It's a time of year when Kiwis traditionally head to the beaches and lakes to enjoy some rest and recreation.

When John Key bought his holiday home on Omaha's Success Court 23 years ago, he probably had no idea how apt the street name would turn out to be.

Here's what some of those property descriptions sometimes really mean.

A real estate agency dealing with Asian-based investors is scouring Auckland and the upper North Island for properties to keep up with the demand from buyers.

Pop star Daniel Bedingfield has sold his Auckland western fringe rental home for $1.361 million at auction.

Residents of an inner-Auckland pensioner flat complex are shocked that their landlord Housing NZ is trying to interest developers in a real estate deal.

A century-old villa in Herbert Rd, built for Sir Edmund Hillary's grandmother, will be removed by the end of next month so it can be replaced with townhouses.

New Zealanders are increasingly in favour of modern houses, putting energy efficiency and sunny rooms before the character of old villas.

Experts say planned construction good for buyers despite use of some prime areas.

An 8.6 per cent stake in giant listed landlord and Sylvia Park owner Kiwi Income Property Trust is now in play.

An Auckland resident has come up with a novel answer to the problem of unmowed berms - planting a corn patch.

The next big financial disaster to hit New Zealand investors could involve a collapse in house prices or the sharemarket, says departing investment watchdog boss Sean Hughes.

A builder demolished a leaky Onehunga property he bought for $440,000, shifted a 105-year-old worker's cottage on to the site and got $924,500 for the renovated home.

National house prices rose $17,475 last month to reach a $425k median. But are falling sales numbers a sign that new loan rules are starting to bite? (with new infographic)

Five new lenders have applied to the Government to offer Welcome Home Loans amid surging numbers using the first-home buyer scheme.

Builders expect a rush of first-home buyers planning to build new houses following the Reserve Bank's announcement they will be exempt from new mortgage lending rules.

Auckland first-time house buyers Tristan and Jessica Lomberg stepped out of the LVR trap by being hard-out savers.

Reserve Bank home-loan cooling measures have driven business into mortgage brokers' hands, says Jeff Royle.

It would take 19 median incomes in Auckland to buy a home for the city's median house price, a Herald analysis has found.

The Auckland Council reckons Auckland is 20,000 to 30,000 dwellings short of what it needs, writes Brian Fallow.The NZ Institute of Economic Research begs to differ, putting the shortfall at just 5000.

Auckland property values continue to surge ahead, up 15.2 per cent in the last year.

Housing Minister Nick Smith and his Cabinet colleagues have finally decided to lead from the front in dealing with Auckland's housing crisis, writes Brian Rudman. They are to fast-track the purchase of 16.5ha at Hobsonville Pt.

Kiwis keen to sell off their homes continue to hold the upper hand in New Zealand's property market, despite a slight ease in the national asking price during November.

Westpac Bank has launched a new service offering electronic coaching to people saving for their first home and a $1000 carrot to those who manage to reach at least $10,000.

Financier's share from sale just a portion of $39m price - unless FMA gets it.

The coastal property market is making a comeback after years of stagnant or declining prices.

Auckland's most expensive house, the seven-bedroom mansion on exclusive Paritai Drive partly financed by former Hanover Finance director Mark Hotchin, has been sold to a businessman for $39m.

Thompson Park, a $50 million 107-unit apartment project with units starting at $230,000, is about to be built in the Mt Wellington/Ellerslie area.