Market Comment Archive

ROLE REVERSAL There is only ONE economist I follow religiously and he is always right. But I have been worrying about him for the past fortnight. We pride ourselves on telling it like it is but, as salespeople, we think we’re the eternal optimists. My September 2010 website comment: “It ain’t gonna get better” was a sincere warning to owners in difficulty that... > Read more

A SAD END TO A DIFFICULT YEAR 29 men lost in the Pike River coal mine disaster, bodies not recovered, mass remembrance ceremony today and the whole country will stop at 2pm. It sort of puts the world economic crisis into perspective. My very best to all those who have supported us this year,... > Read more

DO IT! There are new faces at every Auction and the days to Christmas are starting to fly...why do they fly FASTER as you get OLDER??!!! Please, if you are considering selling that suite remember the Auckland summers. The lights simply go out mid December and, while the team at City Sales is... > Read more

RUGBY WORLD CUP 2011......DON'T DO IT!!!! The America's Cup at least dragged on for 4 months of racing and there was the huge build up of crews and hangers-on setting up bases in Auckland up to a year prior but what a pain in the butt it was. Mesmerised investors frothing at the mouth at the... > Read more

IT AIN'T GONNA GET BETTER Excuse the spelling but I have been studying the American language in addition to my proficiency in Australian. Shelley has gone even further and is studying Spanish which in comparison is quite hard, even foreign (to me). And expensive. In fact to test the veracity... > Read more

DARLING HARBOUR......DARLING? No, I’m not desperate and things are chugging along very successfully but I sense a change out there. It’s a good change and it’s an “owner-occupier” change. From our historical 30% sales to owner-occupiers, June was 45%... > Read more

NOT DEPRESSED - SORRY Yeah, aren't you getting sick of it? The V's becoming a W again, the UK is cutting back its public service 40%, the U.S.A. is sliding back into recession - and now the Chinese are hitting a property “bubble”. That's where it can pop and all the properties are... > Read more

IT'S WORKING Our leasehold radio promotion (costing me $14,000/month!!!) is getting some real traction with our having sold 15 leasehold suites in the past 4 weeks……and wait for this ……from $132,000 to a whopping leasehold palace at $945,000. We have even noted... > Read more

PUTTING MY MONEY WHERE MY MOUTH IS If you’re an investment punter, listen up. If you own a leasehold apartment turn your mobile off, close the door and read carefully. You’re going to like me. I believe there’s a nascent market out there that has given up on the Auckland... > Read more

LEASEHOLD....YOUR DAD WAS RIGHT.... (MOST OF THE TIME) When your Dad said: "And never buy leasehold!" he was right to a large extent. And certainly a "leasehold investment" is an oxymoron (those aged under 40y click to Dictionary). But markets change and we believe, right... > Read more

THE SPRUIKERS ARE BACK! Seven out of nine sold at yesterday's auctions but there's a murky crowd hanging around in the background. A regular attendee at our auctions - someone staff are not... > Read more

LATE FOR A REASON It’s 10 February and I have an excuse for writing my Feb comment so late. Prime Minister John Key was to (and did) give his precursor yesterday on his sentiment towards... > Read more