Aussie searches for New Zealand properties have almost doubled after federal budget changes

Aussies are looking for New Zealand property nearly twice as much as they were last year, with federal budget changes causing searches for homes across the sea to spike 100 per cent in one month. New data from realestate.co.nz found Australian searches for New Zealand homes were up 189.8 per cent in August compared to the same time last year. In April, searches had increased it 62.9 per cent – but after the announcement of the new federal budget, searches rose to 163.4 per cent in May. Australian searches for New Zealand property has nearly doubled in just one year, spiking more than 100 per cent in one month after the federal budget announcement. Picture: iStock Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced changes to negative gearing and the Capital Gains Tax in May, before a surge in searches for overseas property. Picture: AAP Image/Lukas Coch Realestate.co.nz chief executive Sarah Wood said with new changes to negative gearing and the Capital Gains Tax, the surge suggested Aussies were doing more than just browsing for fun. “We expected the announcement to have a flow-on effect to New Zealand, but the scale and speed of the shift have been striking,” she said. “Australians aren’t just brow...