Finch said lifestyle blocks which had taken two years to sell in the past, were now taking three months.
The upturn in interest has been reflected in June statistics released by the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) which showed Waimate has recorded the biggest jump in the median house price for South Canterbury since June last year.
The average sale price increased by just over $100,000 from $285,000 in June 2020, to $395,000 in June 2021.
Covid-19, affordability and lifestyle were the key factors drawing buyers with much of the interest coming from Hamilton and above, Finch said.
“They’re looking for a small rural community where they had grown up”