Rules around home loans in New Zealand may be about to change, possibly dampening prospects of another boom that would put ownership further beyond reach for those trying to enter the property market. Changes are expected mid-year to the Debt-to-Income rules that govern how much and in what circumstances a lender can issue a mortgage…
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The New Zealand lifestyle property market ended 2023 on a positive note, with $432 million in total sales during December. The Real Estate Institute of New Zealand data showed this was up from $411 million the previous year. Sales volumes increased as the year ended, with 1,297 lifestyle properties sold in the three months ended…
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The continuing strength in Australia’s property market has been underlined by data showing the value of new owner-occupier loan commitments rose 10.1% year-on-year in November 2023. And the number of these new home loans increased by 7.3%. These numbers from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicate continuation of the strong sentiment that increased values by…
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Buying early may be the smartest and most profitable decision for investors looking to begin or expand their property portfolio this year. Substantial rental income and a strong flow of immigrants into Australia continue to pressure rental markets across the country. Predictions that property will experience 2% to 3% in value growth this year indicate…
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The world-first decision by the Australian Government to ban the use of engineered stone commonly installed in kitchens and bathrooms will have ramifications for homeowners and renovators. Engineered stone has become a go-to material for many renovators over the past decade. However, the silica dust emitted when cut has been found to be potentially fatal. …
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Investors who keep a keen eye on property news headlines may have been surprised when researcher CoreLogic declared Brisbane had overtaken Melbourne in median dwelling values. But are the numbers what they seem? Digging deeper into the data is always a worthwhile exercise because it perfectly illustrates how property is never a static investment. These…
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Homeowners and investors looking to renovate will be delighted that fast-rising construction costs are coming under control. New data shows that during the three months to December, 2023, costs rose only 0.8% which was a significant fall from the 4.7% quarterly rise recorded in the third quarter of 2022. Construction costs rose 2.9% last year,…
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With Australia’s property market in a resurgent mood at the end of 2023, the prospects for continued value increases for the next 12 months appear strong. The cash rate hike to 4.35% on Melbourne Cup Day may have dampened the party, but industry researcher CoreLogic continues to show monthly rises of up to 0.9% in…
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The New Zealand property market is showing signs of a resurgence with a return to positive price trends and a greater volume of homes coming onto the market. Three key factors powering predictions for 2024 include speed of the market downturn, immigration numbers and the possibility that interest rates have peaked. The bottom of the…
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Market predictions indicate that 2024 will herald a property sell-off by many investors, even though prices are rising and the risk of further interest rate increases has all but evaporated. At the heart of concerns is the new National Coalition Government’s plans to shake up the real estate investor market. Under its election policies, the…
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