Greens call for capital gains tax

The Green Party has called for a capital gains tax to bring the New Zealand dollar under control. Co-leader Russel Norman said the high dollar had meant a loss of jobs in the export sector.
07-10-2012 more >>

Digital TV a tenant's responsibility: DBH

Switching to digital television is a tenant’s responsibility, according to the Department of Building and Housing.
05-10-2012 more >>

Hospice house sale beats price expectations

Hospice West Auckland sold its Woodford Avenue, Henderson, property for $830,000 more than its rateable value.
05-10-2012 more >>

MPIA Meeting October 2012

Quiz Night!! Come and join us tonight to test your knowledge in our trivia quiz!! For a change we will cover a wide range of topics on everything but property! Come with a team of 6 people, or just join a team on the night. Visitors are also welcome at no cost. PRIZES, NIBBLES AND DRINKS PROVIDED, AND PLENTY OF FUN GUARANTEED!
03-10-2012 more >>

Auckland house prices drop: Barfoot

Auckland house prices rises have stalled, according to Barfoot and Thompson. The agency reported that the average price fell 1.1% in September compared to the month before, to $585,838.
03-10-2012 more >>

Auckland inventory at five-year low

The number of houses for sale in Auckland is at a five-year low, Realestate.co.nz says.
02-10-2012 more >>

NZPIF rejects call for Rental Property WOF

The Childrens’ Commissioner established the grandly titled “Experts Advisory Group on Solutions to Child Poverty” in March this year. This group has recently produced its first report which included a number of proposals that the group claimed were “ambitious, but they are also realistic, cost-effective, based on evidence, and take into account New Zealand's economic and fiscal context”.
01-10-2012 more >>

Fewer sweeteners in industrial deals: Bayleys

Commercial landlords are cutting down on the incentives they offer their industrial tenants, according to Bayleys.
01-10-2012 more >>

Heat off rents in some parts of Auckland

Auckland’s rental crisis appears to be easing off, with statistics showing rents in some areas dropping compared to the year before.
01-10-2012 more >>

Little change in construction rates

An increase in the number of houses built in the South Island last month was offset by a fall in building numbers in the North Island, according to Statistics New Zealand’s latest data, out today.
28-09-2012 more >>

Leasehold apartments selling at bargain rates

Leasehold concerns are behind discount sales of Auckland apartments, according to real estate salespeople. It was reported today that a three-bedroom penthouse apartment on leasehold land on the waterfront of the Auckland CBD was sold of $330,000 – roughly half its CV of $625,000.
28-09-2012 more >>

Business as usual for National Bank home loan customers: ANZ

Home loan applications submitted to National Bank will be processed as normal and pending approvals will be honoured as the bank is absorbed by ANZ. It was announced yesterday that the National Bank brand will be scrapped in a process starting next month.
27-09-2012 more >>

Investors return to Auckland CBD

The proportion of investors planning to buy apartments in Auckland’s CBD is slowly increasing, according to Crockers research. Respondents to its latest survey have signalled the Auckland CBD and its surrounds are the areas most likely to experience growth in prices in the short term.
27-09-2012 more >>

Mortgagee sales most likely in Auckland: Crockers

Higher Auckland prices are making servicing a mortgage much harder for Auckland families, Crockers latest research shows. Through 2012, mortgagee sales have been at record levels, running at a rate of 85 per month – 30 of which are in Auckland.
26-09-2012 more >>

Jones' settlement goes in ex-wife's favour

Former Richmastery head Phil Jones must pay his ex-wife $588,602. The couple left for the United States four years ago and Corinna Jones departed the business 11 months later, when the couple split.
25-09-2012 more >>

Banks eye long-term customers

Banks’ fight for customers continues with mortgage approvals topping $1 billion for the 22nd straight week in the week ended September 14. Reserve Bank figures show 6442 mortgages were approved in the week, worth $1.059 billion.
24-09-2012 more >>

Prices acquire extra importance

Economists are watching house prices with extra interest since it was announced that the Reserve Bank will now have to take asset prices into account in setting the Official Cash Rate.
24-09-2012 more >>

Auckland 'still affordable'

First-home buyers can get on to the property ladder in Auckland if they adjust their expectations, says the city’s property investors association president, David Whitburn.
21-09-2012 more >>

Interest rates drive investors into property: Alexander

More investors will choose to put their money into even quite expensive properties as interest rates remain low, says BNZ chief economist Tony Alexander.
21-09-2012 more >>

RBNZ targets house prices

The new Reserve Bank Governor must increase the OCR if house prices rise rapidly, even if inflation is on target. Finance Minister Bill English and RBNZ Governor-Designate Graeme Wheeler signed a new Policy Targets Agreement (PTA) yesterday. The Reserve Bank Act states that the Governor is accountable for maintaining price stability.
21-09-2012 more >>

Trade Me analysis shows quakes' impact

An analysis of the listings on Trade Me shows the huge impact the Christchurch earthquakes have had on market behaviour across the region, says ANZ.
20-09-2012 more >>

Water is landlords' responsibility: APIA

Auckland Property Investors Association president David Whitburn says he’s pleased to have an answer to the water charge debate, even if it wasn’t the one he wanted.
20-09-2012 more >>

Don't rush to no-reserve auctions: Helm

Vendors planning to follow in the footsteps of the Hamilton real estate agent who sold his investment property at a no-reserve auction should be very careful. That’s from property commentator Alistair Helm.
19-09-2012 more >>

ANZ: No OCR increase until 2014

ANZ says in its latest Property Focus that it agrees with the Reserve Bank’s assessment that house price growth will be limited by households’ reduced appetite for debt.
18-09-2012 more >>

Salespeople return to industry

Real estate agents are returning to the industry as the housing market heats up, but numbers are still well below their 2008 peak.
17-09-2012 more >>