Back in Feb/Mar 2012, the new NBUS service was introduced to Nelson.
The NBus operation is operated by SBL Group on behalf of Nelson City Council.
This new initiative saw a fleet of brand new 13.5-metre-long 50-seater low floor wheelchair friendly buses introduced to Nelsonians, and travelers alike, and quickly gained good support.
New services were introduced and along with increased frequency during busy times, the hours of operation also were extended.
Here’s a brief video on the new service;
The video also talks about the new “hail & ride” service ( offered on selected local neighbourhood routes ) serviced by smaller buses, and also about the much anticipated user operated “bike carriers” that are mounted on the front of the new units.
A question I am constantly asking myself is this one……….
…..why do “Poms” seem to not consider “future selling” money when they build a home in Nelson?
So, whether a UK resident moves to NZ or New York, their thought patterns should, to all intents and purposes just about remain the same, the only real difference being the physical distance.
If you want to move the family “lock, stock & barrels” out to the antipodes, then here’s two really important tips that will result in you “netting thousands” instead of losing them. (trust me on this, I’ve seen and experienced the heartfelt collateral damage side of this over the last decade…….at the very least, on about 11 ~ 12 occasions)
Ok this is from a UK TV Program...but let me tell you I have seen it locally...in Nelson
No.1
Do Not build a home with associated utility pipework on the outside…….yes yes I know it goes for ok back home……and again yes, yes, yes …I know you need it / have to have it, where else to put it, etc, etc….. but out here in New Zealand….well, we tend to have a bit more room/space around us……and frankly this ole habit just really needs a real good “Dan Carter” kick right out into the paddock.
Let me tell you right here & now…..what a Kiwi buyer thinks when they see this…….“cheap…cheap…cheap” – now, surely, that is not the first impression you want any prospective buyer of your property to have?
Extra rooms aren't always an advantage....
No.2
The fact that you want 3/4/5/14 reception rooms may very well appeal tremendously to you…..but from an antipodean perspective…let me tell you – its almost a “death knell.”
Out here, well……..we want/desire/live for “open plan” living, surely you might have noticed that when visiting the brand new showhome exhibitions……heck, space is what its all about way down here near the great Southern Ocean.
I hope you’ll view this for what it is – just a couple of hints from someone whose seen both sides of the story.
Woe be-tide me if I did not bring you this update.
A Record for sunny Stoke.
It is Stoke’s day in the sun with the announcement that April 2012 was the suburb’s sunniest on record…..while the wider region basked in temperatures almost a degree above average.
I’d have plenty of local feed back that would suggest I was not being the Stoke area specialist, if I did not bring this factoid to your attention, now…wouldn’t I?
Earlier today, the Real Estate Institute of NZ ( REINZ ), officially released to the media their sales figures covering NZ for the month of March 2012.
In covering Nelson, the Institutes local spokesperson said that
The median price for the region increased by $500 compared to February 2012 and by $1,500 compared to March 2011. Nelson recorded the strongest overall price trend, followed by Richmond.
…..yet shared a balanced opinion by following up with
Sales volume in March eased back 2.4% after a very strong increase in February, although Motueka recorded a 23% increase in sales compared to February and a more than doubling of sales compared to March 2011. Nelson City and Richmond eased back, due to the strong uplift in February.
Overall….just like usual – steady as she goes. Like February, the number of transactions can certainly be described as healthy.
REINZ Reported Sales Results – March 2012 NELSON REGION BREAKDOWN
……..like always on my blog….click above chart to enlarge
This past month, March 2012, in particular undoubtedly showed …..the unquestionable fact that Nelson, and to a large degree, Stoke….is most definitely “family central.”
CHART - WWW.REINZ.CO.NZ
Witness the incredible number of average family oriented properties being transacted in New Zealands favourite suburb, in the sunshine capital of NZ.
One thing of note was that DOM – Days on Market – aka Days to Sell figure….it was quite low in that critical 2/3 bedroom metric….hovering just under that 4 weeks datum?
If you haven’t heard me previously talk about the “steady as she goes” statement, then perhaps that’s just an admission you don’t come around here often. iOtherwise, my obviously “one eyed Nelsonian” view…..would by now, after over 750 article posts here, be commonplace.
Actually - historical data is all we've got when you come to think of it.......
That said, its still important, crucially important for me actually, to back those numbers up.
And nothing enlivens that to me than figures & charts, so about now…..the obligatory chart above.
This one above illustrates precisely what I have been saying, Nelson….. property prices are stable, they aren’t the cheapest in NZ for sure, but they are in that “middle of the road” zone, and crucially….they are STABLE.
After yesterdays post, I have been contacted by 3 nay-sayers already.
No, it seems they won’t go public in the comments section, they prefer to email me, on a semi – anon basis to say that because Nelson prices are so high, that’s exactly why they have seen a couple of For Sale signs on some properties around town…still there for a few months now.
Well, I know the facts, and let me tell you…..they most definitely contrast with what these folk are trying to tell me.
So about here, I thought it’d be handy to find a stat that may enlighten these questioning cynics. (I know whats happening on the ground…no doubt about that – but it seems all of them have to see it somewhere in “black & white.”)
Actually I didn’t have to look too far, nor too far for very current & relevant figures. Cue…the regional inventory statistics…from just last months NZ Property Report, published just last week on www,realestate.co.nz .
Data - www.realestate.co.nz April 2012
The what?
Each month, New Zealands leading property website, www.realestate.co.nz, publish the NZ Property Report, and typically it presents itself on line on their site on the 1st of each calendar month.
Yes, amongst many other topics, it talks about up and downs, it talks about the number of new listings each month (aka the so called supply & demand situation) by region, etc…..but, crucially one of the most important metrics, and one that is most definitely a “market based one” is that of the DOM.
In plain english “days on market.” In other words how long a property would characteristically be on the market, prior to an unconditional Sales & Purchase Agreement being confirmed, .aka SOLD.
In case you are wondering, in the commercial market this is taken as a “GOLD” measuring stick to a towns viability.
All I can say is next time, for the sake of your credibility as a valuable property real estate critic / commenter, and one to whom the public should be introduced, please make your voice heard in my comment section. That way everyone gets to know your thoughts….and I have to answer.
