knowledge centre
How realistic is selling above your CV? - 09 May 13
After looking at sale price in relation to asking price last month we have delved into whether selling above your CV is realistic. We have looked at both the top 10 suburbs that are selling for above CV and bottom 10 suburbs that are selling for below CV to give you an idea of the areas where CV is a realistic asking price.
Are you likely to sell for above your asking price? - 09 April 13
When it comes time to sell, what you set as your asking price can greatly affect your homes selling potential. Set it too low and you could under sell your property, but set it too high and you might deter any potential buyers. With just under 20% of homes in 2012 selling for more than the asking price, we’ve taken a look at what houses were put on the market for and what the sellers actually achieved.
Creating a great first impression - 05 April 13
It's commonly felt that a lot of house-hunters have already made up their minds about your house before they set foot inside your open home. Your job as the property owner is to convert potential buyers perusing your living room into people who simply cannot miss out on having YOUR home.
Signs that Auckland values are slowing - 08 March 13
For the past two years house prices in Auckland have been increasing. However, there are the first signs that the increases may be slowing down in parts of Auckland, and in places values have even slid back slightly in the past few months.
Rating Values - Myths and Facts - 13 February 2013
Rating Values are often misunderstood, particularly how they are calculated and what they mean. During conversations with property and home owners, valuers often hear the same comments.
Where’s the value in your home - 13 February 2013
The old saying; “Location, Location, Location”, is certainly important, but where does the greatest value lie? Is it that new kitchen, the upgraded bathroom, the three bedrooms plus study and two living areas, or the extensive landscaping?
Top and bottom sales in 2012 - 11 February 2013
2012 was an interesting year for the property market. New Zealand’s property values really started to take off again, spurred on by the Auckland and Christchurch markets. But what did properties really sell for?
Have you reviewed your insurance cover lately? - 11 December 2012
Especially after the earthquakes, the question we should all be asking ourselves on a regular basis is - do I have sufficient cover on my homes or commercial/industrial buildings to ensure they can be replaced in the event of a total loss?
What are your tips for creating a great entrance into your home? - 11 December 2012
They say first impressions count. The entrance to a home can make a strong statement about the area you are about to enter. Get some tips on how you can enhance the entrance way to your home.
The not so elusive million dollar club - 8 November 2012
With the population growing and house prices recovering in some areas after the financial down turn, is a million dollar property really that remarkable anymore? Judging from the amount of houses in New Zealand that are worth over $1 million, it is probably more common than most think.
What key elements create a successful outdoor living area? - 9 October 2012
In today’s busy world a well designed outdoor living area can be an oasis to rest and relax in. It can really provide a property with that sought after ‘x-factor’.
The acquisition of private land for public works - 9 October 2012
From time to time statutory bodies needs to acquire land in order to carry out public works such as roads, form public access ways, create reserves to name a few. In some cases the land may be owned by private individuals or entities. So, what happens?
An update on the apartment market - 9 October 2012
There are around 43,000 apartments in New Zealand. Although this number isn’t particularly high when compared to other residential properties, apartments are still a popular inner city choice for many across the country.
Christchurch property market update - 11 September 2012
With the second anniversary of the September quake having just passed, the Christchurch property market is showing little signs of slowing.
Understanding your Rating Value - 10 September 2012
The calculation of Rating Values and how they impact on the rates is a complex process which can vary between Councils. Here we will attempt to shed some light on Rating Values.
How long people are holding on to houses for - 9 August 2012
Over the last few years the number of house sales has dropped considerably from the level we saw during the property boom of 2003 to 2007. That should mean that people are now holding onto their properties for longer rather than selling.
The insurance landscape today – ensure you have the right cover - 8 August 2012
To say it has been a turbulent past few years for the insurance industry is certainly an understatement. But what does this mean for us - the consumers of insurance products?
Little change in consumer sentiment over property market - 10 July 2012
The results of the latest survey of the New Zealand housing market carried out by QV.co.nz shows that more people expect house prices to rise over the next twelve months than any of our previous surveys since 2009.
Wondering where to start? - 4 July 2012
Before you knock out that wall, put in those new French doors or add another room... get some free expert advice on what adds value.
The impact of mining: A Coromandel case study - 13 June 2012
Mining can be a very contentious issue, especially after the Pike River disaster in late 2010, and with the potential environmental impacts it can bring. New Zealand has a long history with mining but the affect on property values is always on the minds of home owners.
Christchurch market update - 12 April 2012
The September 2010 and February 2011 earthquakes had a major impact on Christchurch and the surrounding areas. The property market in those areas has been heavily affected in a variety of ways. We take a look at the number of sales and house values pre and post the Christchurch earthquakes.
