ASB’s latest Housing Confidence Survey is out and it shows that house price expectations have now slumped to a six and a half year low.

While 36% of survey respondents believe house prices will go up, 20% believe they will fall.

The decline in price expectations was most pronounced in Auckland - where just 8% believe house prices will increase - although they also eased around the rest of the North Island.

In contrast, price expectations in the South Island have lifted, led by Canterbury where 11% of respondents believe prices will rise.

The North/South divide is likely to reflect the fact that annual price growth rates have slowed in places like Auckland, Tauranga and Hamilton but remain higher in many South Island areas.

At the same time, the number of people who think now is a bad time to buy a house has reduced, particularly in Auckland where house buying sentiment is at its highest level since January 2013.

ASB chief economist Nick Tuffley says this change in attitude is most likely due to Auckland’s softening house prices.

“Price expectations have fallen to an eight-year low in Auckland as we continue to see the Reserve Bank’s speed limits taking effect.”

Tuffley says despite the lift in overall sentiment to buying property, upcoming housing policy changes may further ease house price expectations.

“There is a degree of uncertainty around the potential impact of policy changes so investors and home owners are likely to remain cautious and not rush into any major decisions.

“The market will continue to be constrained by population growth and low housing supply for some time.”

ASB’s survey also looked at interest rates and it reveals most respondents expect interest rates to rise over the next 12 months albeit with less conviction than in previous surveys.

Tuffley says muted inflation pressures have pushed out ASB’s forecast for rate hikes on the part of the Reserve Bank.

“We now expect the Reserve Bank to start lifting the OCR in August 2019, though in the meantime offshore interest rate increases could see mortgage rates start to creep up.”