The trend for the number of new dwellings consented is at its highest level since August 2007, Statistics New Zealand said today.

Wellington City Council yesterday approved eight special housing areas (SHAs) and qualifying development criteria under the Wellington Housing Accord.

The Waimahia Inlet is a step in the right direction for community housing to deliver 20% of New Zealand’s social and affordable housing by 2020, says Community Housing Aotearoa.

Community Housing Aotearoa is commending Presbyterian Support Otago for shining the spotlight on the deteriorating quality of the private rental market in Dunedin.

The PCNZ/IPD New Zealand Quarterly Property Index Q2 2014 results, released today, showed a total return of 11.1% for the year-ending June 2014. This was comprised of 7.7% income return and 3.1% capital growth.

Treasury advised against National’s policy of ramping up home buyer subsidies after it was discredited in Australia because it pushed house prices even higher, Labour’s Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford says.

Homebuyers have been given a compelling argument to choose a new build over major renovations, with the latest Registered Master Builder House of the Year results.

The National Party’s housing policy correctly focuses on assisting a first home buyer to raise the deposit to build a new home.

Data released today by the Real Estate Institute of NZ ("REINZ") shows there were 74 more farm sales (+16.9%) for the three months ended July 2014 than for the three months ended July 2013.

Housing Accords in Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty have been agreed by Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith and local mayors Ross Patterson and Stuart Crosby today that will provide an additional 1175 new homes and sections over the next two years.

"Make sure you get your house correctly valued." That from a Christchurch Quantity Surveyor who says repeated warnings around House Sum Insured valuations, are not being heeded by homeowners.

Provisional housing market update August 2014, Auckland and Northland.

The trend for the number of new dwellings consented is at its highest level since August 2007, Statistics New Zealand said today.

The freshened Territory will arrive in New Zealand in early 2015 with a more modern look with the space and functionality that helped it spur Australia and New Zealand’s SUV trend that continues today.

Selwyn district continues to figure strongly in Canterbury’s rebuild and economic growth.

Property Council supports the Government’s new measures to aid the Christchurch rebuild. Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has announced 1,100 government staff across 13 agencies will move back into the Christchurch CBD by 2016.

The two-track housing market that has developed under National is underlined in QV’s latest report, Labour’s Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford says.

The number of Auckland households in urgent and serious need of housing has increased tenfold since March 2012, Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei said today.

Property values still rising in Auckland while nationwide picture is mixed The latest monthly QV Residential Price Movement Index shows that nationwide residential property values for June have increased 8.0% over the past year, and 2.1% over the past three months.

There are no winners in news today that housing affordability has deteriorated again, says Labour’s Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford.

Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith today welcomed the latest Statistics New Zealand figures showing the number of new dwellings consented is at its highest level since 2007.

Home loan affordability worsened slightly across most of New Zealand in May as a rise in interest rates more than offset a small fall in median house prices.

Ohariu MP and Leader of UnitedFuture Hon Peter Dunne welcomed today’s joint announcement between the Government and Wellington City Council to open up more areas for housing in the Wellington region.

The average asking price of homes remains at record levels, not only in Auckland but across the country, according to Realestate.co.nz, the website with New Zealand’s largest number of homes for sale.

There were 529 residential sales in the Northern Region in May, which is down by 6.7% on the same time in 2013, but an increase of 13.2% compared to April’s sales.

A new community development promises to revolutionise the way local people buy property - making property costs more transparent and prices more affordable.

The latest monthly QV Residential Price Movement Index shows that nationwide residential property values for May have increased 8.2% over the past year, and 0.7% over the past three months. This means they are now 13.9% above the previous market peak of late 2007.

Both residential and non-residential building activity volumes grew strongly in the March 2014 quarter, Statistics New Zealand said today. "Overall building activity increased 16 percent in the March 2014 quarter," business indicators manager Neil Kelly said.

Provisional residential data from New Zealand’s largest real estate group Harcourts for the month of May shows house prices remain steady, with the average sales price now sitting at $688,209 in the Northern Region. This is up 11% on the same time last year.

The unassuming provincial city of Gisborne is vying for the title of New Zealand’s hottest residential property investment destination - with a three bedroom ‘renter’ in the city selling this month to an out-of-town investor for a return of almost 15 percent.