Professionalism and Profitability

Having recently re-let a rental property, some of the comments from prospective tenants made me think about the service level of some rental property providers. Our rental was a nice place in nice condition and somewhere I would happily live. But it was by no means a mansion. It had not been renovated or improved for some time and we had just provided some basic extra cleaning in addition to the previous tenant’s efforts.
01-04-2012 more >>

POLITICAL & REGULATORY REPORT for March 2012

Updates on Housing, Capital Gains Tax, the Super Ministry and the Welfare Bill.
31-03-2012 more >>

Housing consents down in February

Housing consents fell 6.7% in February after an 8.1% rise the month before, but Statistics New Zealand said the overall consents trend remains upward.
30-03-2012 more >>

Rise, stall then fall predicted for house prices

House prices will rise 5% this year before higher interest rates put the brakes on, and the rapid price rises in Auckland and Christchurch will not be repeated elsewhere.
28-03-2012 more >>

Nationwide home affordability improves

Auckland has retained its position as the least affordable location to buy a house in New Zealand, according to the latest Massey University Home Affordability Report.
28-03-2012 more >>

Development obstacles helping push rents up

Difficulties securing finance, council red tape and the imminent depreciation changes are acting as disincentives to rental property development at the same time as shortages are driving up rents.
28-03-2012 more >>

Auckland suburbs buck nationwide static price trend

The latest Crockers Auckland sales price table revealed that despite the large year-on-year increase in both nationwide and Auckland sales, prices are up just 1%.
22-03-2012 more >>

Rental crisis hampering Christchurch rebuild

The Christchurch rebuild is being hampered by a severe lack of rental accommodation, according to a Real Estate Institute (REINZ) survey.
19-03-2012 more >>

Joyce defends ‘more efficient' Super Ministry

Property Investors have questioned why the Department of Building and Housing (DBH) will be merged with the ministries of Economic Development, Labour and Science and Innovation.
17-03-2012 more >>

DBH merger plans 'ideologically driven and dangerous'

Plans to merge the Department of Building and Housing (DBH) into a ‘Super Ministry' have been branded as ideologically driven and dangerous for the county's building, housing and construction sectors.
17-03-2012 more >>

NZPIF slams ‘Super Ministry' plans

Plans to fold the Department of Building and Housing (DBH) into a new Super Ministry "may disadvantage everyone in the rental industry," claim the Property Investors Federation (NZPIF).
16-03-2012 more >>

King calls for talks with Ministers over ‘bombshell’ DBH plans

UPDATE: New Zealand Property Investors Federation (NZPIF) president Andrew King plans urgent talks with Government Ministers to get answers about the proposed merger of the Department of Building and Housing (DBH).
16-03-2012 more >>

DBH to be merged into new Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

Property investors are surprised and concerned about the implications of the Department of Building and Housing being merged with the ministries of Labour, Economic Development and Science and Innovation.
15-03-2012 more >>

Auckland rent crisis at record high

Auckland's rental crisis has intensified - average weekly rent for a three-bedroom house has jumped $55 in a month and rents in popular suburbs have risen 25 per cent in the last year.
14-03-2012 more >>

REINZ Regional round-up

The REINZ Regional Report reveals just two regions failed to record double-digit sales growth on last year.
13-03-2012 more >>

Mortgagee sales hit record levels

Ombudsman Deborah Battell says New Zealanders need to be aware of what might happen if they can't service their mortgage payments and how they can help themselves.
13-03-2012 more >>

February sales hit four-year high

Figures from the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) revealed there were 6,168 unconditional sales in February 2012, up 37% or 1,666 sales compared to the same month last year.
13-03-2012 more >>

Prices up but value growth ‘very modest,' says QV

Nationwide values are up 1.1% over the past three months, 2.9% up over the past year and are now 2.9% below the previous market peak of late 2007.
13-03-2012 more >>

Another Ha company goes belly up

Another company owned by Don Ha has been placed into liquidation, the latest in a string of company collapses for the self-styled property king.
06-03-2012 more >>

Govt pays $600m to repair state houses

State houses are costing about $3000 a year each to repair and maintain.
05-03-2012 more >>

Auckland sales soar in February but price growth muted

Auckland saw the largest number of house sales in the February month for five years but listings remain low and price rises modest, according to Barfoot & Thompson.
05-03-2012 more >>

Your dream home: Buying vs building

Home ownership has long been the New Zealand dream, and many of us are turning that fantasy into reality.
05-03-2012 more >>

Building activity picks up from historic low

Residential building work and the Canterbury reconstruction helped building activity increase 2.9% in the December quarter from the previous quarter's decade-low.
05-03-2012 more >>

February sees leap in sales and asking price

New property listings in February were up 58% from January and the national average asking price hit $426,575 - a 3% rise on the same time last year, according to Realestate.co.nz.
01-03-2012 more >>

Should you be putting your rents up?

There has been quite a bit of media attention on increasing rental prices recently. This is a common occurrence at this time of the year, as many people are change their circumstances in the new year and University Students are coming back at the start of the new academic year. But does that mean we can all put our prices up?
01-03-2012 more >>