Properties are being snapped up in regions around Auckland, new Realestate.co.nz data shows.

New Zealand’s urban planning system is a significant contributor to housing unaffordability, the Property Council says.

Landlords and property managers can now lodge bonds and payments online.

Making it compulsory for developers and builders to take out insurance covering the structural integrity of their houses would pave the way for more affordable housing, according to a building company head.

Auckland Council doesn’t want to halve the prices of existing houses – rather it wants to ensure there is a wider range of housing choices and prices in future.

The Reserve Bank left the OCR on hold at 2.75% this morning but economists say the Governor’s comments on the currency are his key message.

The prospect of debt-to-income limits (DTIs) has been raised by recently released Treasury papers on the Reserve Bank’s LVR restrictions – and their introduction could put the brakes on some investors.

Studies used by the Reserve Bank to justify LVR restrictions on property investors don’t support the idea that investor loans are riskier than other housing loans, according to Treasury papers.

Baby-boomers might be a growing force in Auckland’s apartment market, as new Colliers research claims, but they are still far out-numbered by investors.

Bank lending to investors is already showing the effects of the Reserve Bank’s new loan-to-value (LVR) restrictions, which come into force at the beginning of next month.

Broken dreams and severe economic consequences will flow from the growing unaffordability of New Zealand’s housing market, economist Shamubeel Eaqub has warned.

Large-scale mortgage fraud in Auckland is currently under investigation by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).

Auckland apartment rents have gone up by nearly 10% since this time last year – which means established investors are reaping the benefits in improved returns.

Government may need to make a credible commitment to release more land and limit land price growth to get housing market inflation under control, the Productivity Commission says.

Strong migration will continue to be an economic driver over the coming year as the latest data reveals yet another annual net gain record.