Uglobal Immigration Magazine Volume 2, Issue 1 | Page 86

84 UGLOBAL IMMIGRATION MAGAZINE “ New Zealand allows the applicant to choose his or her own investment options with only a few limitations. ” apartments currently under construction, they are nowhere near addressing the level of demand that currently exists. Acceptable investments in residential real estate must meet specific conditions. These conditions require that the real estate is a new development, is purchased for commercial return purposes (rental return and capital growth), and is not for personal use during the investment period. When a residential property is completed and no longer a new development, it may still be retained as an acceptable investment, provided that the residential property is rented. If not, it will need to be sold and the proceeds further invested in other acceptable investments that could include additional residential property development. Such changes in investments are permitted, provided that the sales proceeds from any liquidated investments are fully reinvested into additional acceptable investments within a reasonable time frame. THE INVESTOR PROGRAM BASICS The investor program has three key stages. The first stage is the visa application process. For the investor 2 program, that includes an additional preliminary step of submitting an “expression of interest” that precedes