Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) stories
Investor demand is set to ease as tax changes and tighter lending curbs threaten to cool the market, though prices are still rising fast.
Vacancy rose across Auckland and Wellington offices, shops and warehouses in 2020, but low rates and investor demand kept yields firm.
The package aims to boost supply and help first-home buyers, but experts warn it may not curb soaring prices or fix shortages quickly.
Home buyers could gain from easier grants, while investors face a tougher tax regime and rents may rise as a result.
Auckland developers are finding stronger demand and easier consents as housing shortages, low rates and relaxed zoning reshape the market.
Sales surged 14.6% year on year in February as buyers rushed to secure homes before loan-to-value restrictions returned in March.
LVR curbs and tighter investor lending are expected to cool New Zealand house prices, after Tauranga posted a monthly fall.
Average household incomes rose just 1.3% last quarter, leaving New Zealand house prices at their least affordable level since records began in 2004.
New Zealand’s housing market remained brisk in January despite a modest month-on-month price fall, with sales and auctions both at multi-year highs.
House prices are likely to cool after the Reserve Bank reinstated loan-to-value curbs from 1 March amid stability concerns.
New Zealand home values rose 2.2% in January as tight supply and low rates drove a rebound in Christchurch, Auckland and Queenstown.
Possible tighter rules could curb investor demand as mortgaged buyers regain a 27% share of the housing market, CoreLogic says.
House buyers and investors face tighter mortgage rules from 1 March as the Reserve Bank warns high-LVR lending is rising again.
Record shortages of homes for sale are fuelling the pressure, with New Zealand’s median house price climbing to a fresh high for the fourth month.
Low rates, fiscal stimulus and reopening borders should support New Zealand property values in 2021, though office and retail risks remain.
New Zealand’s housing boom lifted values in almost every main centre, with Auckland now boasting 117 suburbs above the NZD $1 million mark.
A shortage of homes for sale is fuelling record house prices and leaving buyers with fewer options, despite the busiest November in 13 years.
Affordability is worsening for first-time buyers as house prices outpace incomes, deepening the housing divide and fuelling political pressure.
Listings fell to record lows as buyers pushed Auckland’s median house price to GBP £1 million and nationwide sales hit a 14-year October high.
BNZ to migrate applications to Microsoft Azure Cloud as part of data center partnership, says executive general manager Russell Jones. #BNZ #Microsoft.