Councils, builders and architects do not have to comply with new building standards, aimed at ending "leaky homes" problems.

Q. We're looking for a financial adviser and take it that you do not work with individual clients.

Can you recommend any good ones in Auckland, or how we could go about finding one? (We've looked in the Yellow Pages and feel none the wiser.)

A. It is rather hard to judge integrity and knowledge from an ad.

You're right, I don't work with clie

The Commerce Commission has welcomed a Court of Appeal ruling that auctioneers must make it clear when vendor bidding is taking place.

Three banks have increased their floating mortgage interest rates, and significant increases in fixed interest rates indicate a major rise in rates in the coming months, according to the latest mortgage rate survey by the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ). The BNZ and Westpac increased their floating rates from 7.10% to 7.25%, while the ASB’s went from 7.05% to 7.25%. The other 15 banking institutions kept their floating rates unchanged.

Seven out of 10 residential and lifestyle properties in Taupo sold at a Bayleys auction for a total of $4.36 million this month. The properties ranged in price from $220,000 to $1.26 million. The spirited bidding reflects the current strong demand for properties in the Taupo region.

AMP Property Portfolio is on its way to becoming New Zealand's largest bulk retail property owner after announcing a $150 million deal yesterday.

Investors should steer clear of big bets next year, while looking to lock in profits from some of the market's strongest performers.

Authorities have been quick to dispel speculation that the proposed State Highway 20 extension across Avondale will be built in two stages.

With the still-uncertain prospect of Dobbin Investments' 40ha megacentre looming over the city's commercial property scene, some developers are concerned it's already impeding the market, others that it's a waste of time and effort.

The long-delayed inner-city bypass through the heart of Wellington has cleared its final legal hurdle.

Napier's inner-city businesses are growing strongly, a new survey shows.

The Clutha District Council has reviewed marketing its proposed south Balclutha subdivision after very few tenders were received for the project's first sections.

The threat of rising interest rates (and an actual increase from Westpac Bank) failed to take any of the steam out of the housing market in November when the national median house price hit yet another record, although the number of sales dipped slightly to a still high level.

"Outstanding results" were identified in the latest Property Council performance index, says the organisation's research chief.

Direct investment in commercial property is very tricky, with many more fishhooks than you would find in residential property. But many investors swear by commercial property, where yields are much higher than residential property.

An Oakura beachfront property has been snapped up at auction for a record price.