The lenders mortgage brokers recommend their clients don’t necessarily follow the same pattern as the lenders’ overall market shares, suggesting that brokers are having at least some influence in determining those market shares.

Real Estate Institute president Graeme Woodley says the latest latest house sale figures will disappoint "a body of commentators and those anxious to promote real estate books and investment seminars, who had been predicting a collapse in the residential property market."

Much of the discussion on the financial planning and investment advisory industry concentrates on the way advisers are paid for their services rather than the type of service one gets for one's money.

Young Aucklanders are increasingly giving up on the dream of home ownership, opting for the European model of a life of renting, reports Libby Middlebrook

Banks are tightening their lending criteria as the housing boom cools, over-heated property valuations fall and interest rates continue to rise.

I have worked in real estate in England and New Zealand, and in my view the industry in this country does have problems.

"It would be nice to promo Investors International down under and make some real cash. Let me know. I'm convinced between you and (me) we could team up and make the trip very worthwhile."

Complaints to the Banking Ombudsman continued to fall in during the first part of this year as full employment, rising property prices, and favourable economic conditions prevailed.

SYDNEY - Sales turnover in the Australian property market could fall 20 per cent this year after home values peaked for the current cycle last August, real estate agent Ray White said yesterday.

Auckland business community leaders are showing in-your-face rage about a 50 per cent loading on regional rates.

In recent months newspapers have published several reports in respect of Inland Revenue targeting property transactions in Queenstown, Wanaka and Nelson.

The Waitara Leaseholders Association is meeting Prime Minister Helen Clark today to discuss the future of the Waitara leasehold lands.

Another round of mortgage rate rises is on the cards after Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard pushed up wholesale interest rates yesterday and warned of further increases to come.

About two years ago, Weekend Money noted that hedge funds had started to gain prominence in the local financial planning industry, as a successor to the disgraced old favourite - international shares.

Agents respond to the challenge to charge $4000 or less in house sale commission

Leah Wilson thought she had found the perfect house for an entirely natural home-birth.