An estimated one-fifth of Christchurch's population - 70,000 people - left the city immediately after the February 22 earthquake. While many have returned, electorate enrolments show there are 26,000 fewer people living in the city than there were in February.
Although they had kept no statistics, representatives of nine Dunedin real estate companies contacted yesterday reported a particularly strong demand for rental properties in June, July and this month - much of which they attributed to Christchurch residents relocating - and a noticeable number of Christchurch people buying homes or sections on which to build.
Most of the renters and buyers were families, they said.
Renting was an option for many who could not buy yet because they had not received insurance or government payouts for damaged properties, agents said.
LJ Hooker's rental manager Neville Watson said June saw the largest number of rental agreements settled in the 10 years he had been keeping figures.
"July was not as good as June, but it still put a smile on our faces," he said.
Nidd Realty owner Liz Nidd said people moving from Christchurch had made up about 10% of new renters her company had dealt with in each of the past few months.
Her company was short of good-quality rental properties, particularly in Mosgiel and Outram, she said.
LJ Hooker licensee Geraldine Hermens said, while Christchurch people were "just looking" earlier in the year, they were now buying.
"It is good for Dunedin. It is going to slightly increase our city's population."
Metro Realty sales manager Adam Gain said his company had sold a house at auction yesterday to a Christchurch buyer, while Re/Max licensee Ian Cameron said the company had sold about 20 properties over the past three months to Christchurch buyers.
Agents from all companies expected more house purchases to come once payouts were received, although several were cautious about predicting a major influx of Christchurch buyers.
Edinburgh Realty agent Peter Wilson said it was hard to quantify how many Christchurch buyers would have been in the market anyway.
"We don't always know why people are coming here. Would they have come here regardless [of the earthquakes]?
Several agents said securing work was the main driver for Christchurch people settling here.
Wanting to move was "somewhat tempered by reality", Bayleys Dunedin owner Peter Booth said.
"We have seen a gentle and steady stream of people making inquiries about moving here, but in the end people are pragmatic. They ask themselves 'can we live here and work here?' Employment is a fundamental."
Former Christchurch resident Suzanne Harris said yesterday buying a house in Kenmure a month ago was a "relief".
That was despite still owning a house in the suburb of Redwood, having to secure bridging finance from the bank and facing the prospect of paying two mortgages for some time yet.
"I love Christchurch ... But I love feeling the ground safe beneath me even more."
Ms Harris, her partner Tony Williamson, and their two children, Jalena (7) and Jack (5), left Christchurch on February 22 and have not lived in the city since.
"It was 7pm. We had no power. We had seen 2m-high waves in our swimming pool and trees flexing in the garden. It was freaky. The children were screaming. Nowhere felt safe. I said we had to leave," she said.
They stayed the night in Dunedin with friends. The next morning, Ms Harris said she was not going back and rented a house as soon as she could.
Mr Williamson commuted for six months, but got a job with the Dunedin City Council a month ago. It was then they were able to buy a house.
Ms Harris said their Redwood home was not quake-damaged and was under offer to a Christchurch buyer, whose home was in the red zone, where properties are condemned. The sale will be confirmed once the buyer receives a payout.
If the purchase fell through, the house would go back on the market, she said.
The family was staying in Dunedin.
"The children are much happier ... We're all better away from Christchurch."
- allison.rudd@odt.co.nz
