Chinese buyer inquiries for houses in New Zealand rose by 59 per cent in the third quarter, according to Chinese real estate portal Juwai.com. But quick deals offered to beat the ban probably played a role in the recent uptick in house prices. "The data clearly shows buyers from China have been anxious to complete their transactions in advance of the rules," said Carrie Law, CEO and Director of Juwai.com. "In the long run, rules for work visas and permanent residency are more important for Chinese buying in New Zealand than are foreign buyer restrictions. Most Chinese buyers here are purchasing for their own use while living in New Zealand," she said, reports The Straits Times (21 October 2018).
