New Zealand's national house price gained to a record high in May, rising above $500,000 for the first time, as five regions hit all-time highs.

It's getting more expensive to buy a house in two Australian states if you live overseas.

COMMENT: After a couple of months to assess the market's reaction, they now see that the market drivers of high demand and low supply still persist.

Auckland has about 45,000 to 50,000 residential multi-unit apartments which are home to more than 100,000 people, an expert says.

Prime Minister John Key says he "potentially" supports income-related restrictions on mortgage lending.

ASB is the fourth major bank to impose lending restrictions on foreign home buyers.

Lawrence Watt joins first-home hunters to see how far he can stretch $550,000 in Auckland's suburbs.

Rotorua, Whakatane and Taupo are three new areas to bask in the glow of Auckland's property boom as investors drive up values.

America's Cup yachtsman Sir Russell Coutts and his family have moved into their multi-million-dollar beachfront home.

One of the criteria to qualify as a first-home buyer is that you have never held an "estate in land", either solely or jointly with another person.

The Reserve Bank is about to undertake a major review of the capital regime for New Zealand's retail banks.

The decision of banks to stop lending to foreign house buyers appears to have taken everyone by surprise.

BNZ has joined ANZ Bank and Westpac's local unit in restricting mortgage lending for foreign property buyers.

COMMENT: Debt is growing twice as fast as economic growth, writes Brian Fallow.

COMMENT: House prices are rising at 30 times the rate of inflation. 16,000 houses are year are being bought by foreign speculators. Record numbers are living in cars and garages, writes Andrew Little.

COMMENT: Housing. How hard is it really? Here's a house, here's a door. Windows: one, two, three, four. And the hatchback, if you have one.

Turns out the answer isn't as simple as you might think.

Economist claims that cutting number of immigrants allowed into New Zealand could reduce Auckland house prices by a quarter within two years.

A brick and tile unit has sold for more than $1 million - a new benchmark, according to a realtor.

In an era when most couples with kids both work, having one parent who's the sole breadwinner is a luxury ... and sometimes a burden.

A historic home steeped in Kiwi aviation history on the former Hobsonville Airbase is up for tender.

COMMENT: How does buying now compare to 1989? The data may surprise.

NZbuilding activity grew for a fifth quarter in the March period as Auckland dominated construction for both residential and commercial construction.

COMMENT: Rather than waving a magic wand at the housing problem, the Government has waved the big stick - telling the Council to free up land, writes Barry Soper.

Median sale prices dipped between April and May, yet sale volumes rose sharply between the two months.

A week ago, when the Budget had delivered no answers to the hyperinflation of house prices, the PM told us to wait for a National Policy Statement.

Auckland's effect on the property market is pushing first home buyers in the regions to the limit as they buy homes without first setting foot inside.