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The Property Institute of New Zealand takes a look at the crystal ball to see what’s in store for New Zealand ‘s market in 2017. Here are chief executive Ashley Church’s predictions for this year’s biggest housing trends: 1. Longer term mortgage interest rates will rise “The general consensus is that interest rates are onRead more

Working from home can be a challenge so ensuring you have a functional work space goes a long way towards increasing productivity and avoiding distractions. Whether you work from home full-time like me,  split your time between the office and home, or simply need a space for personal admin, focus on creating a space that’sRead more

  Ten seconds. That’s the time house hunters take to decide if they like a property – just a quick glance up and down from the street. A third of buyers in new research said they wouldn’t even venture inside if they were unimpressed with a home’s exterior. But more than half of the surveyed homeowners said they wouldRead more

As your single largest investment, you’ll probably spend a great deal of time searching for or designing your perfect home. When house hunting, you’ll consider things like location, price, market trends, costs and the condition of the property. And you’ll probably have a list of things you absolutely have to have and those you’re preparedRead more

Buyers looking to purchase an investment property to rent out often have difficulty determining the accurate rental price. There are many factors to consider and if you don’t assess your property value correctly you could end up over- or undercharging and neither are a situation you want to be in. Initial rental price calculations TheRead more

Before you go on holiday, it’s a good idea to take some time to protect one of your most valuable assets, your investment property. Make sure you’ve checked off the following points, so everything runs smoothly while you’re enjoying your break. Remember, these points apply at any time of the year if you plan on goingRead more

With just a few shopping days left before Christmas, consumers who hope to buy a new home next year should be keeping a tight rein on their spending. That’s the advice of Richard Gray, CEO of Harcourts Real Estate, who says that holiday shoppers worldwide are known to spend between 15 to 30% more thanRead more

Whether 2017 will be the year you buy your first home or the year you finish that renovation, make sure you plan first so that you can realise your property dreams sooner. At this time of year many of us make those all-important New Year resolutions, but by mid-year a lot of us can loseRead more

Open for inspections give you a great first impression of a property and you’ll know almost immediately if it’s one you want to pursue. But that first visit can be much more than a “once over lightly” impression. How do you make sure you’re getting as much information from it as possible? Use the timeRead more

While relaxing and enjoying good times at your favourite holiday location, you stroll past the local real estate agent’s window and browse the offerings. Imagine, staying regularly or living in the same place where you have so many great memories. Imagine owning a property where time seems to stand still, and where enjoyment is theRead more