Having students as neighbours could devalue a property by up to 10%, according to new research by real estate website, allrealestate.co.nz.

The latest Quotable Value statistics for March show Tauranga as the only city with increased growth. We look at house price growth of all the main urban centres in the latest period.

QV's March residential property market statistics show values growth still falling back, to 6.5%, down on the 7.7% growth in February.

Property sales dropped to unprecedented levels in March, particularly in under $400,000 properties, Real Estate Institute data shows.

The Real Estate Institute sales figures for January are now out. To read what's happening in your region and around the country use the links in this story.

Commerce minister Lianne Dalziel has finally stepped in and criticised the so-called advisers who sold Blue Chip properties. She has acknowledged, in a speech this week, that these people fell outside the more regulated advice industry and hadn’t acted with sufficient care.

Blue Chip's Australian listed parent company has put its namesake in New Zealand into voluntary liquidation. This brings to 21 the number of Blue Chip companies to collapse.

The mortgage market has been noticeably calmer over the past week with few changes in rates. After the recent general upswing in loan rates this will be welcome news for anyone who needs to refinance now.

An increased tax take for the Inland Revenue Department is being predicted, following a recent ruling clarifying when accountancy fees are deductible.

The latest confidence survey from the Bank of New Zealand starkly illustrates what is happening in the property market. Sales volumes are down, as are buyer enquiries, but there is positive news (for landlords) on the rental front.

The Wairarapa is a growing region with immense potential. Patricia Moore looks at the state of the market and how the locals view their pocket of the country.

House sales in Auckland, as recorded by its largest real estate agency, have plummeted, but prices have held up.

Landlords across New Zealand are being encouraged to take advantage of a limited government offer which gives a discount of up to 55% on the cost of installing insulation and energy efficiency measures for their rental properties.

House prices are overvalued by about 30%, BNZ economists say, and prices could fall by more than 10% this year.

Every issue of the NZ Property Investor magazine will continue to bring you all the news, tips and statistics you need to keep your property investments humming in 2008.

While there is very little good news for borrowers over recent months there has been the slightest glimmer of hope this week.