Market Comment Archive

My July web comment (click link) had the media in a frenzy and my Sales Managers in a lather while I was bonding with prodigal children in the European summer. The Herald whinged that we were confusing the market saying it was a good time to buy and that we were also advising people to sell. Looking back on it I thought it was pretty clever real estate speak but the media missed the point.... > Read more

A WINTER CHILL If you are over committed in the Apartment Market, NOW might be a good time to call us. There is a chill coming over the Auckland residential market with our masters in Wellington hellbent on making you suffer. The BNZ economist Tony Alexander wrote at the weekend that he is... > Read more

A TALE OF TWO MARKETS As reported in The Sunday Star 3 rd June and NZ Herald 5 th June the Apartment Market continues in two divergent directions. The “spruiker” off plan market will soon run dry but these non-Real Estate Agent- wind up salespeople are still doing real damage out... > Read more

HERE WE GO AGAIN (This is New Zealand right?) Just when we were beginning to enjoy ourselves our Finance Minister, Cullen and Reserve Bank Governor, Bollard heard the party and turned the lights out. Or did they? The new regime of 10% interest rates has definitely subdued the market although... > Read more

WE ALL HATE AUCTIONS BUT....... Last night (Sunday) we tabled FOUR offers on a Statesman studio, selling it eventually for $166,000. As the Apartment Market heats up there are inherent dangers for both a Vendor and his Agency in underselling a property. So far our strict policy of alerting... > Read more

16 YEARS LATER....... Maturing, coming of age, finally growing – yes they all apply to the writer but I allude to our Apartment Market. Steadfastly “telling it like it is” since the inception of Auckland 's CBD Apartment Market in 1991 we have often been unpopular but no... > Read more

NEW YEAR FIRMING The city is hot and muggy and K'Rd smells but we're all back at work and eyeing those “Minimum Payment Due” lines on the Mastercards. Don't they have holidays? It seems only hours ago I was regailing all who would listen at the Christmas party as to how good... > Read more

APARTMENTS DYNAMIC 2006 has seen the healthiest period of our Apartment Market since its inception in 1991. This, despite the unprecedented near 60% increase in numbers. And what has held it all together is the booming rental market which continues to absorb all the stock supplied. But... > Read more

SERIOUS MONEY TO BE MADE Due to the renewed volatility (Real Estate speak for uncertainty) in our Apartment Market we have relaxed our Company rule of not dealing with the cowboy brigade i.e. speculators. One of our greatest responsibilities is to sell at full "market price" but for... > Read more

FINGERS CROSSED The student exodus is underway but the end of year vacancy rate is miraculously hovering around zero. Well 17. And that's virtually zero to our hardworking and increasingly nervous Rental Agents who are worrying about their Christmas shopping budgets. A rather stunning... > Read more

WHERE IS ALL THE MONEY GOING???? Do you own a managed investment unit but receive ever diminishing returns? City Sales is working on 6 different buildings at present where owners are becoming... > Read more

WATCH THE REMEDIALS With our City Apartment Market now 15 years old (apart from the eight “original” apartment buildings comprising 226 units that were all that were permitted in our... > Read more