
House Prices Hit Nine Month Low In June
In June the average asking price was $829,650, down more than $15,000 (-1.8%) on May and -1.4 per cent year-on-year.
The national average asking price has fallen to its lowest since September 2024, shows Trade Me's latest Property Pulse Report.
In June the average asking price was $829,650, down more than $15,000 (-1.8%) on May and -1.4 per cent year-on-year.
Trade Me Property Customer Director Gavin Lloyd said Auckland prices have taken the largest hit.
'Tāmaki Makaurau has seen the largest decline in the average asking price, from both a month-on-month (-2.4%) and year-on-year perspective (-2.7%).
'If we look at the price in June, and compare it to the same time last year it shows a fall of close to $28,000. That said, the average asking price of property in Aotearoa's largest city continues to hold above the million dollar mark (at $1,005,950), $150,000 more than the Bay of Plenty, which is the next most expensive region,' said Lloyd.
Deep South, good gains
The average asking price for a property in Otago has grown by close to $54,000 in the year to June, a 6.7 per cent increase.
There are four districts within the region driving the increase, Waitaki where prices are up 2.8 per cent year-on-year, Dunedin (+2.2%), Queenstown Lakes (+1.8%) and Wanaka (+1.3%)
'Otago is a huge and diverse region, it's laid-back, incredibly scenic and is particularly appealing for lovers of the great outdoors, a wonderful place to call home.
'With recent Census figures showing increasing Kiwi to be moving south it will be interesting to see if the growth in house prices in Otago continues its steady upward trajectory,' says Mr Lloyd.
Outside of Otago, Southland has also made good gains across the year with the average asking price up 3.4 per cent or around $17,000.
'The average price in Southland in June was just over $522,000, so while it's on the up it still remains one of the most affordable regions across the motu.'
Further north, both Hawkes Bay and Taranaki show strong year-on-year growth. The average asking price in Taranaki is up 5.2 per cent or close to $35,000, while Hawkes Bay prices have increased 3.8 per cent year-on-year, the equivalent of more than $27,000.
Supply and demand down both fall
The number of listings on Trade Me Property, which hit a decade high in March, fell nine per cent between May and June but remained four per cent up year-on-year. Demand was also down 12 per cent on the month prior but flat compared to June 2024.
'Seeing supply dip at this stage of the year isn't unexpected, but there remains plenty of choice in the market for those house hunting with several thousand more properties listed on site than the same month last year,' says Mr Lloyd.
The median number of days onsite increased from 70 in May to 78 in June.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Scoop
8 minutes ago
- Scoop
The Subtle AI Shift In Your Search Bar: Are Kiwi Businesses Ready?
A Quiet Revolution in Search For the average New Zealander, the internet has subtly shapeshifted in recent months. The familiar landscape of Google search results is undergoing a quiet revolution, and most of us are interacting with a powerful new intelligence without even realising it. This change, driven by artificial intelligence, is not just a cosmetic update; it's a fundamental rewiring of how we find information and, crucially for businesses, how customers find them. The Rise of 'AI Overviews' This AI-powered evolution is most noticeable in the form of 'AI Overviews', concise, AI-generated summaries that appear at the very top of search results. Instead of a list of blue links, users are increasingly presented with direct answers, conversational responses, and curated snapshots of information. We're typing longer, more natural questions and receiving instant, comprehensive replies. We are talking to our devices. We're even using our phone cameras to search our visual world. This is AI in action, and it's making our online interactions more seamless and intuitive than ever before. Implications for New Zealand Businesses While this offers a more streamlined experience for the individual user, it presents a significant challenge for New Zealand businesses. The traditional methods of search engine optimisation (SEO) which have been the bedrock of digital marketing for years are no longer enough to guarantee visibility. If AI is answering a user's question directly, the need to click through to a website diminishes, potentially reducing web traffic and customer engagement. The Changing SEO Landscape The game has changed. The new winners in this AI-driven era will be the businesses that adapt their online presence to be favoured by these new AI gatekeepers. It's no longer just about keywords and backlinks; it's about providing clear, authoritative, and comprehensive information that AI algorithms can easily digest and present in their overviews. Is your business's expertise being accurately represented, or is it being overlooked? Adapting for the AI Era For Kiwi businesses, from the local café to the nationwide retailer, understanding this new digital landscape is not just an option it's a necessity for survival and growth. To stay competitive, businesses must now: Optimise for AI Readability: Structure content with clear headings, bulleted lists, and concise answers to common questions. Enhance Authority: Use verified data, expert quotes, and case studies so AI trusts and surfaces your content. Leverage Rich Media: Integrate images, videos, and infographics that AI can index and summarise to enrich search overviews. Maintain Technical Health: Ensure fast load times, mobile-first design, and proper schema markup so AI crawlers can access your site without friction. What to do? The question is no longer if AI will impact your online presence, but how you can strategically position your business to thrive in this new environment. To delve deeper into how AI is picking new winners in the online space and to learn actionable strategies to ensure your business is in the running, read more on the Insight Online website:


Scoop
2 hours ago
- Scoop
Our Laterally Locked Housing Landscape Is Holding The Line. We're Looking Ahead
