Inquiries from Chinese buyers looking at New Zealand real estate have increased 32 per cent since the outbreak of coronavirus, property website Juwai's executive chairman says.

The website offers international property listings to Chinese purchasers.

Executive chairman Georg Chmiel said only Vietnam had seen a bigger increase in activity, up 43 per cent.

But he said in-person activity was likely to remain subdued because Chinese consumers were restricting their travel.

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"In several real estate markets, we already see negative impacts from the epidemic. Many people have stopped travelling and are limiting their public activities. As a result, in real estate markets around the world where Chinese buyers are usually active, we see a reduction in the in-person presence of Chinese buyers at auctions, a similar decrease at inspections and open houses, and the stalling between contract signing and final settlement of some transactions involving Chinese buyers.

"The world is still uncertain when humanity will bring the coronavirus under control. When that happens, the pent-up activity may result in an unusually large number of transactions over one or two quarters, as buyers complete delayed transactions."

He said whether the New Zealand inquiries would translate into sales would depend on the residency status of the purchasers.

NG HAN GUAN/AP Many Chinese people are restricting their travel.

New Zealand's foreign buyer restrictions mean people who are not ordinarily resident can only buy new build properties in large developments.

"Most so-called 'Chinese' buyers in New Zealand today actually are either legal residents or have even become citizens. We don't have the data, but we do believe that most of these inquiries are from Chinese speakers with legal residence in New Zealand who intend to buy for their own use."

Chmiel said New Zealand's property market became more appealing to international buyers in times of international strife.

"Demand in New Zealand is always up when things look down. It's the classic safe place during a global crisis. New Zealand is a haven with an appealing lifestyle, clean environment, and clean food and water. It is far from most other places and safe. All of these factors make it most appealing during a crisis.

"Some Chinese are looking at New Zealand boltholes for the same reasons wealthy Americans like Peter Thiel have bought homes there."

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