PHOTO: House sales
The Level 4 lockdown is already having ripple effects when it comes to real estate.
The industry has effectively ground to a halt, with buyers, sellers and renters unable to view, move, or complete final settlements.
For people like New Plymouth’s Grant Cannell, it has meant several weeks in limbo.
“It’s been a learning curve in patience,” he told 1 NEWS.
Mr Cannell and his wife sold their house before the lockdown, and were meant to be moving out in April to a rental property which was being vacated.
Now, the current tenants in the rental are stuck too, meaning the Cannells have nowhere to go once they finally move out in less than two weeks time.
And while Mr Cannell says they are “ecstatic” they can finally get going, they may now have to see if they have friends who can house them for a couple of weeks.
They are not alone, with Ray White Real Estate agent Tom Rawson saying they are expecting a surge in sales when restrictions are lifted slightly next week.
“Those that’ve sold prior to lockdown that hadn’t bought, they’ve been looking and they need to go purchase something before they’re homeless,” he says.
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