POLITICAL & REGULATORY REPORT for September 2009

RESIDENTIAL TENANCIES AMENDMENT BILL – Select Committee report out The Social Services Select Committee presented its report and recommendations on the Bill to Parliament on 25 September. In an unusual move, the committee actually reported early as the paper was originally due for tabling on 5 October.
30-09-2009 more >>

Property managers to charge letting fees

Property managers will be able to compete with the real estate industry in charging letting fees.
30-09-2009 more >>

Sensible Tribunal decision helps protect communities

The NZPIF is pleased with yesterday's decision from the Lower Hutt District Court, confirming the previous decision of the Tenancy Tribunal that allowed HNZ to give a group of tenants 90 day notices.
30-09-2009 more >>

Changes to the RTA move into the final stretch

The select committee has reported back to Parliament.
29-09-2009 more >>

RTA changes reach next phase

Changes to the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) have finally moved into the home stretch, with the bill being reported back to Parliament from select committee.
29-09-2009 more >>

Building approvals climb for second month

Total issuance of permits for dwellings climbed for a second month, which may herald a turning point in slack building activity.
29-09-2009 more >>

Latest ANZ Property Focus gives findings of recent survey

The ANZ in association with the NZPIF undertook the annual survey of property investors in June of this year.
28-09-2009 more >>

Listed property stocks set to soar

Listed property trust shares are set to soar if New Zealand enters a sustained period of inflation, according to NZ Funds Management.
28-09-2009 more >>

Mortgagee sales at all-time high

Mortgagee sales reached an all-time high in July and for the first time since records began, sales exceeded 300 for a single month.
28-09-2009 more >>

Housing affordability 'fair', borrowers locking in longer mortgages

ANZ National Bank's eight gauges of the property market found house affordability is back to "fair" levels, and the turnaround in sentiment has seen borrowers lock in longer mortgages as the prospect of rate hikes begins to grow.
25-09-2009 more >>

Numbers up, but don't get too excited just yet

Spring it seems came early to much of the residential property market, although warnings resound over not mistaking a slight recovery for another housing boom.
25-09-2009 more >>

New website listing not-for-sale properties, for sale

A new online listing service for commercial property has been launched, featuring not-for-sale properties.
24-09-2009 more >>

Housing market continues positive growth

The New Zealand housing market gained further momentum in August following a mid-winter turnaround, according to latest Mike Pero Mortgages/Infometrics Property Cycle Indicator.
23-09-2009 more >>

Taxing matters

Calls for a capital gains tax are gaining momentum, but unfortunately the capital gains debate thus far has been tainted with misinformation and a lack of clarity as to what a capital gains tax would hope to achieve. Frank Newman, who is a writer on investment and a part-time lecturer at Massey University, gives his views.
22-09-2009 more >>

Capital gains tax to focus on equity

Equity, rather than the question of curing an over-investment in property, is the focus of a new paper on a capital gains tax for New Zealand.
18-09-2009 more >>

Stop the misleading talk around property

The NZ Property Investors' Federation is concerned about the high level of misinformation around taxation of property and the introduction of a capital gains tax(cgt).
17-09-2009 more >>

Online info most popular with property buyers

Property buyers seem to be taking more time to do their research before hitting the open-home circuit, with the internet now their primary source of information.
17-09-2009 more >>

'Dressed up' property deals to be caught under new regulation

Investment schemes "dressed up" as property deals to avoid the rigours of the Securities Act could be brought to task by the Securities Commission in future, its chair Jane Diplock has suggested.
16-09-2009 more >>

House prices edging higher: REINZ

New Zealand house prices edged higher and properties were sold in a shorter amount of time last month as strong demand amid rising net migration and low interest rates continue to show signs of stabilisation in the property market.
15-09-2009 more >>

NZPIF Opposes Capital Gains Tax

The NZPIF has been campaigning on behalf of it's members in opposition to proposals to introduce a Capital Gains Tax for Property Investors.
15-09-2009 more >>

Key all but rules out property capital gains tax

While the Prime Minister John Key virtually ruled out a capital gains tax yesterday, he is much less unequivocal about other forms of tax on property investment.
15-09-2009 more >>

Labour backs property tax but not on family homes

Labour leader Phil Goff says his party is prepared to discuss a capital gains tax with the Government, opening the way for an accord on a tax that has long been a political hot potato.
14-09-2009 more >>

Veda Advantage's new value plan for members

John Roberts, GM of Veda Advantage, presented a new value plan for members at the recent NZPIF Conference
14-09-2009 more >>

Numbers of rental properties available continues to slide

There has been a continuing decline in the total number of rental properties being advertised on www.trademe.co.nz and www.realestate.co.nz
14-09-2009 more >>

Insulation the next leaky fiasco?

Another era of leaky homes is being predicted, this time in older houses, due to new insulation standards.
14-09-2009 more >>