Latest Property values statistics from Property IQ for Sept 2012

Residential property values have continued to gradually increase at a nationwide level according to the latest PropertyIQ index for September. Values are up 1.8% over the past three months and 5.3% over the past year.

As a result values have now edged ahead of the previous market peak of late 2007.

Jonno Ingerson, PropertyIQ Research Director said “while nationwide values have been slowly increasing for over a year now, we need to put this into context. The rate of value increase is relatively slow, currently around 5% per year compared to the 10% to 15% we saw during the mid 2000’s”.

“The current value increase is also being driven largely by Auckland and Canterbury. If those two areas are excluded then values across the rest of the country have only increased by around 1.5% over the past year. Furthermore, although values are now just above the 2007 peak, when adjusted for inflation they remain 12% lower.”

“The number of sales in the last few months is higher than in 2010 and 2011, but the years since the global financial crisis have been characterised by very low activity. There is a lack of listings in many areas, particularly Auckland, which is also likely to be constraining sales numbers” said Jonno Ingerson.

“First home buyers and investors are definitely more active in the market now than has been the case for several years. However, in general buyers are acting carefully, doing their research and not overpaying. This is despite the lack of listings, which would ordinarily mean increased competition and prices” said Jonno Ingerson.

“Spring is usually a time when the number of listings increases as people prepare their property for sale during the warmer months. There is some evidence of this seasonal lift, but it is only slight” said Jonno Ingerson.

Old Auckland City continues to have the steepest increase over the past 12 months, up 8.4%, with Manukau and North Shore close behind, up 6.8% and 6.3% respectively. The increase in these areas is reflective over the past three months also, with old Auckland City rising the most, up 3.6%, and Manukau up 2.8%.

Values continue to rise well above the previous peak of 2007, with the wider Auckland area up 7.8%, another 1.2% increase on last month. Old Auckland City now sits 11.2% above peak, with the North Shore 5.9% and Manukau 4.7% above. When adjusted for inflation no area has reached the previous peak, with Old Auckland City the closest at -2.8%.

Growth in Auckland continues, and while the volume of listings has increased we are still seeing a shortage of suitable stock for both improved properties and vacant residential land. This is leading to limited choice for potential buyers in an already heated market. As a result, further competition for quality properties that come onto the market is likely to increase.

With the strong, sustained period of growth recently, and the typical expected lift over the coming months, property values are not expected to slow.