
02 March 2026
We are well into the new year and we find ourselves facing new challenges.
When it comes to property sales, Auckland is seeing a drop. Buyers are unwilling to buy and are instead waiting for prices to drop. This is compounded by the fear that interest rates may rise again. On a happier note, people are more confident with their employment situation. This is backed up by findings of Tony Alexanders most recent reports.
When it comes to rentals, landlords are facing difficulties finding tenants for their vacant properties. We have experienced this personally as well, especially recently. This is in part because landlords will (naturally) want, “more bang for their buck.” Unfortunately, the economic situation is such that not many potential tenants will be able to meet their expectations. That being said, we have seen fair demand for the right kind of property. However, this tends to be the exception, not the rule.
My thoughts are that landlords may need to rethink their expectations. After all, “It’s better to have one in hand than two in the bush,” as the saying goes.
There has been small improvements in the global economy, so it isn’t a stretch of the imagination to think that New Zealand will follow. The market isn’t exactly rosy right now, but bad times never last. The recent REINZ report states that we should see a lift in the market after the Feb OCR announcement.
Its a happy coincidence that these sentiments come soon after Chinese New Year, which is supposed to bring luck and prosperity.
That said, I hope you’ve had a good new year so far and Happy Chinese New Year to everyone.
Yours truly,
Mohijit
Market activity remains slow
As per the latest REINZ January 2026 property report, the data shows a 1.1% increase in the Auckland median sale price, compared to the same period last year and a 1.2% decrease in the sales count. Compared to the previous month, the Median Price is down 5.9% and Sales Count is down 51.7%. As per the report, “Local salespeople expect market activity to lift following the February OCR announcement.”

To view the full REINZ report, click here.
Property Investor Insights January 2026
Economist Tony Alexander shares his insights in his latest Property Investor report, which compiles the response he has received from 297 property investors. The results show the following:
- Investor net buying intentions have fallen to the lowest reading on record for our survey.
- Tenants remain difficult to find though slightly less so than at the end of last year.
- There has been a lift in the proportion of investors concerned that interest rates may be headed back up again.
To view the full report, click here.
NZHL Property Report January 2026
Economist Tony Alexander shares his insights in his latest NZHL Property report, which compiles the response he has received from 218 real estate agents. The results show the following:
- First home buyers continue to have a dominant presence in the housing market while investors are showing no particular new surge in purchasing interest.
- Buyers have become newly concerned about interest rates going back up again but are slowly feeling more confident about their employment situation.
To view the full report, click here.
Auckland median sale price movement over last 2 Years (January 2023 – January 2025)

Graph is based on statistical data published by REINZ.
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