Harcourts MarketWatch
September 2014

The property market has taken a pause around the country as people wait for the end of winter and the outcome of the election. This is always the case around election time, with a drop off in listings and sales expected.

Nationally the average house price sits at $471,586 which is almost identical to where it was 12 months ago. Meanwhile prices continue to rise in Auckland and Christchurch, where housing shortages are driving the market.

Election year policies have not addressed the fundamental issue facing Auckland and Christchurch, which is the need to remove bureaucratic barriers that make

developers shy away from widespread construction - high fees and building costs and a drawn out consents process.

The provinces remain hard hit by LVR restrictions, and Harcourts hopes the Reserve Bank will look to remove these by the end of the year.

MarketWatch_September_2014.pdf