Since 2018, New Zealand has banned nearly all foreign buyers from its residential market. Americans, British, Chinese, European buyers — all locked out below NZ$5 million (and above it, only via a NZ$5M+ investor-visa purchase with government consent, one home each, since March 2026). Two nationalities are the exception: Australian citizens and Singaporean citizens can buy New Zealand homes as freely as a Kiwi.

 

For Singaporean buyers, the contrast with home is stark

• Buy a second residential property as a foreigner in Singapore: 60% ABSD on top of the price. Even citizens pay 20% on a second property.

• Buy in New Zealand: 0% stamp duty. 0% ABSD. No transfer tax. No annual land tax. No foreign-buyer surcharge.

• Your NZ property doesn't count toward your Singapore ABSD property count (it's outside IRAS's net — confirm current guidance with your adviser). One honest caveat: CPF funds can't be used for overseas property.

• Currently no general capital gains tax in NZ; only a 2-year bright-line test on quick resales.

 

For Australian buyers, look at what foreigners face in your own market

• Australia has banned foreign purchases of established homes from April 2025 until 30 June 2029 (ATO), and foreign buyers who do qualify pay surcharge duties of 7–9% in most states plus FIRB application fees running from roughly A$15,000 to A$94,000 for a typical home.

• In New Zealand, an Australian citizen pays none of that: no ban, no application, no fee, no surcharge, no stamp duty at all — and NZ conveyancing typically settles in 4–6 weeks without you leaving home.

 

Why this window matters

New Zealand's March 2026 golden-visa change signalled the direction of travel: the country is courting wealthy migrants again, but only at NZ$5M+. Below that line, Australians and Singaporeans still have the field almost to themselves — competing only with local buyers, in a market whose national median is NZ$770,000 (REINZ, June 2026). Advantages like this don't usually last forever; rules change with governments.