Harcourts' September sales suggest a steady start to spring as national average selling price rises, sales volumes flat

The country's largest real estate agency reported flat sales in September and an uptick in average prices.

Harcourts sold 1742 residential properties in September, exactly the same number as in September last year. 

New listings and total stock numbers were also little changed, with the agency reporting 2211 new listings in September, up 1.7% from September last year, while it had a total of 6079 properties available for sale at the end of September, down just 0.7% compared to the same month of last year.

Prices were the big mover for the month, with Harcourts' national average selling price rising to $607,089 in September, up 5.9% compared to a year ago and up 6.3% compared to August this year.

However Harcourts' average prices can be volatile from month to month so need to be treated with caution.

In Auckland sales volumes were down 4.3% on a year ago while the average selling prices rose strongly to $1,017,551 in September compared to $857,184 in August and $936, 217 in September last year.

A similar trend was evident in the Wellington region, where September's sales volumes were down 4.9% compared to a year earlier while the average selling price increased to $492,957 in September, up 1.6% compared to August and up 11.2% compared to September last year.

In Christchurch sales volumes were up a whopping 21.7% compared to September last year, while the average selling price of $525,452 was down marginally at -0.4% compared to August, but up 4.2% compared to August last year.

See the tables below for the full regional breakdowns.