Sales volume eased slightly during the month with 304 dwellings sold (April 2005: 307; May 2004: 273). It took a median of 32 days for a house to sell in the region in May, one less than the 33 in April.

Auckland

The number of houses sold in Auckland during May increased with 3,089 sales recorded. This is up on the 2,914 sales recorded in the previous month. The median price also increased over this period to reach $370,000 (April 2005: $369,000). In May 2004, 3,203 houses sold with a median sales price of $339,000.

The median price for a house located on the North Shore increased to $422,250 in May (April 2005: $405,000; May 2004: $381,000). In total 562 houses changed hands during the month, down on the 589 sales recorded in April (May 2004: 581).

The number of sales in Waitakere increased during the month to 426 properties, up on 395 transactions in April 2005. The median price attained for these sales also rose slightly to reach $327,250, in comparison to the $315,000 median price recorded in April. In May 2004, 500 houses sold with a median sales price of $290,000.

The median price for a residential property in Auckland City eased to $420,000 in May (April 2005: $426,000; May 2004: $400,000). In total 900 houses sold in this area during the month (April 2005: 832; May 2004: 955).

The median price for a residential property in Manukau increased by $15,000 to reach $340,000 in May (April 2005: $325,000; May 2004: $310,000). The volume of sales also increased with 706 houses changing hands during the month, in comparison to 655 and 657 sales in April 2005 and May 2004 respectively.

Papakura’s median price decreased to $240,000 in May (April 2005: $249,000). In total 128 houses sold, 33 more than the 95 recorded in the previous month. In May 2004, 117 houses changed hands with a median sales price of $235,000.

Metropolitan Auckland’s sales volume increased in May with 2,722 residential properties sold (April 2005: 2,566; May 2004: 2,810). The median price attained for these sales improved slightly to reach $371,750, up on the $369,000 median price achieved in April 2005 (May 2004: $345,000).

Waikato/Bay of Plenty/Gisborne

The median price for a property in the Waikato/Bay of Plenty/Gisborne area increased by $1,000 to reach $245,000 in May (April 2005: $244,000; May 2004: $197,000). Sales volume increased with 1,574 properties changing hands during the month (April 2005: 1,564; May 2004: 1,665).

Sales volume also rose in Hamilton City during the month with 373 houses selling. This is 34 more than the 339 houses sold in April 2005 and 15 more than the 358 that sold in May 2004. The median price achieved for May 2005 sales was recorded as being $250,000 (April 2005: $255,000; May 2004: $217,000).

In total 341 houses sold in Waikato Country during the month, an increase on the 315 sales recorded in April 2005 (May 2004: 412). The median price attained for these sales increased by $5,000 to reach $170,000 in May (April 2005: $165,000; May 2004: $129,000).

The median price for a home in Mt Maunganui/Papamoa eased in May to $388,000 (April 2005: $419,000; May 2004: $380,000). In total 105 houses sold during the month, two more than the 103 sold in April and 14 less than the 119 sold in May 2004.

The median price for a house in Tauranga eased to $300,000 in May (April 2005: $325,000; May 2004: $280,000). The 188 houses sold during the month represented a decrease on the 205 sales recorded in both April 2005 and May 2004.

Sales volume dipped slightly in Rotorua with 191 houses selling during May. However this result is only five less than the 196 sold in April 2005 (May 2004: 158). The median sales price continued to grow reaching $182,000 (April 2005: $178,500; May 2004: $140,000).

Both median price and sales volume eased in Taupo in May. Eighty five houses were sold, down on the 86 and 87 sales recorded in April 2005 and May 2004 respectively.

The median price achieved for these sales fell to $270,000 (April 2005: $332,500). However this remained above the median price from May 2004 of $265,000.

Gisborne City’s median price rose to $185,000 in May (April 2005: $167,000; May 2004: $137,500). In total 100 houses sold in the city in May, an improvement on the 81 sold in April (May 2004: 70).

Hawkes Bay

The number of residential properties sold in the Hawkes Bay increased in May 2005 with 340 houses sold (April 2005: 307; May 2004: 302). It took an average of 35 days for a home to sell in the region in May, two more than in April. The median sales price increased by $19,500 during the month to reach $249,500 (April 2005: $230,000; May 2004: $195,000).

Manawatu/Wanganui

The median price for a residential property in the Manawatu/Wanganui region improved steadily to reach $160,000 in May, a $5,000 increase on the $155,000 median recorded in April (May 2004: $127,000). Sales turnover improved with 502 houses changing hands, up on both the 479 and 467 sales recorded in April 2005 and May 2004 respectively. The median price for a section in the region was recorded as $97,500.

Taranaki

Sales volume increased substantially during May in this region with 282 houses sold (April 2005: 192). The median sales price achieved increased also to reach $213,750 (April 2005: $162,637). In May 2004, 230 houses sold with a median sales price of $148,000. It took a median of 27 days for a house to sell in this area during the month, down from 30 in April.

Wellington

The median price attained for a house in Wellington increased to $285,000 in May (April 2005: $275,000; May 2004: $262,500). In total 953 homes changed hands, down from 959 transactions in April 2005 (May 2004: 989).

The median price in the Hutt Valley rose to $242,500 during May 2005 (April 2005: $241,000; May 2004: $245,000). However the volume of sales eased with 170 houses changing hands during the month, down on both the 259 and 185 sales recorded in April 2005 and May 2004 respectively.

