New figures show national property prices were up $5,000 in August, taking the national median price to $390,000.

House prices dipped last month, says the Real Estate Institute, but the number of properties changing hands was up more than 10 per cent from the month before.

Auckland house prices rose for a third month in July as listings and sales jumped, according to Barfoot & Thompson, the city's biggest realtor.

The beginning of the end may have begun for record-low mortgage rates in New Zealand.

Mortgage debt is rising at the fastest clip for 4 years.

Lenders are offering home-owners the lowest short-term bank mortgage rates in New Zealand history as they compete to lure customers before an expected rise next year.

The number of New Zealand house sales slipped from a six-year high last month, but the national market is still being driven by Auckland and Christchurch.

Moves to dampen surging house prices - especially in the Auckland market - came from two directions yesterday.

Debate about rising house prices in Auckland and elsewhere has included discussion on the risk weights the Reserve Bank requires banks to apply to their housing lending.

Banks are slashing their long-term mortgage rates, with customers tied up for longer periods likely to save thousands.

Mortgage approvals reached their highest levels in almost four years last month, as people rushed to make the most of low interest rates.

Self-described business coach Shane Wenzel has been sent to jail for three years for mortgage fraud.

Banks are dropping mortgage rates and offering cash sweeteners, loaded credit cards, payment of legal fees and tablet computers as they go to war for customers.

Govt has foiled an alleged BNZ KiwiSaver scheme which would have offered reduced scheme returns in exchange for mortgage benefits.

How would you feel if someone muscled in front of you in the queue at the bank? How would you feel if the manager actually encouraged queue-jumping? Bernard Hickey looks at bank assets.

Outgoing Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard has delivered his final Monetary Policy Statement and left the OCR unchanged at a record low of 2.5 per cent.

Home owners with big mortgages can breathe a sign of relief - interest rates seem destined to stay low, despite a springtime house-price surge.