The changing mindset of property investors - 12 April 2012
A few years ago a popular strategy for investors was to purchase a property to renovate and on-sell for capital gains. Now the market has turned and the savvy investor has evolved with a change in mindset. So, what strategy is the best approach for investors now?
How fast are values rising? - 13 March 2012
For most of the past year, nationwide values have been gradually increasing, and in a chart showing the value change over the past 5 years, this current increase in value looks quite strong. However if we look further back in time we can see that the current increase is actually relatively modest.
A quick guide to the Canterbury Zoning - 15 February 2012
In Canterbury there is a list of zones on everybody’s lips – Green, Orange, Red and White. These are the new zonings assigned to identify whether or not a property can be built on based on the extensive geotechnical work carried out since the quakes began. So, what do these zonings mean?
The market’s response to earthquake zoning - 15 February 2012
Since the Canterbury zones were introduced, we have seen a steady supply of sales of properties in the grey and yellow zones, but very few in the blue zone. Value movements still generally reflect the degree with which the land has been affected by the earthquakes.
Current values across New Zealand relative to the 2007 market peak - 14 February 2012
Nationwide residential property values are currently only 3.3% below the previous market peak of 2007. However this varies widely across the country in response to local economic conditions. Parts of Auckland and Canterbury are now above the previous market peak, while some provincial and rural areas are over 20% below.
Changing house values by area type - 10 January 2012
There are differences in the residential housing markets between urban, provincial and rural areas. All three area groups grew strongly in value up to the market peak of late 2007 to early 2008. They then all declined around 10% through the global financial crisis in 2008 and early 2009. The nature and extent of recovery since, is what separates them.
Santa and the suburbs - 8 December 2011
As Christmas nears, Santa will be planning his route across the world to deliver cheer to all. Somewhere during the night he’ll be making his way around New Zealand so we provided Santa with an extract from our database to help with his planning.
A Spring lift in sales? - 9 November 2011
At around this time of the year some property commentators mention a Spring lift in sales numbers. We’ve looked back to 1981 to see what evidence there is for a Spring increase in sales.
What's the top suburb in the region nearest you? - 12 October 2011
One particularly interesting statistic that tends to get asked for a lot, is what is the top suburb in a particular region. The following table outlines the top five suburbs for each major region of New Zealand
Changing sales volumes since 2000 - 13 September 2011
Looking back to the beginning of 2000 we can see how the number of house sales nationwide has changed over time. After peaking at nearly 28,000 sales per quarter in 2003 the number of sales settled at around 22,000 until 2007
Property value change over the past 3 and 12 months - 08 August 2011
Over the past twelve months property values at a National level first dropped for a few months, then levelled, and for the past few months have been gradually increasing.
Little change in consumer sentiment over property market - 11 June 2011
The results of the latest survey of the New Zealand housing market carried out by QV.co.nz shows little change from the last survey in December 2010.
QV.co.nz property quiz - 08 June 2011
How well do you know property? Take our quick five minute quiz and find out some quirky property facts.
Average house size by age - 10 May 2011
The average size of a house in New Zealand, based on floor area, is 149 m2. This has generally increased over time, with houses built recently being over 50% larger than houses built in 1900.
Average house size by area - 12 April 2011
The average size of a house in New Zealand, based on floor area, is 149 m2. We look at how this varies between districts, cities, towns, and suburbs.
The property market in Christchurch after the quakes - 8 March 2011
The major quake on February 22nd has caused much more extensive damage to Christchurch than the September 4th quake. It is too early to say exactly what impact this will have on the housing market in Christchurch, although what happened between September and February may give us something of a guide.
Sales volume drop from peak by area - 8 February 2011
One of the most notable features of the property market over the last three years has been how the number of sales has dropped. This drop in the number of sales has affected nearly every city, town and suburb, but we’ve taken a look at the areas that have done better or worse than the rest.
How is a Rating Value determined and what does this mean? - 6 January 2011
Homeowners in most regions tend to receive their updated Rating Value every three years. This will inevitably raise some questions such as how is a Rating Value determined and what does this mean? We take a look at the purpose of Rating Values and how they are subsequently used.
The effect of the Canterbury earthquake on the property market - 7 December 2010
The September 4th 2010 earthquake in Canterbury had an immediate impact on the housing market in the area. Land and property damage across the region delayed sales already in progress, slowed the overall sales process, and changed the supply and demand in the area.
