Despite an increasing number of people expecting house prices to rise, overall confidence in the housing market fell during the July quarter, according to the latest ASB Housing Confidence Survey.

IRD moves to reform the tax treatment of holiday homes will remove a “perverse” tax incentive for people to buy second, holiday homes.

The Government has today offered to buy an additional 940 earthquake affected properties in Kaiapoi and Pines Beach north of Christchurch.

The average median rent for a two-bedroom property in City Bays rose 13% in the year to July 2011, while the same size property in Devonport saw an 8% fall.

The popularity of rental property as an investment took a dip in Auckland, bucking the nationwide trend, though it still remains Kiwi’s second favourite type of investment, according to the latest ASB Investor Confidence Survey.

Government tax changes have hit landlords’ future cash flows and left investors requiring a higher yield from their properties, according to Infometrics New Zealand Housing Outlook report.

Infometrics New Zealand Housing Outlook report examines rental levels and trends across various regions of the country over the year to June 2011.

Property finder Dorien Forster has been fined $30,000 for acting without a license in a case Real Estate Agents Authority (REAA) chief Keith Manch said “sets a clear precedent on the role of property finders.”

The REINZ July 2011 regional commentaries.

There were 301 fewer property sales in July compared to June, and the national median house price fell by $15,000, according to the latest Real Estate Institute of New Zealand report.

Mike Pero Mortgages and Landlords.co.nz are running a quarterly survey to track how people are feeling about the residential property market and your views on next year.

The average weekly rent for Auckland properties in July was $417, and for the second consecutive month moved downwards, according to Barfoot & Thompson.

People seeking to rent out their property to take advantage of the Rugby World Cup have been warned they will be under scrutiny from the Inland Revenue to ensure they meet tax obligations.

Parts of Auckland have seen property values increase by 2.4% since July, while Wellington remains the only main centre to see continued declines, according to the latest QV report.

Analysis, comment and prices from QV Valuations staff across the country.

The lack of new listings on the market suggests property investors “don’t really give a damn” about the April 1 tax changes that affected investment property, according to BNZ economist Tony Alexander.