Moving to Australia from New Zealand?

Moving to Australia and needing somewhere to live?

Find out about short-term living options in Australia, finding a home to rent, flatting, what documents you need and more.

It’s tough landing in a new country without somewhere to go from the airport, especially if you have a family. I get a lot of enquiries about where to stay when you first arrive before you can get a rental in Australia because it’s almost impossible to get one before you leave New Zealand.

The Australian rental market is quite similar to NZ but Australia is so much bigger, so it’s more competitive than New Zealand for both renting and buying.

Like New Zealand, there are positives and negatives to each city and each suburb and it is important to do research before you leave New Zealand, especially before you make any fixed arrangements.

When you move to Australia, you are going to need a utility connection service.

You will not have the paperwork you need to connect your utilities direct, e.g. electricity, gas, broadband, pay TV and more.

Save yourself research time and stress by filling out one online form.

When I tried to connect our utilities for our new home in Australia I researched all the major companies for each of our main services: Foxtel/Sky TV, power/electricity, phone, and broadband. I weighed up all the different packages on offer and made my decision on what were the best deals.

When I went to set up my accounts I found out we didn’t have any of the paperwork the companies needed! We didn’t have proof of address, three months’ wages, or three months’ bank statements from an Australian bank.

Need a mortgage to buy your new home in Australia? Then you need Australia’s Online Mortgage Broker.

Are you a New Zealander thinking about buying property in Australia? Getting a mortgage in Australia isn’t always easy and trusting someone to get you the best deal possible is important.

UNO home loans, Australia’s Online Mortgage Broker combines Unparalleled Service with technology to streamline the entire process of getting and having a mortgage so you save time, hassle and money for the entire time you have a home loan.

Are you a New Zealander wanting to buy a house in Australia?

Yes, you can! If you’re an NZ citizen buying property in Australia everything works the same as if you were an Australian citizen buying property in Australia. You may even be eligible for the first homeowner’s grant.

However, if you are not an NZ citizen there are some restrictions for foreigners wanting to buy property in Australia, depending on your visa and residence status.

Find below some advice on how you can buy your dream home in Australia and some smart tips to avoid paying more than you need to in fees and charges.

Are New Zealand citizens eligible for the First Home Owners Grant in Australia?

The First Home Owners Grant (FHOG) in Australia is designed to encourage and assist home ownership across the country, and for eligible borrowers, it’s a great start to life as a property owner.

The grant differs in each state and territory and in most places it applies to new homes only.

The Australian government’s First Home Owners Grant (FHOG) and other benefits are available to permanent residents as if they are citizens of Australia. Because NZ citizens are considered to be permanent residents of Australia they are eligible for the grant.

FHOG does not take into account NZ property for eligibility, only property you’ve owned in Australia.

Don’t get caught out arriving in Australia without the documentation/paperwork you need!

It will cause you a whole lot of stress, time, and worry!

Australia can be really competitive when it comes to jobs, apartments, and rentals. You might end up in a position where everyone wants the apartment you want and you need to stand out (references).

You will need to prove your identity when applying for a property rental, driver’s licence, a white card or Medicare card, or setting up a mobile or superannuation account.

Should I move to Australia? This is a question hundreds of thousands of people around the world ask themselves each year.

Moving to Australia is a big step and choosing a city is not an easy task, because Australia has many amazing places to live.

They all have their own unique opportunities and the below will help you choose which city suits you and your family best.

The eight states have individual characteristics and climates. Do you want to live in tropical Queensland, cooler Canberra, laid-back Darwin or right in the hustle and bustle of Sydney?

Use your KiwiSaver towards your home deposit for your first Australian home with First Home Super Saver (FHSS)!

The Australia Government First Home Super Saver (FHSS) scheme – lets you withdraw some of your KiwiSaver to help buy your first Australian home.

Yes, you read right… There is quite a history with this, but once again New Zealanders moving to Australia are able to transfer their KiwiSaver to Australia and use some of it as a deposit for their first home. You must meet the criteria set out by the ATO and make sure you set up the right account with the right super fund provider.