First-home buyers took out only 10 per cent by value of mortgages given by New Zealand banks in September.

Homeowners feeling flush after learning their newly-released property values are borrowing more from banks to splurge on new cars, boats and home renovations.

Heavy demand by homeowners desperate to access details about newly released property revaluations has now brought down the Quotable Value website.

The median weekly cost of renting a house in New Zealand has risen more than six percent on a year ago, according to Trade Me.

A 157 per cent Auckland Council rates rise and a 140 per cent operating costs increase have been blamed for the axing of guaranteed rental returns on a city apartment block.

Auckland residents eager to find out the new value of their home have been disappointed this morning after the Council's website crashed.

Auckland property owners will today find out the new value of their homes when the Auckland Council releases individual capital valuations online.

House values throughout New Zealand rose 1.1pc in the past three months, the slowest rise in two years, according to QV data out.

Auckland land prices have surged, spurring owners to almost double the size of their houses in the past four decades.

New Zealand property prices have reached a new record high according to Trade Me Property.

New Zealand's roaring property market is a tale of two cities - Auckland and Christchurch - while the rest of the country mostly lags well behind.

Eighty Special Housing Areas, due to contain about 40,000 sites or residences, have been approved throughout the Auckland region.

Auckland Council's Ree Anderson talks to Anne Gibson about Special Housing Areas.

Getting a mortgage is much harder than it was before the global financial crisis. No longer will banks lend willy-nilly.

A bylaw banning open fires and old woodburners in Auckland has been kicked for touch by Auckland council.

Council figures show 116,000 Auckland households are now expected to face a rates increase of more than 10 per cent, under a policy released today.

Young, aspiring Auckland first-home buyers are not saving enough, says a real estate agency boss, encouraging them to lower their expectations and spend less.

'Horrific" rates of nearly $50k a year on land still being grazed by livestock prompted the $37.9m sale of one of Auckland's largest land lots.

I didn't. I wanted to be a pilot from the age of 4. I used to run out and watch planes from our backyard but at the age of 12 my mum took me to the air force thinking she was doing the right thing.

Andrew Dickens writes: Much of Auckland was unaware of New Windsor until last week when it was revealed that property prices have shot up 58 per cent in the past three years.

The Block may be a hit with viewers - but the reality TV show's creators aren't popular with some of the neighbours, with 111 complaints.

A do-up North Shore property with basic facilities, exposed plywood floor panels and an overgrown yard strewn with junk is for sale for $629k - $269k above its CV.

Auckland has the nation's highest rate of homeowners still paying off their mortgages and the lowest proportion who own their home mortgage-free.

Million-dollar views on a slim budget have sparked a flood of interest in a luxury apartment on Auckland's waterfront.

In the three years I've lived in New York, I've never owned a lawnmower. Of course I haven't.