2 Jun 2020

Vendors still expect record high prices for houses

11:03 am on 2 June 2020

Asking prices for houses are still hitting record highs in some regions but the number of listings is down.

An auction sign outside a house for sale in Auckland.

Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

Latest data from realestate.co.nz shows seven regions including Manawatu / Whanganui, the Central North Island and Taranaki had record high averages for asking prices.

Its spokesperson, Vanessa Taylor, said Covid-19 did not seem to have dampened sellers' expectations.

She said demand also remained high, with traffic to the site on par with February, its peak month.

New listings and total stock were both down nationally in May but those numbers were similar to the last two winters.

Central Otago and the Lakes district had an increase in listings - up 13 percent on the same time last year.

Taylor told Morning Report she was genuinely surprised by the findings.

"There's been a lot of speculation around prices post-lockdown, but what we've seen here is vendors are able to command high prices for their property.

"You can't command a high price for your property if the demand isn't there, and when we look, New Zealanders are still busy."

Taylor said it remained to be seen if house prices will fall.

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