SHOCK: Average asking price drops $24,500 in just four weeks | TRADE ME

Newly-released figures from Trade Me have revealed New Zealand is seeing its largest drop in property prices on record.

The figures show the national average asking price saw a record-breaking drop in June – falling 3 percent, or $24,500 in just four weeks, to $925,150.

New Zealand’s average asking price hadn’t been that low since October last year.

The only regions to buck the trends were Otago and Taranaki, which saw their average prices jump by 2 percent.

“After creeping closer to the $1 million mark over the past 12 months, we’re now seeing the national average asking price retreat, sitting significantly lower than the all-time high of $971,450 we saw in March,” Trade Me Property sales director Gavin Lloyd said.

“In the Auckland region, the average asking price fell 4 percent month-on-month, while the Wellington region was not far behind with a 3 percent drop.

“Going forward we may see prices drop even further if supply remains high and demand is comparatively low, which will be music to the ears of those looking to buy around the country.”

Treasury’s Budget economic and fiscal update in May showed house prices were expected to rise by 5.8 percent this year before dropping by 2.5 percent in 2023. That follows an increase of 29.7 percent last year.

“With supply surging for three months in a row, buyers are no longer feeling the pressure and can afford to take their time and look at their options,” Lloyd said.

Rising interest rates and inflationary pressures have been contributing to cooling the housing market, experts have said. The Reserve Bank last week hiked the official cash rate by 50 basis points to 2.5 percent – its sixth-successive interest rate rise.

On Wednesday, the Real Estate Institue of New Zealand said regions including Wellington, Hawke’s Bay and Manawatu/Whanganui had seen annual decreases in national median house prices.

Additionally, CoreLogic data earlier this month showed national median property values fell month-on-month by 0.8 percent in June.