photo: Wikimedia Commons
National residential property sales in New Zealand continued to gradually increase and hit four-year highs, but prices and sales in provincial are sluggish and slide back again, according to the latest data reported by state-owned property valuer Quotable Value (QV).
The latest QV monthly index indicate that values have risen 1.1% over the past three months and are now 2.7% above the same time last year, and 3.3% below the previous market peak of late 2007.
"While national values are continuing to increase, this is not universal across the country. While the combined main urban areas and combined rural areas have increased over the past few months, the combined provincial areas have begun to slide back again" said QV.co.nz Research Director, Jonno Ingerson.
"there appears to be a little more market activity since the New Year, with signs that decisions made over the holiday break are now being put into action. However potential buyers remain cautious and calculated and are often unwilling to commit quickly". He added.
"The increase in values in many areas, particularly central Auckland, can in part be attributed to a lack of supply, with a shortage of desirable and well presented properties for sale. When quality properties come up for sale in these areas they are in high demand which is tending to push the price up" said Ingerson.
Values in the Auckland area are increasing the fastest of any of the main centres, up 2.1% over the past three months and up 5.1% over the past year. Values are above the previous market peak by 1.9%.
The old Auckland City continues to be the strongest performing area within Auckland, up 2.7% over the last three months, up 7.2% over the year, and is now 4.4% above the previous market peak.
North Shore has shown slightly slower value growth but is still up 4.0% over the year and 0.9% above peak. Across the rest of Auckland values are up over the last year by between 2.5% (in Franklin) to 3.2% (in Waitakere) with the exception of Rodney where values have been volatile over the past few years and now sit 1.6% above last year.
Values in Hamilton have once again stabilised in the past few months in what is probably a long-term trend. This follows a slight short-lived recovery in late 2011. Values are now 0.5% above the same time last year and 11.0% below the 2007 market peak.
In general, Tauranga values have been increasing very gradually over the past year, up 1.1% over that period, but remain 10.9% below the 2007 market peak.
"Tauranga has started 2012 well with a good level of activity in the market. This is perhaps even a little more than expected but in line with what has happened this time of year in years gone by. While activity has improved though, prices have remained stagnant". said QV Valuer Shayne Donovan-Grammer.
Over the past year, values in the Wellington area first fell a few percent, then recovered most of those losses since mid 2011, leaving current values just 0.4% below the same time last year and 6.2% below the 2007 market peak.
"Despite increased market activity, prices are generally quite static throughout Wellington. Properties in the lower price brackets are meeting the greatest demand although it is still important for all sellers to present their properties well and to price them sensibly" said QV Valuer Kerry Buckeridge.
Values continue to increase in Christchurch, as they have been doing since just after the February 2011 earthquake, and are now 3.7% above the same time last year and just 0.7% below the 2007 market peak. The areas immediately surrounding Christchurch have continued to show strong value growth, with Waimakariri District 10.5% up over the year and 5.2% above the 2007 peak, and Selwyn District 8.7% up over the year and 5.3% above the 2007 peak.
"Areas like the north west of Christchurch continue to benefit from good demand from purchasers. Open homes are busy and resulting in a multiple offer situations for the vendors. This is particularly the case for houses in under $400,000 with demand being fuelled by a steady stream of payouts to red zone home owners". Said QV Valuer Richard Kolff.
In Dunedin values have been increasing since August 2011 and are now 3.4% up over the past twelve months and 4.2% below the 2007 peak.
"The Dunedin property market is seeing increased outside investment due to the affordability of Dunedin values. Buyers are becoming more active and we are seeing some multiple offer scenarios occurring. The lower to mid bracket properties are the most popular with increased demand stimulating the growth shown". QV Valuer Tim Gibson explained.
SOURCE Quotable Value Limited
