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Covid 19 coronavirus: All NZ rest homes move to alert level 4, 'full lockdown, no family visits' *** Coronavirus: SkyCity shutting Auckland casino, extends anti-Covid measures to Hamilton, Queenstown *** Covid crunch: Fletcher Building drops annual result bombshell, flags $196m loss *** Vital Healthcare Property Trust net profit falls 37%, 'challenging' year due to Covid-19 *** Rental woes: Chickens come home to roost for west Auckland tenants *** North's best new buildings: Architecture awards show diverse range of work *** Hot housing: Onehunga auction draws record number of bidders *** Parnell owners want $355 per week for shoebox rental *** COMMENT: It’s not all doom & gloom *** COMMENT: Extend mortgage holidays *** COMMENT: Disappointment with the RTA Bill *** COMMENT: A call to arms *** How to Plan an Outdoor Movie Night *** COMMENT: Are Airbnb hosts in breach of the RTA? *** COMMENT: Don’t discount migration as a demand driver *** COMMENT: Allow KiwiSaver for investment properties *** COMMENT: Will level one mean level one for residential landlords? *** Prepare for the Ultimate Staycation *** How to Create Your Ultimate Outdoor Kitchen *** COMMENT: Housing supply increase is being hampered *** Budget 2020: Housing providers ready to build 8000 new public houses - but say more needed *** COMMENT: Which property markets are most vulnerable? *** How to Plan the Perfect Patio *** Do It Together: 5 Home Projects for You and Your Household Helpers *** 9 Easy-to-Ambitious DIY Projects to Improve Your Home *** 7 Ways to Enjoy the Outdoors at Home *** COMMENT: The rental housing conundrum *** Looking for a New Place? Use This Time to Create Your Wishlist *** 5 Ways to Make Your Home Office Work (Even if It's Your Kitchen) *** COMMENT: The ongoing fight for landlords’ rights *** Selling? Increase Your Home's "Screen Appeal" *** Does Your Home Make You Happy? *** 5 Tips for Moving During COVID-19 *** COMMENT: Making sense of it all: COVID-19, the economy & property *** Spring Cleaning 101: Make It Fast, Easy and Effective *** How to Install a Kitchen Faucet *** 5 Ways to Refresh Your Space *** COMMENT: Property from the trenches *** 'Where Should I Keep My ...?': Solving the Ultimate Small Space Dilemmas *** 10 Spring Cleaning Projects to Tackle This Weekend  *** 7 Simple Ways to Keep Your Kids' Toys From Taking Over Your Home *** How to Attract Birds to Your Yard (Hint: Don't Just Wing It) *** 10 Tips for Organizing Your Whole House *** Organizing Your Pantry in 6 Easy Steps *** Add Heat Under Your Feet With a Radiant Flooring System *** COMMENT: Act against radical tenancy changes *** Get Ready to Grow: 6 Tips for Planning Your Spring Garden *** You'll Be Climbing the Walls of This Tiny Home *** Whale Watch From Any of This Home's 3 Rooftop Decks *** Hibernate Luxuriously in This 5,572-Square-Foot Cave Mansion *** COMMENT: Checking in on insulation *** This Home Looks Like a Barn (But Has Enough Room to Be a Small Castle) *** Personalize Your Space With a DIY Gallery Wall *** 5 Tips to Declutter Your Closet in a Day *** 9 Tips for Achieving Maximum Coziness *** COMMENT: The truth about flexible workspaces *** COMMENT: What lies ahead in 2020? *** COMMENT: Off-the-plan investing in 2020 *** 5 New Year's Resolutions That Can Help You Buy a Home *** Home Organization: Embracing Order in the New Year *** COMMENT: Landlords obligations to tenants *** Chic Holiday DIY: Fragrant Herb Chandelier and Custom Treat Bags *** The Secret to No-Fuss Holiday Decor? Use What You Already Have *** How to Decorate Simply for the Holidays (With Big Impact) *** COMMENT: Unlawful premises – moving past Anderson v FM Custodians *** 5 Easy Improvements to Get Your Home Guest-Ready for the Holidays *** COMMENT: Removing 90-day notices - the impacts *** COMMENT: The truth about tenancy terminations *** How to Actually Afford to Buy a Home in America *** This Isn't Your Average Woodland Cottage *** COMMENT: Sign of changing times *** Step Inside the Castle a Dad Promised to His Son *** 4 Ways to Cozy Up Your Kitchen for Fall *** 7 Perfect Kitchen Upgrades for a New Look Without Remodeling *** COMMENT: Getting to grips with tenancy disputes *** Enter If You Dare: Inside a Real-Life Haunted House *** COMMENT: Let the buyer beware! But what about the seller? *** How to Throw the Perfect Pumpkin-Carving Party *** This Studio Came From a Feed Store *** What Kind of Bugs Are in Your House? *** Is Your Home Trying to Kill You? *** 12 Tasks to Tackle This Fall *** Getting Your Home Ready for Trick-or-Treaters *** Buying a Home? Plan for These Hidden Costs *** This Sky-High Water Tower Doubles as a Rustic Beach Retreat *** COMMENT: Prospects strong for yielding assets *** COMMENT: How much is too much *** COMMENT: The dangers of neglecting code compliance certificates *** COMMENT: The coming rental housing crisis *** COMMENT: Loss ring-fencing ups war on renters & owners *** COMMENT: The Sound of One Hand Clapping *** COMMENT: The compliance struggle *** COMMENT: Ditching Accommodation Supplement not the answer *** COMMENT: Tenant selection turned into a lotto draw *** COMMENT: Why the new standards are not the answer *** COMMENT: Ring-fencing impact likely to be limited *** COMMENT: Punishing landlords won’t solve crisis *** COMMENT: Why Takapuna is worth a look *** COMMENT: Tax deductibility of rental property upgrades ***

