Century 21 stories
First-home buyers are returning to lenders as looser loan-to-value rules give them more room to qualify for a mortgage.
First home buyers are showing renewed interest as easing lending rules and softer prices create opportunities in New Zealand’s slow market.
First-home buyers could find it easier to secure mortgages as lending limits are raised from 1 June, easing pressure on banks.
Mortgage rates may already be near their peak, but new borrowers still face tough affordability tests and repricing pressure for months.
Sales and listings fell sharply in cyclone-hit regions, even as nationwide housing stock returned to more normal levels in February.
Rising borrowing costs and tax changes are pushing more landlords to lift rents or exit the residential market, a survey found.
Higher rates and recession fears are keeping sales weak, but buyers are reappearing as inventory swells and price falls slow.
Sales rose nearly 8% in November, offering a rare sign of resilience as New Zealand’s median house price fell 12.4% year on year.
Higher borrowing costs are pushing first-home buyers towards brokers as the Reserve Bank lifts the Official Cash Rate to 4.25%.
Higher rates and living costs are keeping sales subdued, even as more first-home buyers and bidders return to spring open homes.
Desirable school zones are propping up prices and fuelling buyer demand as families hunt for homes with stronger future resale prospects.
Softening house prices could tempt vendors to go private, but agents still deliver about 15% more on average, Century 21 says.
Demand is still holding up this winter, with first-home buyers helped by easier deposit rules and lending changes despite softer sales.
Lower entry-level house prices and wider government support are nudging first-home buyers closer to ownership despite rising rates.
Higher borrowing costs are cooling sales and slowing price growth, with more than half of NZ mortgages set to reset this year.
First-home buyers are feeling the pinch as tighter lending rules help push New Zealand’s median house price down 1.6% in December.
Record rents are keeping first-home buyers in the market, with mortgage payments still cheaper than paying to rent for many Kiwis.
Record-low losses and near-universal gains in New Zealand’s housing market are being driven by tight supply, strong demand and cheap borrowing.
New Zealand’s median house price climbed by NZD $100,000 in October, with 10 regions hitting record highs amid tight supply and strong demand.
Borrowers can now use Bitcoin as deposit security for Australian homes, potentially avoiding forced sales and tax hits in a volatile market.