Press Release – Kiwi Economics Investors have been hunted by policymakers, both from the last Government and RBNZ. Interest rate deductibility, Brightline tests, and laser focussed LVR restrictions have all targeted investors. The Kiwi housing market continues to stumble sideways. Yes, there was an unsustainable 46% surge out of Covid. Yes, the RBNZ orchestrated an 18% correction back to more sustainable levels. But over the last 2 years, house prices have gone nowhere. That will change, next year. Interest rate cuts will fuel confidence. And confidence will generate activity. Investors have been hunted by policymakers, both from the last Government and RBNZ. Interest rate deductibility, Brightline tests, and laser focussed LVR restrictions have all targeted investors. Precisely what we don't need with a chronic housing shortage. It's investors that will reignite the housing market. But now, they remain sidelined, waiting to rebuild equity in their portfolios. It's chicken and the egg. Which one came first? Interest rate cuts. Interest rates are the biggest driver of house prices. Swift interest rate cuts are feeding through fast. But they have not gone far enough. And investors no longer need to worry about the Brightline test or interest deductibility. But they do still worry. They're waiting for the economy to recover. They're waiting for their own businesses to improve. They're waiting. The true test will come over the warmer months. The latest REINZ data shows a housing market that remains largely locked in lateral moves. After seven consecutive months of (very) modest gains, house prices dipped by a seasonally adjusted 0.3% in June. Over the year, house prices were up just 0.3%. That's not a market in recovery. It's a market that is failing to find its footing. And after 225bps of rate cuts, the recovery lacks any real conviction. House prices are still down 16.3% from the November 2021 peak. And prices have only lifted half a percent since the RBNZ started cutting in August last year. Rate cuts have not yet triggered investors. The median national house price sits virtually unchanged from a year ago at $770,000. And the median days to sell, one of the best real-time indicators of housing dynamics, continues to yo-yo above the long-term average of 40. The longer it takes to sell, the weaker the market. And days to sell lifted to 50 from 47 last month. It's still a buyer's market out there. As we said in our latest outlook 'We've seen green shoots emerge, and then die off, only to re-emerge again. But we must wait, like gardeners, until spring… to see if the green shoots start blossoming or remain in drought.' The data for June was frost bitten. The colder months are always harder on the housing market. But nevertheless, this is certainly not a hallmark of an economy that has undergone a significant easing cycle. And if anything, the unresponsiveness of investors is a sign that there is more work for the RBNZ to do. More rate cuts are needed to stimulate demand in housing. Much of our optimistic forecasts for growth in the Kiwi economy into 2026 is predicated on a bounce in housing demand. It's the Kiwi way. Heightened job insecurity from a labour market still bleeding out, a surge in housing stock, the continued absence of investors, and rapidly declining net migration are all weighing heavily on the housing market's recovery. Many of these pressures are themselves by-products of an economy that still needs stimulus. Yes, we are getting closer to the bottom in interest rates. And these days forecasters, including ourselves, are arguing over just 50bps. It's not much, but it is still important. Do we need a neutral (unhelpful) rate of 3%, or do we need a stimulatory (helpful) rate of 2.5%. We argue that the economy needs (more) help.


Scoop
2 hours ago
- Scoop
Our Laterally Locked Housing Landscape Is Holding The Line. We're Looking Ahead
The Kiwi housing market continues to stumble sideways. Yes, there was an unsustainable 46% surge out of Covid. Yes, the RBNZ orchestrated an 18% correction back to more sustainable levels. But over the last 2 years, house prices have gone nowhere. That will change, next year. Interest rate cuts will fuel confidence. And confidence will generate activity. Investors have been hunted by policymakers, both from the last Government and RBNZ. Interest rate deductibility, Brightline tests, and laser focussed LVR restrictions have all targeted investors. Precisely what we don't need with a chronic housing shortage. It's investors that will reignite the housing market. But now, they remain sidelined, waiting to rebuild equity in their portfolios. It's chicken and the egg. Which one came first? Interest rate cuts. Interest rates are the biggest driver of house prices. Swift interest rate cuts are feeding through fast. But they have not gone far enough. And investors no longer need to worry about the Brightline test or interest deductibility. But they do still worry. They're waiting for the economy to recover. They're waiting for their own businesses to improve. They're waiting. The true test will come over the warmer months. The latest REINZ data shows a housing market that remains largely locked in lateral moves. After seven consecutive months of (very) modest gains, house prices dipped by a seasonally adjusted 0.3% in June. Over the year, house prices were up just 0.3%. That's not a market in recovery. It's a market that is failing to find its footing. And after 225bps of rate cuts, the recovery lacks any real conviction. House prices are still down 16.3% from the November 2021 peak. And prices have only lifted half a percent since the RBNZ started cutting in August last year. Rate cuts have not yet triggered investors. The median national house price sits virtually unchanged from a year ago at $770,000. And the median days to sell, one of the best real-time indicators of housing dynamics, continues to yo-yo above the long-term average of 40. The longer it takes to sell, the weaker the market. And days to sell lifted to 50 from 47 last month. It's still a buyer's market out there. As we said in our latest outlook 'We've seen green shoots emerge, and then die off, only to re-emerge again. But we must wait, like gardeners, until spring… to see if the green shoots start blossoming or remain in drought.' The data for June was frost bitten. The colder months are always harder on the housing market. But nevertheless, this is certainly not a hallmark of an economy that has undergone a significant easing cycle. And if anything, the unresponsiveness of investors is a sign that there is more work for the RBNZ to do. More rate cuts are needed to stimulate demand in housing. Much of our optimistic forecasts for growth in the Kiwi economy into 2026 is predicated on a bounce in housing demand. It's the Kiwi way. Heightened job insecurity from a labour market still bleeding out, a surge in housing stock, the continued absence of investors, and rapidly declining net migration are all weighing heavily on the housing market's recovery. Many of these pressures are themselves by-products of an economy that still needs stimulus. Yes, we are getting closer to the bottom in interest rates. And these days forecasters, including ourselves, are arguing over just 50bps. It's not much, but it is still important. Do we need a neutral (unhelpful) rate of 3%, or do we need a stimulatory (helpful) rate of 2.5%. We argue that the economy needs (more) help.