Charlie Qiao
Immigration Lawyer
View profileResidential & Commercial Transactions
Property advice, from start to settlement.
At Matt and Zen, we act on the purchase and sale of residential and commercial property in New Zealand: a home, an investment property, or business premises.
Property transactions involve significant financial commitments and often complex legal considerations. We provide practical, commercially focused advice at every stage, helping you understand your rights and obligations, identify potential issues early, and negotiate terms that protect your interests.
From reviewing and negotiating agreements through to settlement, we work to ensure the legal process is handled efficiently and with as few surprises as possible. Our aim is simple: to give you confidence in your transaction and clarity about what comes next.
Scope
We can assist with the following, and more.
Buying and selling
- Buying a residential property
- Selling a residential property
- Buying or selling commercial property
Agreements and due diligence
- Reviewing sale and purchase agreements before you sign
- Advice on conditions, dates and settlement
- Title review and property due diligence
- Reviewing LIMs, building reports and other property information
Structure and consent
- Buying through a New Zealand company or trust
- Overseas Investment Act advice and consent
- Sensitive land and significant business asset transactions
Land and development
- Subdivision and boundary adjustments
- Property development and construction projects
Settlement and after
- Settlement and transfer
- Post-settlement obligations and ongoing conditions
Buying from overseas
Check whether you need consent before you make an offer.
If you are based overseas, or are not ordinarily resident in New Zealand, there are restrictions on what you can buy here. Depending on the property and your circumstances, consent under the Overseas Investment Act may be required before you can purchase.
We help you establish whether the rules apply to you and the property you are considering before you commit to the transaction. If consent is required, we can advise you on the process, the conditions that may apply, and the timeframes involved.
Getting this right at the outset can avoid delays, unexpected conditions, or a transaction that cannot proceed.
Questions
Frequently asked questions.
When should I bring a lawyer in?
Before you sign. Almost everything that decides a property transaction is settled in the agreement, and it is far cheaper to deal with a condition before it is binding than to live with it afterwards.
Will you review the agreement before I sign it?
Yes. We review and negotiate sale and purchase agreements, and advise on the conditions, the dates and what settlement will require of you.
What is checked on the title?
We carry out title review and property due diligence, and go through the LIM, building reports and other property information with you so you know what you are buying.
Can I buy through a company or a trust?
Yes, and the structure is worth settling early. We advise on buying through a New Zealand company or trust, and on what that means for the transaction.
I am overseas. Can I buy here?
It depends on who you are and what you are buying. Consent under the Overseas Investment Act may be required before you can purchase. We establish the position before you make an offer rather than after.
What happens after settlement?
We handle settlement and transfer, and advise on post-settlement obligations and any ongoing conditions attached to the property.
Do you act on commercial property as well as homes?
Yes — homes, investment properties and business premises, and land bought to subdivide or develop.
Our experts
Who does this work.
Related articles
Writing and updates.
Insight
What a conditional offer actually commits you to
Finance, LIM and builder’s report conditions each work differently, and the dates attached to them are not advisory.
Read more →Insight
When a residential purchase needs consent
Residence status, the land itself and what you intend to do with it all change the answer. Where the line falls, and when to check it.
Read more →Insight
Buying in a company or a trust
The structure you buy through affects both the consent position and what happens at settlement. What to decide before you sign.
Read more →