Auckland's rental properties remain the most expensive in the country but Christchurch is close behind, new figures show.

Neighbours are throwing their lots in together to sell combined properties for greater sums on the lava-hot property market.

A supermarket worker says she has raised $1 million to buy her state house in one of New Zealand's most-desirable neighbourhoods - but Housing NZ is booting her out regardless.

Real estate agencies say house prices in the over-cooked Auckland market may be starting to level off.

Auckland house prices edged up for a second month in June in the face of fewer listings and intense demand among property buyers, according to Barfoot & Thompson.

Concerns about "pop-up" intensification and neighbours having no say about apartments were raised at yesterday's first public council meeting on changes to Auckland's Unitary Plan.

'We don't want trash renting cheap houses.' Submissions like that against a new housing development in Arrowtown have outraged a young mum.

Aucklanders subdividing their land have decried big infrastructure and development fees, with one Flat Bush resident charged more than $500,000.

More men than women have used KiwiSaver housing grants to help buy their first home despite thousands more women being signed up to the scheme.

More than 21,000 retirees have withdrawn their KiwiSaver funds since the first batch became eligible a year ago.

The number of unsold properties in New Zealand has fallen to a record six-year low, driven by lack of supply and a winter dip in new listings.

The Auckland Council is toning down controversial plans for small-scale apartment buildings in half of suburban Auckland.

Tommy King, unlike his fiancee Emily Williams, was not yet eligible to access KiwiSaver when they started looking for their first home.

A squadron of veterans from a military past will stand proud among the thousands of new homes in the $2 billion development project at Hobsonville.

An Auckland family's home has been gutted by fire just six months after they moved in.

The number of first-home buyers using KiwiSaver savings to get a deposit on a house has almost doubled in the past year as the scheme turns six.

Media couple Mike Hosking and Kate Hawkesby have put their Remuera home on the market as they search for a bigger property for their large family.

A frustrated Tainui Group Holdings has applied for a private plan change with the Environmental Protection Authority to help fast-track the first stage of its multibillion-dollar inland port.

Fancy renting a beachfront property in Takapuna that comes with a lap pool, spa, indoor aquarium, petanque court, outdoor wood pizza oven, barbecue, double garaging and a security gate?

Tenants in Auckland's poorer areas pay less than those in more wealthy suburbs - but not relative to the value of the houses, figures show.

My husband and I are trying to get on to the property ladder for a second time.

The discussion about Auckland's housing is heated and is at risk of missing the point.

The housing crisis in areas like Auckland is not a by-product of migrants buying up residential properties, Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse says.

Homebuyers flummoxed by the heated property market have been given the best indication yet of what they should pay for a house.

House-hunters are so terrified of being locked out of the soaring property market that they're making their real estate agents sign agreements.

If the market distortion is going to persist then those with the means should be buying multiple houses, they can't do anything but go up in value, writes Gareth Morgan.

Some house buyers are backing calls to stop foreigners from ramping up Auckland's already heated market.