Rotorua houses are slightly more affordable, as competition between banks eases the pressure on mortgage payments nationwide.
Roost's latest home-loan affordability report has revealed affordability in Rotorua improved from 39.5 per cent in July to 38.4 per cent in August.
The report measures the percentage of after-tax pay needed to service an 80 per cent mortgage on a median-priced house.
Year-on-year figures, however, showed affordability had worsened from 35 per cent in August last year. Rotorua's average weekly pay cheque after tax for people aged 30-34 is now $778.99 - up from $761.63 in August last year.
Felecia Hewsom, of Talk Mortgages in Rotorua, said local house prices were "very affordable" for young families, who could snap up a good property for $220,000. Between KiwiSaver and Housing New Zealand's Welcome Home Loan, a deposit was "achievable", she said.