Dean and Mandy Barker have a new multimillion-dollar project when they return from the America's Cup.

Alyssa Longville and Callum Carter (left) are among the few who were able to buy their first home with a mortgage of more than 80 per cent of the purchase price.

House-hunters looking for a home under $400,000 should steer clear of the North Shore, where only 7 per cent of properties sold last month fell into that price range, and instead look at Papakura.

New mortgage lending restrictions could cause a dramatic reduction in the number of houses built each year and put many small construction firms out of business, the Registered Master Builders Federation says.

Fairway Bay at Whangaparaoa's Gulf Harbour will eventually add 1000 new houses priced from $595,000 to $850,000.

Up to 8000 families, couples and individuals trying to get into their first home will be stymied by the Reserve Bank's new lending restrictions, Finance Minister Bill English has acknowledged.

Customers unhappy with their pre-approved loans being pulled by ASB are being encouraged to take the issue up with the Banking Ombudsman.

The struggle to enter the property market for the first time has been a hot topic, from property availability to lending criteria.

Auckland house-hunters Tristan and Jessica Lomberg are like many others in the city - they wanted a good, biggish place but not with a huge price.

ASB Bank has pulled the plug on existing pre-approvals for low-equity home loans from October 4 but rival banks say they will continue to honour their pre-approvals.

Rats, overcrowding, pollution, pohutukawa removal, monotonous buildings, dust, grime and smells were objections raised against plans for New Zealand's biggest housing estate.

ASB Bank has cancelled all pre-approvals for home loans over the 80 per cent loan to value ratio with effect from October 4.

Neighbours of a dilapidated Westmere home built by one of Auckland's pioneer architects fear parts of the property will collapse on young local children exploring the inside.

Low-deposit mortgages will not only be harder to get from the end of this month, but they will be a lot more expensive.

The Cornwall Park Trust Board has extended an olive branch to cash-strapped ground renters, offering to change the terms of 110 controversial leases.

Banks have already started tightening up their lending criteria for customers seeking low-deposit mortgages, despite new regulations not kicking in until next month.

A longer commute to the office was a fair trade-off for the Howard family when they swapped their Birkenhead townhouse for a 2ha Kaukapakapa lifestyle block in April.

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

An Auckland couple's wise investment in a massive piece of prime city land has provided a windfall for their family 61 years later.

Property valuer Quotable Value said this week house prices should keep rising for a further 15 months.

Young people are making mortgage inquiries at a record rate to beat home-loan restrictions which begin on October 1, a credit bureau says.

Legal disputes over property held in trusts after relationships break up will "go through the roof" if the Government picks up Law Commission recommendations, a leading trusts lawyer has warned.

First-home buyers priced out of the British market are increasingly looking to buy property in New Zealand, research shows.

Auckland's first special housing areas earmarked for fast-tracked residential developments could be announced this month.

Auckland house prices are still rising fast, as the Reserve Bank's loan-to-value ratio moves are about to be introduced next month.

Rising New Zealand property values accelerated last month as the lack of listings in Canterbury and Auckland continue to overheat the market.