The volume of homes sold by the country's largest real estate agency was up strongly in most parts of the country in November although they declined slightly in Christchurch.
Harcourts sold 2,085 homes in November, up 9.7% compared with October and 13.8% ahead of November last year.
The biggest increases in sales were in the North Island, led by Auckland where sales were up 24.7% compared with November last year, followed by the central North Island (up 22.3%) and Wellington (up 16.9%).
However the 444 homes Harcourts sold in Christchurch, where it is the largest real estate agency by far, was virtually unchanged from the 442 it sold in October and 3.1% below the 458 it sold in November last year.
The number of new Christchurch listings the agency received in November was up 11% compared with November last year while the total listings it had on its books in the city was up 28.2% on a year earlier.
Harcourts chief executive Hayden Duncan said the market was easing slightly in Christchurch as post earthquake construction activity kicked in and newly built homes started coming on to the market.
Average selling prices were up in all regions except the central North Island where they fell in November compared to both October this year and November last year.
The average selling was $709,823 in Auckland, $387,566 in Wellington and $488,520 in Christchurch.
See Harcourts' November sales figures for the entire country here.
------------------------------------------------------
Our new free Property email newsletter brings you all the stories about residential and commercial property and the forces that move these huge markets. Sign up here.
To subscribe to our Property newsletter, enter your email address here. It's free.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 Comments
In regards to Christchurch approximately 4 out of every 5 houses for sale are sitting empty. These houses are usually repaired or repairable with the latter picking up the insurances. This empty rate is being completely ignored by media, real estate agents and most buyers.
There is a reason they are empty. Many people have worked out there are problems with these sort of houses, even if they are 'repaired'. The problems are hidden and even the vendor can not be aware of them specifically. Problems that might take decades to show up.
You aint seen nothin' yet... China government investment is coming and prices in Auckland are going to go ballistic... then as the dairy farmers start going to the wall, the Chinese 'investors' will be buying up large... Then when we are totally Chinese owned and controlled from Beijing, Kiwis will say "what the heck happened?"
And as you start screaming "racist" at me... you need to know this... I think immigration is a good thing, from everywhere, China included. Welcome,welcome to you all, come be Kiwis... But the country of China is on the ascendancy and is colonising (yeah, deep down you know it) and as their so called 'ghost cities' fill through mass urbanisation, so the PRC will need to feed those 'ghosts'... ah New Zealand, the land of milk and honey (and water- they're running out don't you know?)
Mark my words.... that blanket and musket they paid won't be worth much then, will they? Hmmm... I get the feeling this may have happened before.... or isit just my imagination???
We welcome your comments below. If you are not already registered, please register to comment.
Remember we welcome robust, respectful and insightful debate. We don't welcome abusive or defamatory comments and will de-register those repeatedly making such comments. Our current comment policy is here.