Rotting buildings are NZ's worst catastrophe, but the Govt is cashing in, says a study commissioned by the North Shore City Council.

Owners in two townhouse complexes have been backed in drawn-out leaky-building repair battles with their council, which lawyers say may affect rates.

A real estate agent sent cold-calling condolences to a grieving widow - then offered to sell her house.

Luxury houses at the top end of the property market are selling fast, with renewed interest in multi-million-dollar homes.

The average Kiwi has to work nearly three times harder to pay off the average house than they did 50 years ago.

New Zealand is awash with unsold houses which could take nearly a year to clear.

House prices were stable in February, says the Real Estate Institute, while the number of properties sold recovered from a poor January.

Property investors have warned that rents could go up by $34 a week if the Govt scraps landlords' depreciation claims on housing, but the Government says they are wrong.

The hardest part of the process of selling your home is letting go.

The seasonally adjusted volume of residential building activity rose 7.4 per cent in the December quarter, while non-residential volume fell 6.1 per cent.

Market defies gloomy forecasts as buyers fight over meagre property pool.

Inner-city apartments can be a great investment if you do your homework.

In Auckland, you'll need $40,000 or so as a deposit to scrape into some suburbs at entry level.

Relaxed coastal suburb attracts a range of residents.

Eat your heart out, Remuera. The tree-lined streets of Auckland's most noted, refined suburb.

A couple finally win a two-year battle with the British government over their upmarket $1.7m Auckland home.

Pat Baker, a $10 million landlady and grandmother, is bristling about being blamed for wrecking the economy.