Many of the thousands of people who have established trusts in recent years are now facing unexpected legal bills to change trustees.

Research from UK buy-to-let mortgage broker Landlord Mortgages has revealed that 25% of landlords have refinanced over the last year to create ‘war chests’. This is in anticipation of a softening housing market that will allow investors to take full advantage of lower prices.

The Auckland property market is continuing its buoyant run with Barfoot & Thompson’s average sale price of $507,470 setting a new company record for the second month in a row.

The Department of Building and Housing has produced a new brochure to inform judgment creditors about options for enforcing their orders from the Tenancy Tribunal.

Proposed property reforms to revamp the outdated law concerning apartments and other multi-unit properties are a big step in the right direction for apartment owners and residents, says the Auckland Regional Council (ARC).

Building and Construction Minister Clayton Cosgrove has announced the appointment of Patricia McConnell as Chief Adjudicator of the Weathertight Homes Resolution Service (WHRS) for a three-year term starting this month.

Dead simple property management system stores all relevant financial and tenant information. Diana Clement investigates.

Marlborough's buoyant economy, benign climate and natural attractions are drawing more people to live and holiday in the region, creating plenty of opportunities for property investors, Karen Clark reports.

There has been a steady increase in the trend for the number of new housing units since May 2006.

The Property Council of New Zealand’s annual survey of operating expenses for commercial buildings and shopping centres revealed in each city except Hamilton, rates were the highest single expense of all categories tracked.

Home Loan report: Borrowers waiting out for a fall in home loan rates remain out of luck at the moment as the only movement is upwards.

The Reserve Bank’s Financial Stability Report, released earlier this week, shows that the battle for home loan business has been having an impact on bank margins.

People who have a revolving credit mortgage associated with a trust may be facing trouble.Thousands of mortgage customers with trusts are creating gift duty liabilities for themselves without even realising it, the chief executive of a trust management company says.

The national median house price rose 3.5% in October to a record high of $324,000, breaking out of its winter range, the Real Estate Institute says.

The developer of the largest ever residential development in Kaikoura, Ocean Ridge, has been recognised for environmentally sensitive design concepts used in the low-density housing development.

Home loan rates have started rising again this week as higher wholesale funding costs feed through into the market.