In a move to help boost New Zealand housing prices at the luxury end of the market, the Government has passed legislation to allow “golden visa holders” the right to buy residential property. The new policy gives residency in exchange for property investments of $5 million or more. Previous restrictions have kept foreigners out of…
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Summer – particularly January and February – can be a surprisingly smart time to buy a home. With many buyers focused on holidays, travel, and getting the kids ready for the new school year, the market often feels a little quieter. That can translate into less competition, more time to make decisions, and stronger negotiating…
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Summer can be a quieter time for open homes, but that doesn’t mean the good properties disappear. In fact, inspecting in the warmer months can reveal things you might miss in winter. Heat, heavy rain, and long daylight hours have a way of showing how a home really performs. If you’re house hunting this summer,…
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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…
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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…
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Lower interest rates have sparked record-breaking levels of participation by first-time buyers, who are now responsible for 27% of all residential property deals, according to a new report by Cotality and Westpac NZ. The dramatic 0.5% reduction in the Official Cash Rate (OCR) by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand in October has tempted many…
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The New Zealand property market has seen consistent value gains across the country as the nation welcomed another 0.25% reduction in the Official Cash Rate (OCR) to revitalise the economy and reduce unemployment from 5.3%. The OCR now stands at 2.25%, and it’s amazing to think the rate is less than half the 5.5% level…
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For a property market in which buyers are staying away in the belief prices may fall further, there’s plenty of evidence to suggest it’s time to stop standing on the sidelines. A new survey from the industry researcher Cotality (formerly CoreLogic) says so-called “mum and dad” investors are back, quickly becoming 25% of all buyers.…
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The significant 0.5% reduction in the Official Cash Rate (OCR) last month is now expected to spur on the New Zealand property market as buyers continue their cautious approach. The rate is now just 2.5%, down from 5.5% in July of 2024. And this stimulus is expected to fuel not just the property sector but…
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Housing prices are predicted to rise by more than 5% next year in a landmark real estate report issued by Westpac NZ. Its chief economist Kelly Eckhold says in his latest report that prices should remain stable for the rest of this year and are unlikely to rise sharply in the spring selling season. “Investor…
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