The Government is proposing changes to the Financial Assistance Package available under the Weathertight Homes Resolution Services Act to provide clarity of eligibility that will help more owners of leaky homes access assistance, Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith announced today.

The start of construction on Albany Rose Gardens’ apartments - the largest residential development in the country - was officially celebrated on Friday 6th March at Westfield Mall, Albany.

A spectacular clifftop mansion built by a former high-flying property developer - but unlived in for the past 10 years - has been placed on the market for sale.

With the housing shortage reaching ever-increasing highs in Auckland and Christchurch, BNZ is piloting a service to provide specialist support to those building new homes. The BNZ Housing Under Construction Hub, provides specialised service and expert advice to customers building new homes.

Auckland property financier James Kellow says many of the best commercial properties in and around Auckland are now selling well below the ‘standard’ seven percent capitalisation rate.

More than $15 billion worth of building work was carried out in 2014, Statistics New Zealand said today. The latest value was $2.8 billion higher than in 2013, a 23 percent rise.

Provisional residential data from New Zealand’s largest real estate group, Harcourts for the month of February shows that the average property price in Auckland/Northland is at a 12 month high of $767,254.

All 91 apartments in the residential development, Hopetoun Residences on Ponsonby’s doorstep have sold out six months ahead of completion.

The average asking price of homes for sale in New Zealand during February was $511,421 according to the latest monthly data from Realestate.co.nz, marking the first time that sellers’ expectations have pushed the asking price above the half million dollar threshold.

The only word to describe the latest building consent figures for Auckland is ‘tragic’, Labour’s Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford says. "Whatever the Government is doing to address the Auckland housing crisis, it is clearly not working.

The number of new dwellings consented was 3.6 percent higher in January 2015, compared with January 2014, Statistics New Zealand said today. Excluding apartments, this number was 6.8 percent lower.

Property Institute of New Zealand Chief Executive, Ashley Church, is calling for the Reserve Banks Loan-to-value mortgage restrictions to be scrapped in the regions claiming that they are having an ‘unreasonable and adverse impact’ on first home buyers in provincial towns and cities.

Lodge Real Estate’s managing director, Jeremy O’Rourke, said today that January house sales were extremely strong and a great indicator of a buoyant year ahead for Hamilton’s residential market.

Canterbury’s ethnic make-up is set to take on a distinctively Asian-feel - with a growing number of Chinese migrants and investors buying homes in the province.

Twelve more Special Housing Areas (SHAs) have been approved in Auckland, Tauranga City and the Western Bay of Plenty District, bringing the total to 100 since the Housing Accords legislation was passed 16 months ago, Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith announced today.

Property Institute of New Zealand Chief Executive, Ashley Church, has urged Auckland home owners not to panic about the value of their properties.

Paula Bennett and John Key are sending out conflicting messages on whether the Government will build more social housing with the proceeds of its state house sell off, says Labour’s Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford.

Provisional data from New Zealand’s largest real estate group, Harcourts shows that the residential housing supply in Auckland/Northland continues to tighten with new listings down 18.2% and property on hand down 4.5% compared to last year.

Houses across New Zealand decreased in affordability by 14.1 per cent over the 12 months ending November 2014, according to the latest Massey University Home Affordability Report - and on current trends Auckland’s lack of affordability could reach historic levels.

Statement from Property Council NZ Auckland house prices will continue being outrageously high if Auckland Council doesn’t treat the housing supply shortage seriously in its rulebook.

2014 was a year of mixed sentiment in the residential property market It was a stop start year for residential property values with some flat periods due to uncertainty associated with the LVR speed limits, interest rate hikes and an election, along with periods of rapid value increases in some a

Building consents for new dwellings hit a seven-year high in November, Statistics New Zealand said today. In unadjusted terms, 2,420 new dwellings were consented in November (including 474 apartments).

The average asking price of houses for sale in December remained at high levels across the country, while inventory of available homes for sale declined reaching record low levels in Auckland.

Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith is welcoming new consumer protections that will require builders to have written contracts, provide information on their relevant skills, experience and qualifications, and disclose their insurance and warranty cover from tomorrow.

In a move to protect homeowners, the Government will from the start of 2015, require builders to keep and produce written records of any residential work valued at over $30,000.

A sustainable housing development in Hastings has reached a new milestone, with the first of eleven solar PV equipped new-builds complete and open as a show home.

The Housing in Auckland report paints an extremely bleak picture for families in the Pacific community who are being hit hard by the housing crisis, says Su’a William Sio, Labour’s Pacific Island Affairs spokesperson.

Auckland’s housing has changed markedly over the past two decades as the city reacts to its growing population, with more multi-storey homes, greater density, and fewer unoccupied homes all making it very different to the rest of the country, according to the latest research from Statistics New

Housing became significantly less affordable in November, according to the Roost Home Loan Affordability Index.

An overwhelming nine out of ten New Zealanders rate good sun and insulation as ‘important’ or ‘very important’ when choosing a new home - far outweighing other factors.