POLITICAL & REGULATORY REPORT for OCTOBER 2008

PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS The 48th Parliament was formally dissolved on 6 October and Parliamentarians are currently on the campaign trail.
31-10-2008 more >>

Record, sign and seal to sort out tenancy problems

When landlords and tenants agree on a solution to a problem, the agreement should be recorded in writing and both should sign it.
30-10-2008 more >>

President's AGM Report

Martin Evans reviewed the last year for members at the AGM held on October 24 in Rotorua. This, he said, has been a year of change during which the NZ Property Investors' Federation has shown leadership.
29-10-2008 more >>

Insulating old homes joins list of economy-boosting ideas

Prime MInister Helen Clark has added the retrofitting of insulation into old homes to the list of projects the government is considering fast-tracking to boost the economy, saying it could help plug up job shortages for unskilled workers in the short term.
23-10-2008 more >>

Bollard axes rates - 1 percent

The Reserve Bank has slashed official interest rates an unprecendented 1 percentage point to 6.5 points, opening the way for cuts to mortgage rates but also highlighting the grim outlook facing the global economy
23-10-2008 more >>

Rate falls and flat prices nudge house market towards buyers

Falling interest rates and flat house prices pushed house affordability to a two-year high in September, a survey shows.
17-10-2008 more >>

Govt-owned sections for lower-income earners

Labour has announced lans to open up areas of public land in pricey areas such as Auckland so modest income earners can build their own homes.
16-10-2008 more >>

Mortgage rates tipped to stay high

The Reserve Bank of NZ is tipped to cut the official cash rate this month, but mortgage holders and first home buyers are warned not to expect lower interest rates yet.
14-10-2008 more >>

Bollard: we don't need a rate cut yet

The Reserve Bank won't make an early cut to its interest rate, bu tis taking action to ease movement of money in the financial system
10-10-2008 more >>

The pressure is on for a BIG interest cut

In a shock-and-awe move, the Reserve Bank of Australia has cut its official cash rate by a full percentage point, putting pressure on its New Zealand counterpart to follow suit.
08-10-2008 more >>

House prices 'to keep falling until March'.

House prices are expected to hit bottom in March, and could fall to as much as 25 per cent down on boom levels, according to Treasury's pre-election report.
07-10-2008 more >>

Auckland home sales pick up with Spring

The number of homes sold in Auckland rose last month, reflecting a pickup in demand with the start of Spring. The average price fell, possibly reflecting the global credit crisis, according to real estate firm Barfoot & Thompson.
06-10-2008 more >>

Kiwis free to take up DIY tools

Kiwi DIY culture is set to flourish after the Government announced on 30 September relaxed building standards, but some builders are concerned about faulty construction from amateurs.
03-10-2008 more >>

Coming to grips with Building and Construction portfolio

Shane Jones says that coming to grips with the Building and Construction portfolio has been a bit like running straight off the bench into a rugby scrum...crouch, touch, and engage!
03-10-2008 more >>

Building code red tape cut

Landlords can look forward to some changes to the Building Code that come into effect on October 16, designed to make the building process less complicated for minor work.
03-10-2008 more >>

Beginning of the end for fixed rates?

Is it the beginning of the end for the fixed rate mortgage so beloved of New Zealand home owners?
02-10-2008 more >>

October '08 Issue

10 Rental Safe Havens

Election '08: housing policies

Day in the life of a Mortgage Broker
01-10-2008 more >>