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 >>
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 >>
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 contextâ€. 01-10-2012 more >>
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 >>
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 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 >>
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 >>
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 >>
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 >>
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’ 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 >>
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 >>
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 >>
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 >>
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 >>
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 >>
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 >>
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 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 >>
Property investment is not for everyone and those who understand it should look out for their less savvy friends and family, says BNZ chief economist Tony Alexander. 14-09-2012 more >>
