House Hunters International

Wisconsinites Hoping to Settle in Auckland Must Consider Buying a Home off the Auction Block (70x1)

Air date: Sep 08, 2014

For 11-years, Jennifer, Russ and their three girls enjoyed the security of their close-knit Wisconsin community. But the couple had a nagging sense they were missing out on experiences beyond their reach. On a whim, Jennifer, an audiologist, applied to a position in New Zealand. And to the family's surprise, their future took a dramatic turn. They soon found themselves headed 8,000 miles from home to Auckland. When they arrived they settled into a rental, but quickly found its quarters too cramped. And since the city was agreeing with them, Jennifer and Russ decided to make the move more permanent and invest in a home. But to their dismay, properties in Auckland were few and far between. And in this sellers' market, most homes were sold on the auction block to the highest bidder. So with dad not working and only one income coming in, the couple were faced with a challenging house hunt. And finding a home in their 700,000 dollar budget with enough space for a family of five and the character that Jennifer craved would be tough. Watch how they manage the city's pricey auction-based housing market when House Hunters International arrives in Auckland, New Zealand.