Rapidly rising house prices are expected to ease this autumn, following the Reserve Bank’s announcement that its loan-to-value ratio (LVR) regime will be reinstated as of 1 March, with restrictions becoming even tighter later in the year LVR restrictions are one of the Reserve Bank’s tools designed to reduce the risk associated with ‘boom-bust’ cycles. Continue →

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand is seeking views on its plan to reinstate loan-to-value ratio (LVR) restrictions on high-risk lending, with submissions closing 22 January and effect from 1 March 2021 “LVR restrictions are used to reduce the risks to financial stability caused by higher-risk lending. Continue →

Grant Robertson’s rainy-day Budget poured billions – with many more billions still to come – into saving and creating jobs report Dentons Kensington Swan partners Linda Clark and Hayden Wilson If the plan works (and it is still being developed to match rapidly changing economic circumstances) then New Zealand’s economy may be spared the worst of what the Prime Minister calls “dire global predictions”. Continue →

Australia Stock Exchange-listed Centuria Capital has withdrawn plans for a NZ$180 million takeover of one of New Zealand’s largest listed real estate funds management platforms Augusta Capital In a statement to the ASX, Centuria confirmed the deal, which had been a matter of consideration for a considerable amount of time, had been called off amid the coronavirus pandemic and ongoing market volatility. Continue →

The Reserve Bank’s decision to slash the Official Cash Rate from 1.00% to a new record low of 0.25% will help carry the momentum we’ve seen return to the property market in recent months, says Derryn Mayne, Owner of Century 21 New Zealand Regardless of how much the retail banks pass onto borrowers, the fact that interest rates are expected to stay at record-low levels in the foreseeable future will provide certainty and confidence in the sector. Continue →

New Zealand interest rates are converging on zero and it would take a massive economic upswing and rampant inflation to turn around their downward track, which is very unlikely in this environment. Continue →

Chinese investment activity in the Australian property market has focused mainly on assets in the sub-$50 million range, with total outbound investment down under dropping 60 per cent Continue →

Using Crown Infrastructure Partnerships to seed fund private investment in road and water infrastructure could dramatically increase housing supply, says Infrastructure New Zealand Chief Executive Stephen Selwood. Continue →

Property Council New Zealand has welcomed the government’s announcement of a crown company to invest in housing infrastructure. Continue →

Precinct Properties NZ Ltd says its $89 million valuation gain in the year to June lifted the portfolio value over the $2 billion mark. Continue →