Our take on the latest Real estate statistics (Mon 16 Mar 2026)
House prices
House sales
Stock of houses for sale
0.7%
0.3%
2.3%From Jan 2026 (sa)
From Feb 2025
Since Oct 2025 (sa)
The key numbers...
- House prices jumped 0.7% between January and February (according to Infometrics seasonal adjustment), marking the biggest monthly increase in 2½ years.
- February’s jump meant that house prices were unchanged from a year ago, following annual price falls in each of the previous three months.
- Prices are still lower than a year ago across much of the North Island, including falls of 3.6%pa in Gisborne and 2.9%pa in Wellington. Tasman is the only South Island region currently showing an annual price fall, while Southland has the strongest price growth, at 7.0%pa.
- Sales volumes recovered much of the ground lost in January, rebounding 6.6% (Infometrics seasonal adjustment). Sales numbers were marginally higher than in February 2025, up 0.3%.
- Otago, Auckland, and Northland have led sales growth in recent months, with volumes over the three months to February up from a year earlier by 8.7%, 8.5%, and 6.4% respectively.
- The number of homes for sale eased for the fourth consecutive month (seasonally adjusted), which is the longest run of declines since mid-2023. However, the stock of properties is only at a six-month low, and it is still 1.8% higher than a year ago.
...and our reaction
- February’s result suggests more stability in the housing market, after sales declines in November 2025 and January 2026 had pointed towards a softening market.
- This assessment of a more stable market is reinforced by less negative trends for house prices and the stock of properties.
- However, the Iran War has recently led to significant increases in petrol prices and wholesale interest rates. If higher fuel prices continue for any sustained period, they will undermine New Zealand’s economic recovery and hit consumer confidence. In tandem with upward pressure on mortgage rates, international events could weaken housing market demand in coming weeks and lead to renewed downward pressure on house sales and prices.
Latest updates
Premium
Real estate statistics
House prices and sales fall
Thu 14 May 2026
Monthly
7.9%pa House sales in Apr 20260.5% House prices from Mar 2026 (sa)1.2% Stock of homes for sale since Feb 2026 (sa)Premium
Real estate statistics
Housing market in a holding pattern
Thu 16 Apr 2026
Monthly
+0.2% House prices from Mar 2025-0.1% House sales from Mar 2025+0.2% Stock of homes for sale from Feb 2026 (sa)Real estate statistics
A weak start to 2026 for the housing market
Mon 16 Feb 2026
Monthly
8.9% House sales from Dec 2025 (sa)0.7% House prices from Jan 2025
Stock of homes for sale still near 10-year highs