Lockdown stress

PHOTO: KAVINDA HERATH/STUFF An open home at Otatara has been cancelled during the lockdown.

Buying a first home is stressful enough but the levels have risen for a young Invercargill couple trying to do it while the country is in lockdown.

David Mosen and Joanna Bell said they put an offer on an Appleby house in Invercargill, which was accepted this month, after finance from their bank was approved.

However, as it became inevitable the country was heading for lockdown, the process became much harder.

Though still confident the sale would go ahead, the lockdown had slowed the process and caused some stress, they said.

Their lawyer is in the process of trying to get the settlement date of April 24 delayed until after lockdown ends. 

The young couple are among many in a similar predicament, with property settlements delayed because vendors and purchasers are unable to move in and out of properties while lockdown is in place.

Real Estate Institute of New Zealand chief executive Bindi Norwell said the  Auckland District Law Society had recommended that settlements be deferred until after the lockdown was lifted.

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