Helping migrants purchase a home

By RENEE KIRIONA

Anna Kim and her family want to buy a house, one that is close to schools and shops.

Like Anna, that is the reason 12 other adult migrants from as far away as Britain, the Continent, Asia and India attended the final module of the Kiwi Life programme last night.

The three-day programme, designed to help migrants settle into their new homeland, has given the migrants an insight into finding a job, family life, credit history and investment.

Last night it looked at purchasing property and they even heard first hand from a bank manager what the process could be like.

Mrs Kim, her husband and three children, aged 10 to 17, moved to New Zealand from South Korea seven months ago.

They have been renting a home in east Auckland but feel the time is right to start settling in permanently, Mrs Kim said.

"My husband and I want a home so that's why I'm coming to the course, to learn how to do that in this country."

While the programme tutor, Sandra Taylor, covered most issues involved in purchasing property, she could not stress enough the term "negotiable".

"If a sign says '$200,000 but negotiable' that means you can start bargaining for it, that you don't necessarily need to pay that specific amount," she told the class.

Mrs Taylor said that in the past she had come across cases where migrants had paid the asking price rather than negotiating.

Robert Thomas, a senior migrant consultant at New Zealand Migrant Settlement Services in Auckland, said one of the greatest difficulties his clients had was buying properties.

This was particularly so for his non-Western clients.

"A lot of real estate agents don't give them the time of day.

"And I understand that they lead very tight schedules but if only they sat down and listened to them I don't think they would be disappointed.

"The biggest stumbling block facing migrants is the perception many New Zealanders have of them."

The programme, run at the High Park Community House in Pakuranga, is to deliver another module, costing $80, on how to drive on New Zealand roads.

A date for this has yet to be set.

Day three

PURCHASING PROPERTY

* Choosing a home (locations, facilities).

* Sales notices.

* Dealing with real estate agent (fees, auctions).

* Dealing with banks.

* Dealing with lawyers.

* Purchase agreements and deed of title.