Sales volume increased in Wellington’s Northern suburbs in May, with 102 sales recorded (April 2005: 79; May 2004: 108). The median sales price achieved during the month was recorded as being $330,250 (April 2005: $390,000; May 2004: $312,500).

In West Wellington the median price recorded in May eased to $398,500, down from $410,000 in April. In total 48 houses sold in the area, three less than the 51 sold in April. In May 2004, 43 houses sold with a median sales price of $413,000.

The median price for a property in Southern Wellington increased in May to $387,500 (April 2005: $370,156; May 2004: $370,000). Forty six houses changed hands during the month, five more than the 41 sold in April (May 2004: 48).

Sales turnover improved substantially in Eastern areas of Wellington in May, with 68 houses sold. This represented an increase on the 37 and 57 sales recorded in April 2005 and May 2004 respectively. The median sales price for these sales was recorded as being $390,000 (April 2005: $470,000; May 2004: $371,200).

The median price achieved for a dwelling in Central Wellington increased significantly to reach $372,500, well up on the $316,000 median price recorded in April (May 2004: $293,000). Over 70 houses sold during the month (April 2005: 58; May 2004: 91).

Nelson/Marlborough

The median price for a home in the Nelson/Marlborough region eased to $265,000 in May. This was slightly down on the $269,000 median recorded in April 2005 (May 2004: $275,000). However the level of sales increased during this period with 279 sales recorded (April 2005: 234; May 2004: 269).

The median price for a home in the Marlborough Sounds eased to $380,000 in May (April 2005: $617,500). In total two houses changed hands during the month. Four properties were sold in April 2005. In May 2004, three houses sold with a median sales price of $260,000.

In total 108 houses sold in the Marlborough/Kaikoura areas in May. This demonstrated an increase on the 70 sales recorded in the month prior (May 2004: 100). The median price attained for these sales eased by $7,000 to $232,000 (April 2005: $239,000; May 2004: $240,000).

The median price recorded for a house in Nelson eased to $285,000 in May (April 2005: $290,000; May 2004: $292,500). One hundred and sixty nine properties changed hands during the month, an improvement on the 160 and 166 sales recorded in April 2005 and May 2004 respectively.

Canterbury/Westland

The median sales price for a residential property in this region improved to reach $247,500 in May (April 2005: $242,000). Sales volume eased slightly with 1,213 houses sold, down from 1,235 in April. In May 2004, 1,304 houses sold with a median sales price of $211,250. It took an average of 25 days for a house to sell in this region in May 2005.

In Christchurch’s Central City the median sales price increased by $46,000 to reach $306,000 (April 2005: $260,000; May 2004: $253,000). In total 36 houses sold in the area during the month, five more than the 31 sold in April (May 2004: 33).

Sales turnover dipped slightly in North Eastern areas of Christchurch with 63 house sales recorded, down from 67 the month prior. The median sales price attained for these sales also decreased to $249,000 (April 2005: $275,000). In May 2004, 64 houses sold with a median sales price of $221,500.

In total 39 houses sold in the West Inner areas of the city in May, while 22 properties changed hands during April (May 2004: 29). The median sales price achieved on these 39 sales increased slightly to $236,600 (April 2005: $229,500; May 2004: $220,000).

The median sales price in the West Outer suburbs of Christchurch rose to $238,500 in May (April 2005: $230,000; May 2004: $178,250). In total 44 residential properties sold during the month, while 51 transactions occurred in April 2005 and 36 transactions in May 2004.

In North West Inner suburbs the median price eased to $400,000, down from $417,500 in April. In total 56 houses sold during the month, down from 72 in May 2005. In May 2004, 80 houses sold with a median sales price of $393,750.

The median price in Christchurch City increased by $1,000 during the moth to reach $261,000 (April 2005: $260,000; May 2004: $230,000). In total 829 houses sold during the month (April 2005: 800; May 2004; 885).

Otago

Sales turnover eased in Otago in May with 395 houses sold (April 2005: 402; May 2004: 367). The median price achieved also eased to $201,750 (April 2005: $216,100; May 2004: $182,000). The median price for a section was $105,000 in May.

In Dunedin City the median price eased marginally to $209,500, down from $210,000 the previous month. In total 245 houses sold in the area, six more than the 239 sold in April. In May 2004, 216 houses changed hands with a median sales price of $197,750.

Sales volume decreased in Central Otago with 57 houses changing hands, down from 79 in April (May 2004: 60). The median price attained for these sales eased also, down to $250,000 (April 2005: $342,000; May 2004; $277,500).

The median price for a home in Northern Otago gained new ground, reaching $175,000 in May (April 2005: $162,000; May 2004: $131,000). The number of sales also strengthened with 57 houses sold during May 2005, in comparison to 39 sales in April 2005 and 40 sales in May 2004.

The median price for a house in Southern Otago dipped slightly to $134,018 in May (April 2005: $140,000; May 2004: $85,000). Twenty eight houses sold during the month, six less than the 34 sold in April (May 2004: 37).

Sales also eased slightly in Eastern areas of Otago with eight houses sold during May, three less than the 11 sold in April (May 2004: 14). The median sales price achieved for these sales increased from $140,000 in April to $188,500 in May (May 2004: $165,000).

Southland

The median price for a residential property in Southland increased to $150,000 in May 2005 (April 2005: $144,500; May 2004: $125,500). Sales volume also increased with 349 houses changing hands, up on both the 283 and 347 sales recorded in the previous month and year respectively. It took an average of 21 days for a house to sell in this region in May, down from 25 in April.