As we enter 2026, the real estate market continues to produce outstanding results for sellers and investors despite buyer disappointment at the Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision to not cut interest rates for a fourth time in less than 12 months. The average value of a home rose 1% in November, following a 1.1% rise…
Read more
Just as Kiwis were getting used to the idea the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) might end its program of interest rate cuts, Westpac NZ shocked everyone by raising rates 0.3% on fixed term loans. The move prompted Finance Minister Nicola Willis to suggest owners and first-home buyers should “shop around”. After Westpac announced…
Read more
As we enter 2026, New Zealanders can reflect on a property market that resisted a recovery despite nine interest rate cuts but saw values remain steady. As the latest OneRoof home survey points out, there were winners and losers in 2025, and we should not feel downcast about the immediate future. The latest cut of…
Read more
If you’re an aspiring first-home buyer trying to save for a deposit while renting, this time of year is often an ideal opportunity to re-evaluate your accommodation. With many leases expiring, anecdotal evidence suggests a lot of renters are seeking arrangements that last longer than 12 months to give them stability and rent-cost predictability. It’s…
Read more
One of the hottest property topics right now is the ability to accelerate the building of new homes to keep up with demand generated by an increasing population that features a 450,000+ annual immigration intake. The lack of supply, which industry data suggests is 20% below the five-year average, is a key reason for property…
Read more
How safe is a holiday home – not from burglars or raging bush fires but from the taxman? It’s an incredible life achievement to be able to afford and run a holiday home. Of course, many owners will want it to double-up as a rental, especially during various public holidays through the year, to help…
Read more
Landlords and property investors get a bad deal in the mainstream press. It’s often conveniently forgotten that while they do benefit from tax incentives, they also provide the valuable service of rental accommodation to approximately 30% of the population. If you squeeze property investors, the people who ultimately feel the pain are those you can…
Read more
While the summer holidays are a time for relaxing with family and friends, it can also be an opportunity to tick some of those little maintenance tasks from your to-do list. Breaking out the brushes and repainting the bathroom or another area of your home will give you a sense of satisfaction that lying on…
Read more
As we look towards what promises to be another helter-skelter year for real estate, it’s worth looking back at the previous 12 months to give us context for what might be ahead of us as buyers and sellers of property. The “good and the great” of property forecasting have spent a fair amount of their…
Read more
It’s the summer holidays and a time to relax, but if you’re a DIY enthusiast you know there’s only so much sitting in a deck chair you can do before the urge to break out the toolbox becomes overwhelming. There are countless small chores around the home to dive into with the sun on your…
Read more