THE PERFECT PLACE FOR HOME BUYERS AND SELLERS

There are all sorts of helpful resources all over the internet that can make home buying and selling much easier. But that's the problem. They're all over the internet. 

We've pulled together all of those resources and put them in one, easily accessible place. 

But Hometopia isn't just a portal full of links. 

We've added original content from our best-selling books, The Streetwise Home Buyer and Where to Live in Auckland to help you buy and sell better and provided expert commentary on suburbs and neighbourhoods from both a buyer's and a seller's perspective - all downloadable for free! 

Have a rummage around the site, you'll find all sorts of information for first time buyers, old-hands, investors and sellers about houses for sale and neighbourhood information. You can search for your ideal suburbs by lifestyle preference, compare real estate agency fees at a glance, get the low-down on who lives where, check how your suburb is doing in the price appreciation stakes and a whole lot more.

We hope you'll find Hometopia practically valuable, whether you're a home buyer, a seller or both. 

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DON'T GET RIPPED OFF - BECOME A STREETWISE HOME BUYER

If you're a first time buyer, check out our Streetwise Home Buyer articles, providing a step-by-step guide to successful home buying. Everything is covered, from buying an apartment to building your own home; from where to buy to what to buy; from making an offer to making a killing.

Need a CV or a LIM report? Use our Council Links to go straight to the relevant web pages without getting lost in the labyrinth of local government websites.

Ever wondered what your rent could buy you, or how much that mortgage will eventually cost you? Have a play with these Buyers' Calculators and find out.     

WHICH SUBURBS BEST SUIT YOUR LIFESTYLE?

Try our unique Suburb Sleuth lifestyle locator to discover which suburbs and neighbourhoods will suit you best.

Search by region, environment, style of homes, neighbours, quality of schools, commute time, budget and even hip factor to find the places that are right for you; then read about their pros and cons from the experts and view houses for sale in real time. 

WHAT WILL IT COST TO SELL YOUR HOME?

Get an immediate feel for the value of your home and see how your neighbourhood is performing in the price appreciation stakes.

Discover which agents are specialists in your area and find how they compare price-wise at a glance.

Or maybe you want to sell privately, let us show you your options and put you in touch with the resources you will need.

NEED A LENDER, MORTGAGE BROKER, BUILDING INSPECTOR,
LAWYER OR VALUER?

Due diligence is an important part of the buying and selling process, but who can help you in your area? We've got the relevant professionals listed so you can check them out for yourself before calling them, as well as mortgage brokers, valuers and new home builders.

Need a home loan? Check out the latest home loans and interest rates and what each of the banks are offering.