Best and worst performing areas since the peak - 5 November 2010
Using the QV residential price movement index we measure the change in value between the peak of the market and today and see that some areas have fared better than others.
Valuing a Leaky Home - 7 October 2010
To some people, leaky homes have no value. They wouldn't even consider buying one. To others, the value is intrinsic because it is already their home. And yet to others, a leaky home may represent an opportunity to make a profit. We take a look at valuing a leaky home.
Comparing house value changes between urban, provincial and rural areas - 9 September 2010
There are often house value differences between each of the cities, but even bigger differences between cities and rural areas. So let’s take a step back and compare the change in house values over the last few years in the main urban areas, the provincial towns, and the rural areas.
A Valuer's take on tax changes - 9 August 2010
The changes to the taxation system have been well documented over the past couple of months. Many are now asking how these changes have affected the residential property market to date, and what will occur after they come into affect later this year.
Best and worst performing street types - 12 July 2010
There's good news for homeowners whose address ends in Strand - you're settled in some of New Zealand's most exclusive and expensive properties. Check out how your street type ranks.
The budget and its impact on the property market - 10 June 2010
A summary of the changes to tax measures announced in Budget 2010 that affect the property market.
Understanding Cross-lease Titles - 7 May 2010
Properties come with various forms of tenure (Title types), they are all okay, but some are more restrictive than others. The important thing is that you understand what it is that you are buying, what you can and can't do under that tenure, and the potential problem areas to check before going unconditional with an offer to purchase.
Best and worst performing suburbs - 12 April 2010
Check the change in property value over the past year for the top and bottom suburbs across the country.
How long are houses owned before they are sold? - 5 March 2010
It is often said that properties are sold on average every seven years. Is that true?
Residential sales turnover - 5 February 2010
Where have the sales been happening? We have looked at sales turnover across the country.
Selling a property - be informed - 5 February 2010
No matter your reason for choosing to sell you’re bound to have lots of questions. Here’s a guide to help you answer some of these questions and looks at how you are protected and what independent information is available to you.
Buying a property – be informed - 11 January 2010
If you are thinking of buying a property, what information do you need? What can you expect from real estate agents based on REAA’s new rules for client care? Find out how you are protected and what independent information is available to you.
Where is the property value growth coming from? - 7 December 2009
House prices have been rising steadily since earlier this year. We look at some of the major cities to see how house prices have changed in recent months from the top end of the market through to the bottom end, and so uncover what’s driving values up.
Real Estate Agents Authority provides greater protection for consumers - 7 December 2009
Consumers can now have greater confidence in the real estate industry with the Real Estate Agents Authority opening for business late last month. Find out how you can benefit from these changes.
Differences in house price changes between Urban, Provincial and Rural areas - 9 November 2009
The latest QV property statistics show that house values for all New Zealand have recovered from the low of early this year. But not all parts of the country are behaving the same way.
Not all values are created equal - 9 November 2009
The confusion surrounding the seemingly endless array of property valuation types is not surprising. We discuss the purpose and differences of three main types of valuation in New Zealand.
Attractions and pitfalls of property investment - 4 September 2009
Investing in property is different from buying your own home. Find out about the attractions and pitfals of property investment.
The changing New Zealand property market - 7 August 2009
Differences in the way the market behaves from one end of the value range to the other.
Back to Buying Basics - 7 August 2009
Regardless of where we are in the residential property market cycle, there will always be opportunities to buy. Whether you are looking to take your first steps in the property market, or are a seasoned investor, it is always good just to get back to basics.
What makes up the value of a property - 6 July 2009
Where’s the value in your home, and what should you be looking for when buying?
Check the Title before buying - 8 May 2009
When buying a property it is important to check for any restrictions that apply to the property that might prevent you from enjoying the use of the land, such as covenants and easements. Here are a few reasons why checking the Title is important when making a property decision.
Positive cash flow properties - Now is a good time for investors - 8 May 2009
The current conditions are creating a market where positive cash flow properties are now becoming more common. Property values have fallen in many regions while at the same time some areas are showing increased rental rates and interest rates are falling. The combined effect is that rental yields are trending upwards.
Many ways to search for a property on qv.co.nz - 8 April 2009
There are many ways to search for the 2 million properties available on qv.co.nz. Here’s a few simple tips that should help you find the property you are after with our simple address search or using one of our other easy search options.
How to determine the current value of a property - 9 March 2009
Whether you are buying, selling, or just interested in the value of your own home, how do you determine how much the property is currently worth?
Demystifying rating valuations - 11 February 2009
Why have some Rating Values increased in a declining market?