Property Investment Information

Older investors are helping fuel a resurgence in the inner-city Auckland apartment market.

The sector is bouncing back after two years suffering from leaky building fears, over-supply and banks refusing to lend the same percentages on "shoebox" apartments as other properties.

Last year's Auckland City Council valuations showed inner-city values had dropped by 3 per cent, compared with an average increase of 12 per cent. (more...)

Tenants still have the upper hand in the rental market, and real estate agents are urging clients to inject their properties with the wow factor, or drop the rent if they want to fill them quickly.

Andrew King, vice-president of the New Zealand Property Investors' Federation, says it's common to experience a flood of rental listings during the slump phase of the property cycle.

"In a slow market, tenants have a high degree of choice and often face nervous landlords who may be willing to reduce rents just to secure a tenant," he says. (more...)