A market study into residential construction costs has been released today for public input by the Government.

The latest monthly property value index shows that nationwide residential values increased further in April. Values are up 4.0% above the previous market peak of late 2007, with a 1.3% increase over the past three months and a 7.1% increase over the past year.

House price expectations have reached a new high in the latest ASB Housing Confidence Survey. A net 63% of respondents now expect prices to rise over the next 12 months, exceeding the previous peak of net 61% recorded in January 2003.

Judges of the Registered Master Builders 2013 House of the Year competition have hit the road this week, embarking on a tour of New Zealand to assess this year’s residential building talent.

The average asking price of vendors for properties around New Zealand reached a new all time high in April.

Data released today by the Real Estate Institute of NZ ("REINZ") shows there were 21 fewer farm sales (-5.3%) for the three months ended March 2013 than for the three months ended March 2012.

Most New Zealanders report no major problems with their homes, but others are finding them cold, damp, or small, Statistics New Zealand said today.

Five (5) homes with price tags of over one million dollars sold in Hamilton during March 2013. This compares to only eight (8) homes of similar value selling during the entire 2012 calendar year.

The latest monthly property value index shows that nationwide residential values increased further in March. Values are up 3.3% above the previous market peak of late 2007, with a 1.3% increase over the past three months and a 6.5% increase over the past year.

Two new health reports identifying damp housing as one of the root causes of child illness is further evidence of the need to extend the successful Warm Up New Zealand insulation scheme, Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei said today.