A man who lived in a state house while he rented out two properties of his own has been sentenced for defrauding the taxpayer.

Harcourts CEO has predicted a marked improvement in property prices in provincial and coastal areas in 2010.

We're buying a bach for Christmas," announced my husband to the gathering.

An elite number of homeowners shelled out over $3m for new homes in the past year, despite being in the midst of a credit crunch.

Home loan affordability worsened in Auckland and Northland for first home buyers last month.

House prices stayed static in the last two months and fears of more expensive mortgage money could be to blame.

House prices across New Zealand rose a slim 0.2 per cent in November, says the Real Estate Institute, but those in Auckland have soared nearly 12 per cent over the past year.

One in three people viewing realestate.co.nz earlier this year searched the words "mortgagee sale", hunting a bargain ripe for plucking.

Sir Edmund Hillary's home has been saved from the wrecker's ball and will be moved to the school that bears the famous New Zealander's name.

The amount of residential building work put in place has fallen by almost 40 per cent since the most recent peak.

New Zealand house values rose 1 per cent in the 12 months ended November 30, up from a 0.20 per cent gain in the period through October, says QV Valuations.

Figures released today show nationwide values are up 4.1 per cent from April but still 5.9 per cent below the market peak of late 2007.

One of Auckland's most breathtaking addresses is on the market for a cool $4.6 million.

Two years on from the heady days of 2007, Devonport has weathered the property bust better than anywhere else in Auckland.

Auckland's house price surge has prompted a warning that over-valuations are creating a bubble that will burst.