PHOTO: RNZ/GETTY
The real estate market is gradually recovering, but homeowners aiming to sell for substantial profits this year might face disappointment. The National party’s pledge to reintroduce foreign buyers into the market had luxury homeowners hopeful, but these expectations were shattered when New Zealand First, their coalition partner, abandoned the plan.
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According to real estate agent Caleb Paterson, luxury sales in Auckland witnessed a nearly 70% decline in the last quarter, resulting in a $1.5 billion drop in 2023 compared to the previous year. Despite this setback, Paterson expresses optimism for the current year, citing homeowners’ newfound certainty and confidence to engage in market activities.
The housing market experienced a mixed performance in 2023 due to high interest rates tempering demand and supply shortages maintaining a tight market. ASB’s year-end housing market report reveals that, for the initial 18 months, more New Zealanders anticipated rising house prices rather than a decline. The bank’s chief economist, Nathaniel Keall, attributes this sentiment to recent data indicating increasing prices, strong net migration, a slight decline in construction, and nearing peak interest rates.
Home loan rates have surged from under 3% to 6.5-8.5%, leading mortgage brokers to describe the year as a rollercoaster. Some individuals are grappling with the impact of this rapid increase, colloquially referred to as “sticker shock.”
Treasury projects a 5% uptick in house prices in 2024, with expectations of a significant surge in property listings and market activity around February and March, according to My Money director Stephen Robertson. Keall, however, emphasizes that the bank does not foresee the extreme price increases witnessed in the previous upswing.