Property market on hold

New Zealand’s property market is stuck in a hiatus, trapped between strong migration and price expectations on one hand and the introduction of LVR restrictions and an impending hike in the official cash rate on the other, ANZ’s economists say.
23-12-2013 more >>

First-home buyers still absent: Survey

First-home buyers are still noticeably absent from the market, the latest REINZ/BNZ survey of real estate agents shows. A net 77% of agents are seeing fewer of them in the market.
16-12-2013 more >>

Alexander: Too early to claim impact on lending

Home loan approvals have reached a new post-LVR restriction high, but BNZ chief economist Tony Alexander says it’s too soon to conclude that the rules have not slowed lending growth.
06-12-2013 more >>

First-home buyers giving up: Survey

Real estate agents say first-home buyers are deserting the market as the loan-to-value restrictions take effect. In the latest BNZ/REINZ survey of real estate agents, 78% said they were seeing fewer first-home buyers than in the previous month.
14-11-2013 more >>

Young people more interested in investing: Alexander

Young people are turning into investors rather than first-home buyers because of the loan-to-value restrictions, BNZ chief economist Tony Alexander says.
25-10-2013 more >>

RBNZ predicts turnover drop

The Reserve Bank expects sales volume to drop by about 5% due to the loan-to-value speed limit restrictions it introduced this month.
10-10-2013 more >>

QV predicts activity flurry

QV is expecting a short-term flurry of activity as people who have been preapproved for loans get their housing deals done.
09-10-2013 more >>

LVR move worries investors

Property investors are wary about the possible impact of new loan-to-value restrictions, the latest ANZ Property Investment Survey shows.
07-10-2013 more >>

LVR restrictions 'could spark complaints'

The Banking Ombudsman is expecting the new loan-to-value speed limits to cause a spike in mortgage-related issues. The restrictions came into force yesterday and require banks to keep their low-deposit lending to no more than 10% of their new loans.
02-10-2013 more >>

Short-term LVR effect predicted

The housing market will hesitate for a few weeks once the loan-to-value speed limits are introduced tomorrow before getting back into business as usual, property commentator Olly Newland says.
30-09-2013 more >>

Alexander: Rules will push up regional house prices

Loan-to-value restrictions may boost other parts of the New Zealand property market as buyers turn their attention away from Auckland, says BNZ chief economist Tony Alexander.
22-08-2013 more >>

First-home buyers rush in

First-home buyers are scrambling to get in before LVR restrictions kick in, one broker says. It is believed that the Reserve Bank will introduce a “speed limit” on the amount of low-deposit lending banks do, probably at the end of September.
13-08-2013 more >>

Newland: Buyers will find a way around restrictions

Loan-to-value restrictions won’t really make any difference to people who really want to buy a house, property commentator Olly Newland says.
24-07-2013 more >>

Investors told: Be careful

Interest rates will eventually have to rise a lot more than people are thinking because loan-to-value restrictions will not have the expected consequences, BNZ chief economist Tony Alexander says.
21-06-2013 more >>

'Price rises have a while to go yet'

House prices are likely to rise for the next three years, says BNZ chief economist Tony Alexander.
18-06-2013 more >>

Buyers giving up: Survey

Buyers are despairing of ever being able to find a property, according to the latest BNZ/REINZ survey of real estate agents.
13-05-2013 more >>

Tackle foreign buyers now: Alexander

Concern about foreign buyers snapping up properties is purely an Auckland issue, says BNZ chief economist Tony Alexander, but it needs to be acted on now.
11-04-2013 more >>