Bayleys has sold two coastal subdivisions in the Coromandel for close to $4.5 million. Five sections surrounded by native bush with ocean views, which are part of a new subdivision planned for Te Karo Cove, sold for more than $2.2 million. The sections on Sailors Grave Rd near Tairua - ranging from 2122sq m to 2.1ha - sold for between $340,000 and $542,000, with the highest price achieved for the 2122sq m lot, which is directly opposite the beach.

Olympic champ and new investor BARBARA KENDALL gets help from NZX's Dan Dividend

Q. Barbara Kendall asks:

The organisation that regulates Britain's personal investment industry is increasingly alarmed by many investors' financial ignorance.

Q. I applaud the growth of companies and technology, and think their growing popularity via the sharemarket wonderful.

Olympic champ and new investor BARBARA KENDALL continues her quest, helped by the NZX and broker Dan Dividend.

The building boom slowed in the December quarter, according to Statistics New Zealand's latest figures out today.

Finance minister Michael Cullen said yesterday that the tax leakage through Australian unit trusts (AUT) is so great that the government is prepared to enact an interim solution “as soon as practicable.”

Loans on investment properties are no more risky than loans to owner-occupiers, S&P says.

There will be a meeting of property investors from Kapiti-Horowhenua, Paekakariki to Levin, to form a property investors support group. It is to be held in the Kawa Bar, Waikanae Hotel, Tuesday 9th March @ 7:30pm.

Thousands of homeowners could see an average of $29,000-$35,000 wiped from the value of their houses due to the stigma of leaky homes, which persists even after expensive repairs, says a new report.

For the third year the Auckland City Council intends to hold its rates increase to within the level of inflation.

A rate rise of about 4 per cent is tipped for Christchurch residents this year.

PSIS has signed up mortgage broking aggregator Allied Mortgage Brokers (AMBL) to sell its home loan products through its member brokers.

Auckland ranks fifth in a survey of 215 cities on quality of life.

Struggling first-time home owners are being given another helping hand by the Government.