House-hunters pick mum's grub over DIY

First-home buyers are warned they could be shut out of home ownership if they do not act soon. Photo / File

A "lazy generation" of first-home buyers are happy to decorate but not renovate, says Black and White Mortgages broker Karrie Stephens.

It was "now or never" for first-home buyers as it swung from a buyers' market to a sellers' market.

"They are living with mum or dad in a really nice house and when they go looking in the $250,000-$350,000 price range they are not liking what they are seeing, deciding to stay at home until something better comes along, hoping the higher-end prices would drop."

Would-be first-home buyers were hoping to skip the DIY effort that previous generations took to get on the property ladder "when you actually can't".

"We have some wonderful websites, to buy the cool lounges and cool couches, but we are not motivated to go and do the hard yards of renovating.

"We have had a few now who have come through [and] said home was nicer for just $100 a week with a cooked meal," Ms Stephens said.

"Now is a good time to buy, when you have good interest rates and reasonably-priced property, but they are still not jumping."

She said Auckland buyers were already eyeing the regions as prices spiralled out of reach.

"Why wait until the market is heated? Get in there now and buy."

REINZ figures show 248 house sales went unconditional in May, up from 206 in April.

The May figure was 24 per cent up on May 2014.

The increasing sales volume was unusual going into winter, traditionally a quiet time for the market.

Real estate heads said median price increases were sure to follow.

The local market has only recently attained 2007 prices.

Ms Stephens said the lending market was "hugely competitive", with banks bending over backwards to secure deals, offering competitive interest rates.

First-home buyers should "get out of their comfort zone", learn the market, talk to the professionals, and look for the opportunities that "require a bit of elbow grease".

Andrew White of My Valuer said there were plenty of buyers looking to purchase in Hawke's Bay, but there was a lack of properties on the market in the $250,000 to $450,000 price range.

At the same time there was a backlog of first-home buyers, following the loan to value lending restrictions implemented in late 2013.

"These buyers are literally waiting for their opportunity, however appear to be in no rush, even when opportunities arise," he said.

Sellers were anticipating price increases on the back of commentary around the increased number of Aucklander's considering a move to Hawke's Bay - releasing equity from the heated Auckland market to buy and live in "a very desirable, yet affordable, part of New Zealand".

First-home buyers still had "huge opportunities" in the Hawke's Bay market with "solid homes on great family-size sites".

"Don't envy those that have taken the initiative and already jumped into the market," Mr White said.

"The opportunity still exists, but the window is closing. We've seen it happen in Auckland over the last 18 months."