Has apartments not catched up to NZ?

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rayonline

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Topic # 230248 14-Feb-2018 17:55

We have apartments in NZ, is the culture etc here not catched up? There seems to be this attitude that apartment is like living inside a prison and even the poor or young shouldn't live there.

All the time I visit family overseas or my own trips it's apartment living, I've spent all my uni years living in my own room with shared facilities. Now eve at home at the folks place, I opted for the smallest room, about 11m squared. Even with children, many families just live in apartments overseas. Some are more expensive with libraries, game world, piano, swimming pool with BBQ machines, 24/7 security but many also don't have those luxuries. It's part and parcel overseas.

I'm still continually thinking and wishing I didn't get various stuff like the stereo. I just don't really need much, the small in wall wardrobe which I have just got rid of old and semi worn clothing. Ok, there is a bed, a bedside cabinet, a table with my PC, my A3 printer used which I got for free due to the photo paper I received. This printer is totally optional anyway cos printing at home is a hobby but for a RRP $1,500 printer you will never get your down-payment back.

The parents etc .. don't really do parties or backyard BBQs, ok there is back garden, we don't have jet ski's or boats or campervans. They have cars but I chose not to buy one and just use public transportation.

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Reply # 1958195 14-Feb-2018 18:14

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I wouldn't live in an apartment if someone paid me. I hate the things. It is a common mentality for most Kiwi's. I am not going to go and start grouping people and the walks of life they are from but a lot of the apartment residents in the CBD are foreigners who can't speak English to save their lives and are very reclusive.

Yes, They remind me of a prison, Like the crooked body corporate that run the bloody things.

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Behodar

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Reply # 1958200 14-Feb-2018 18:29

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Bear in mind that a lot of other countries have much higher population density than we do, making apartments and other small, close-together buildings a necessity. That's not so much of an issue here.

In my town, apartments tend to either be really cheap and run-down, or really expensive. There's nothing available at the middle of the price range.

CamH

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Reply # 1958202 14-Feb-2018 18:33

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I wouldn't mind living in an apartment if it was nice enough. But then again, that's mostly because I'd prefer to be inside and don't really want to have to deal with large amounts of maintenance you usually see with a house and the associated land.

Coil

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Reply # 1958204 14-Feb-2018 18:37

CamH:

I wouldn't mind living in an apartment if it was nice enough. But then again, that's mostly because I'd prefer to be inside and don't really want to have to deal with large amounts of maintenance you usually see with a house and the associated land.

You sound like a perfect Unitary plan resident!

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t0ny

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Reply # 1958205 14-Feb-2018 18:41

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Quality of apartments have been crap in NZ compared to places like Asia.

nas

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Reply # 1958247 14-Feb-2018 18:51

It's not that NZ hasn't caught up, it's just we don't have the population size to warrant quality apartments to live in

richms

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Reply # 1958249 14-Feb-2018 18:58

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The ones that are built are all low spec stuff targetting investors who will rent to foreginers and students, or else really high end stuff. No middle ground.

I would be happy to be rid of the lawn and other pointless things that come with a detached house in urban auckland, but with the scarcity of carparking, no workshop areas etc apartment life would not be for me for primary house. Perhaps a weekday one if I ever end up stuck in an office job that is a prick of a commute?

Richard rich.ms

rayonline

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Reply # 1958250 14-Feb-2018 18:58

t0ny: Quality of apartments have been crap in NZ compared to places like Asia.

Yes, with quality however you do get lesser quality apartments overseas too. Not every apartment will have swimming pool, or 24/7 security and BBQ.

NedLudd

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Reply # 1958280 14-Feb-2018 19:25

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I like my lawn too much to move to an apartment.

Ah... that barefoot sensation of wiggling one's toes in cool grass...oh yeah!

Also I appreciate my tree. Every man should have his own tree; to sit in and philosophize.

Or at least just to relax while sipping a cold one after a day at work dealing with idiots.

Sitting in or under my tree, on my lawn, barefoot is one of my rights as a Kiwi.

Along with...

-To drive my (unregistered, unwarranted, uninsured) car recklessly where and when I

please, and park it -for free- anywhere I want for as long as I choose.

-To own an -also unregistered- dog that wanders the neighbourhood, scavenging in

neighbours' garbage, dumping on their lawns, and frightening local kids.

Ah yes, we are truly blessed here in Godzone!

Any other suggestions to add? What are our other 'God given' rights....?

CamH

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Reply # 1958314 14-Feb-2018 20:46

NedLudd:

-To drive my (unregistered, unwarranted, uninsured) car recklessly where and when I

please, and park it -for free- anywhere I want for as long as I choose.

Yeah nah you can keep away from me with your reckless driving in your uninsured, unwarranted car thank you very much

Lias

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Reply # 1958327 14-Feb-2018 21:17

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The only reason I'd have an apartment would be if I won lotto and wanted somewhere in the CBD to crawl to when drunk..

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SATTV

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Reply # 1958335 14-Feb-2018 21:29

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Having lived in an apartment in Sydney I would not rush back into one, I also used to install TV/ security / phone into a number of apartments and the build quality is shocking.

What I really hate about NZ apartments is the price, they are very cheap to build and sell for as much as a house.

With an apartment you have a lot of restrictions that you just dont have in your own freestanding home.

Having to pay ground rent and weekly strata management fees is another added expense.

Even in a good sized appartment I still feel cooped up.

I could go on but will limit it to the above.

John

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kryptonjohn

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Reply # 1958338 14-Feb-2018 21:39

Coil:

I wouldn't live in an apartment if someone paid me. I hate the things. It is a common mentality for most Kiwi's. I am not going to go and start grouping people and the walks of life they are from but a lot of the apartment residents in the CBD are foreigners who can't speak English to save their lives and are very reclusive.

Yes, They remind me of a prison, Like the crooked body corporate that run the bloody things.

And you only need one dick with a loud stereo and bass music and your life becomes true hell.

Aredwood

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Reply # 1958371 15-Feb-2018 00:41

Banks have tougher lending restrictions for small apartments. meaning first home buyers typically can't qualify for a mortgage to buy an apartment. But can for a standalone house.

Apartments cost more to build on a $ per m2 basis. Which is why they are either very small, or super expensive if they are larger.

Almost impossible to get new services installed. Lots of GZ threads on problems getting UFB connected to apartments. Imagine trying to get gas connected.

Some apartments, you can't choose your power company, ISP etc, as you can only buy from the body corporate or another company that has a monopoly. So high prices and poor service. There are lots of buildings where even hot water is a metered service that gets billed separately.

Senecio

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Reply # 1958420 15-Feb-2018 08:38

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Been mentioned earlier. Population density.

http://www.citymayors.com/statistics/largest-cities-density-125.html

Our largest city comes in at 115th by density. Other cities moved towards apartment living out of necessity. We choose not to live in apartment because we don't need to.

Besides, I like my man cave too much to give it up. And where would I wash the car without a driveway. And the dog needs a backyard to do his business. And I like the sound of the birds in the trees.

And........

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