New record median prices were reported in Auckland and Canterbury/Westland last month, as the national median returned to its March high of $400,000, the latest Real Estate Institute figures show.

Labour is the clear winner with its housing policies at the moment, says Auckland Property Investors Association president David Whitburn.

National housing affordability improved by 1.47% over the August quarter, the latest Massey University Home Affordability Report shows.

The Reserve Bank expects sales volume to drop by about 5% due to the loan-to-value speed limit restrictions it introduced this month.

QV is expecting a short-term flurry of activity as people who have been preapproved for loans get their housing deals done.

The first of Auckland’s “special housing areas” have been announced and more will be revealed by Christmas.

Affordability won't improve until there are enough houses built to cater for New Zealand's growing population, real estate group Harcourts says.

Property investors are wary about the possible impact of new loan-to-value restrictions, the latest ANZ Property Investment Survey shows.

A return to more normal interest rates might have more of an impact on house prices than the new LVR restrictions, says BNZ.

Two major Auckland real estate agencies can’t agree on whether the new LVR restrictions made a difference to the market last month.

It could be up to six months before it’s clear whether the Reserve Bank’s new loan-to-value speed limits have made any difference to the Auckland property market, says real estate agency Barfoot and Thompson.

The Banking Ombudsman is expecting the new loan-to-value speed limits to cause a spike in mortgage-related issues.

After two years of growth, the trend for new house consents appears to be flattening, Statistics New Zealand says.

First-home buyers in the regions will be given a 10% deposit from the Government if they buy state houses that are not needed by the Government.

The housing market will hesitate for a few weeks once the loan-to-value speed limits are introduced tomorrow before getting back into business as usual, property commentator Olly Newland says.

Auckland’s unitary plan was notified today, giving five months for the public to make formal submissions.