Trade Me Launches Retirement Villages

Media Release
12 June 2009

Trade Me Launches Retirement Villages

Trade Me today entered the retirement village market adding a retirement village sub-site to Trade Me Property.

The new retirement village section launched today with over 100 retirement villages from Northland to Southland signed up to the service.

Launched four years ago, Trade Me Property is New Zealand’s number one visited real estate website, receiving over 70% of all domestic traffic to the real estate category*.

``With the aging of New Zealand’s population, more people are researching and selecting retirement units, so it’s a logical move to extend into this market,’’ said Trade Me’s head of Property, Brendon Skipper.

``We’re aiming to provide a total view of all New Zealand retirement units for sale in one place.

The new service allows retirees, family and friends to all participate in the search and shows the depth and breadth of the market.’’

Trade Me launched the new section after working closely with the Retirement Villages Association (RVA) and its Executive Director John Collyns.

``We’re delighted with the support we’ve had from Trade Me in this exciting new development,’’ the RVA’s Executive Director John Collyns said. ``Trade Me’s massive membership plus the activity on their site means that the many advantages of retirement village life will be promoted to a whole new audience.’’

``We’re finding an increasing level of interest in retirement villages from the families of potential residents, and Trade Me is particularly well-represented in the 40+ age group. This is the generation who want the best possible lifestyle for their parents and grandparents, and we’re confident that retirement village life will offer them companionship, safety and peace of mind.’’

The Retirement Villages Association represents retirement village owners, developers and managers throughout New Zealand. Its members’ 270 villages have approximately 17,200 villas and apartments which are home to more than 20,000 older New Zealanders. RVA members operate approximately 80% of New Zealand’s retirement village dwellings.

Trade Me has over 2.2 million members. 275,000+ of these members are aged 55+ and use the site on a regular basis.

*Source: Nielsen Online May 2009 NZ domestic traffic real estate category.

ENDS

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