Waikato's Market Holds Steady as Auckland Slips

By Scott Mears - Aspire PRO Enterprises

The latest Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) house price report is in - and while the headlines talk about flat national prices and Auckland’s slide, the real story is in the regions. And that includes here in Hamilton and the Waikato.

Nationally, the median price hasn’t moved much - sitting steady at $770,000. Auckland’s dropped by -3.4%, but take that out of the mix and the rest of the country actually saw a small lift of +1.7%. That includes Waikato, where the market has shown quiet resilience with a +3.5% annual increase.

Source: Real Estate Institute of New Zealand

Sales volumes are up too, by more than 20% across the country compared to this time last year. Even in the cooler months, buyers are still out there and Waikato continues to attract attention thanks to its livability, lifestyle and relative affordability.

But it’s not all sunshine. Properties are taking longer to sell and some sellers aren’t getting the offers they’d hoped for. The result? Buyers are taking their time and sellers are holding out for spring.

Still, for smart buyers (especially those eyeing short-term rentals), this might just be the sweet spot: plenty of stock, realistic vendors and the chance to secure a solid property or two before the market reawakens.

Interested in the short term rental market? Contact us for a confidential discussion.