Residential property investment shouldn't become the whipping boy for the problems of other investment types, says the Real Estate Institute

New Zealanders are increasingly in love with residential property investment,in spite of recent market data showing low turnover and declining values

Retired investors have a new way to unlock the equity in their homes, thanks to a locally developed mortgage product.

Higher interest rates for borrowers are already starting to bite, with the prospect of further mortgage rises underscored by the recent rise in the Official Cash Rate.

Non-bank lenders are set to take a bigger chunk of the mortgage market this year as tough competition gets even tougher.

The Reserve Bank is due to review its Official Cash Rate on Wednesday, but opinions are divided on whether there'll be an increase.

The majority of lending institutions announced an increase in their one year fixed interest rates in the month to January 10 and significant upward movement was recorded for two and three year fixed interest rates.

Auckland's stable, Wellington's dipped and Christchurch is stable. That's the word from the latest market survey by Massey University.

Real Estate Institute figures for last month show improved house prices nationwide, but a different story region by region.

AMP Banking in New Zealand won't be following its Aussie namesake and trying to spark a price war, but you can still expect a range of new services early next year.

1999 was the year that mortgage customers were really given choice.

The change of government could move property investors towards higher value rental housng, says the Real Estate Institute, but sales prices and volumes are unlikely to take off.

There's been a sharp rise in the number of people expecting higher interest rates in the next 12 months, but this isn't affecting housing confidence generally.

Another surge in building activity in Tauranga and Auckland may have a dampening effect on those regions in the near future. Meanwhile, Wellington has shown up as the least confident region in ASB Bank's latest housing survey.

The National Bank has quietly put its floating mortgage rate up from 6.50 per cent to 7.25 per cent, relinquishing the moral high ground it claimed in October as the only trading bank to hold its rates low. BNZ has also announced an increase.