The government has delivered on its goal of providing 1,000 more state homes in the past year, Housing Minister Steve Maharey announced today. 30-12-1899 more >>
Borrowers begin the year with some hope that interest rates have reached their peak as weak growth data indicated chances are the Reserve Bank will be in a holding pattern until later this year, when some easing may eventuate. 30-12-1899 more >>
The government’s pilot plan to assist first-home buyers into their own homes has so far helped 850 families buy houses with mortgages totalling nearly $100 million, according to Kiwibank, which administers the scheme. 30-12-1899 more >>
The Labour Government’s Building Act is killing off the “do- it-yourself” home handyman and imposing unnecessary building regulations and costs, Deputy Leader and housing spokesman Dr Muriel Newman said today. 30-12-1899 more >>
State housing tenants caused a record $6 million damage last year - up 50 per cent in the past five years. Nearly $100,000 was spent decontaminating houses that had been used as methaphetamine labs. 30-12-1899 more >>
After two years of consultation, Inland Revenue is refusing to budge from its view that owners of residential rental properties cannot depreciate assets - such as plumbing, wiring and kitchen joinery - faster than the actual buildings they are in. 30-12-1899 more >>
Floating interest rates moved up in the last week in reaction to the Reserve Bank’s official cash rate rise, while some three-year fixed rates dropped. 30-12-1899 more >>
The past week has been a relatively quiet one for rate changes in the home loan market. Also the latest figures from the Reserve Bank, released yesterday, show that the volume of lending is declining. 30-12-1899 more >>
ACT – Reforms
In a speech to Wellington property investors (25 September) the Minister for Building & Housing Clayton Cosgrove highlighted some key reforms planned for the Residential Tenancies Act. 30-12-1899 more >>
Landlords are opposing a law change that aims to protect tenants from being financially disadvantaged if a flatmate causes damage to a rental property. 30-12-1899 more >>
Plans by the Government to allow homeowners to use the KiwiSaver savings scheme to help pay off their mortgages have had a cautious welcome from lenders and advisers. 30-12-1899 more >>
New Zealand's mortgage broking industry could be facing a crisis as banks confirm that they are preparing to cut the commissions they pay brokers. 30-12-1899 more >>
The Government's new housing strategy is a step in the right direction but leaves a number of questions unanswered, Green Party Housing Spokesperson Sue Bradford says. 30-12-1899 more >>
House price inflation accelerated yet again in September, continuing the trend shown since March, according to the latest Quotable Value figures. 30-12-1899 more >>
National Party Housing spokesman Phil Heatley is urging Labour not to push up rents for struggling families renting in the private sector. 30-12-1899 more >>
Anne Gibson reports that consumers may need to arm themselves with lawyers to do battle against rich real estate agents and their firms under the new system unveiled by the Government yesterday. 30-12-1899 more >>
United Future MP Marc Alexander has breached his party's policy of not saying which party it would prefer to coalesce with after the election by nailing his colours to National. 30-12-1899 more >>
