Auckland housing market improves

Photo / Richard Robinson.

Latest house sales figures from real estate company Barfoot & Thompson show some signs of improvement in the Auckland market, but economists suggest the news may be less hopeful for the rest of the country.

The number of sales by the Auckland company rose 9.9 per cent last month from January to 619, with the average price rising 1.2 per cent to $521,887.

Barfoot & Thompson managing director Peter Thompson said the number of homes sold last month was on a par with the sales levels at this time of year for the past four years. The average price was the highest for a February month although similar to a year earlier.

Despite concerns about a rental crisis in Auckland, the average weekly rent in February was down $14 to $402 from January's all-time high.

That fall was expected as the normal influx of people into the city during January eased, Mr Thompson said.

"Even so, February's average price is $12 above the average rent for this time last year, and the market has certainly settled at a new benchmark."

ASB economist Chris Tennent-Brown said the Auckland housing data showed encouraging signs in February, after several weak months of activity.

The Auckland property market - supported by population growth and low construction in recent years - appeared tighter than in other parts of the country.

While ASB expected nationwide prices to stay down around 5-6 per cent from the 2007 peak, and recover only gradually in the years ahead, the dynamics of the Auckland market would likely lead to stronger price lifts than the rest of the nation, Mr Tennent-Brown said.

There was now 8.6 months of inventory on the market - according to realestate.co.nz - an improvement on the 10.3 months recorded last October, when the Auckland market appeared at its weakest.

Goldman Sachs economist Philip Borkin said the Auckland market appeared to be modestly outperforming the rest of the country.

"We suspect demographic demand is slowly beginning to support activity, although we note that house prices remain under downward pressure."

SALES CHECK

* 9.9 per cent rise in house sales in February compared to January.

* $521,887 average sale price in February - up 1.2 per cent on January.

* $402 - average rent per week of new deals, down $14 on January.

- NZPA