If you buy a house in Gore, statistics show you are in for the long haul.
In a recent study by Realestate.co.nz, Gore ranked in the top 10 for districts in New Zealand for owners retaining homes with an average of six years and four months before reselling a home.
Realestate.co.nz spokeswoman Vanessa Williams said this was typical for rural communities.
"Typically when we look at the information from the major centres, it’s those in the major centres who move often.
"Regional New Zealand has less homes for sale; it’s more challenging for those looking.
"People also stay in jobs for a little bit longer in regional New Zealand, for the same reason, a lack of choice," she said.
Mrs Williams said although Gore was at the top end for retention of houses, it was no cause for concern.
"On a typical average you’re moving every six years and four months, that’s at the bottom end of the table.
"We call you stayers not movers. [I] think it lines up pretty well with regional New Zealand. I wouldn’t see it as worrying at all," she said.
Gore Mayor Ben Bell said there were a few potential reasons why people stayed.
"People like living here, they’re not moving away. We don’t have a lot of rentals so there’s less movement in the market. People are buying and they stay here," he said.
The housing stock in Gore, the majority of which was built in the 1980s, could also help explain the retention, Mr Bell said.
"We also have old housing stock, so I can imagine people are buying them to do them up which, I would know, takes a fair amount of time."
He said housing was a concern across the country, and Gore had unique problems the district council was trying to work through.
"We’ve got a small renters’ market, ageing stock. There’s some concern.
"To combat that, in our district plan there’s a lot more areas that will open up for subdivision, so people can can build new houses."
