012, up from just 12.36% in August 2007. 1 New Zealand has a ratio of 400 golf courses for every four million people. It has the greatest number of golf courses in the world. Propert ?&?6W2&RW?V7FVBF?6??F??VR&?6??r?( ?v?F?F?R7G&??r?7W7F??VBW&??B?bw&?wF??&V6V?F???BF?RG??6?W?V7FVB?gB?fW"F?P?6???r???F?2?&?W'G?f?VW2&R??BW?V7FV@?F?6??r?( ?6?B?W''?7FWv'B?bV?F&?Rf?VR??FB?wwr?&V??r?6??????fg6??&R??F&???#0??#p??