There is no way of knowing how long loan-to-value restrictions might affect the housing market throughout this year, BNZ chief economist Tony Alexander says.

Criteria used to describe New Zealand’s housing as unaffordable are too simplistic and do not take into account the cost of borrowing, the New Zealand Property Investors Federation says.

Sales numbers are falling, especially in the cheaper price brackets, the latest data from the Real Estate Institute shows.

Aucklanders spend significantly more of their incomes on housing than people in any other part of the country, Crockers research shows.

Wellington is probably the best place in New Zealand to be a landlord at present, Trade Me says.

The first sign of the impact of loan-to-value restrictions has been a drop in the number of listings, Quotable Value says.

Northland baches were the most popular rentals over the Christmas and New Year period, figures from Bookabach show.

The number of properties being listed for sale dropped dramatically in December, the latest report from realestate.co.nz shows.

A two-tier interest rate system, with higher rates for investors, would be a better option than loan-to-value restrictions, one commentator says.

Lifestyle property turnover has lifted almost 10% on the same time last year, the latest Real Estate Institute rural statistics show.

The Real Estate Institute is listening to its own advice and has put its headquarters on the market.

Commercial property investor confidence rose in the December quarter and is now higher than it has ever been, Colliers International says.

Property prices are likely to continue to rise in Auckland but will have to come off the boil a bit, says commentator Alistair Helm.

Auckland Property Investors Association president David Whitburn says he would like to see longer due diligence periods for buyers, after a High Court decision last week that overturned an agent’s charge of negligence.

New Zealand’s property market is stuck in a hiatus, trapped between strong migration and price expectations on one hand and the introduction of LVR restrictions and an impending hike in the official cash rate on the other, ANZ’s economists say.

Changes are needed to real estate marketing schemes, the High Court has warned.