New Zealand’s tourism and rental markets are enjoying a surge after thousands of rugby fans from around the world, including the UK, flocked there for the Rugby World Cup.

For many rugby fans, arriving in NZ to support their team will be the first time they’ve visited the country – and for some it might stir them into making a move there for good. Those that do start a new life in NZ will find they get a lot more for their money than in the UK when they come to buy a home. A browse on Rightmove Overseas shows a typical three-bedroom detached house with sea views in the Canterbury region available for just £257,000.

Meanwhile, sales of farms in NZ are at a two-year high and showing no signs of slowing down, according to the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand. The number of farms sold in the three-month run up to August was up 38% year-on-year, with 265 sold in that period. From August 2010 to August 2011 more than 1,000 farms were sold.

A key consideration for anyone moving to New Zealand should be how they take their money with them. Using a currency specialist, such as Smart Currency Exchange, to transfer funds from pounds into NZ dollars could save not just money and time.

To understand the full step-by-step process to buying a property in New Zealand, collect The Overseas Guides Company’s ‘New Zealand Property Buying Guide’