Our latest thoughts on buying well in the New Zealand property market
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What's in store for prices in Herne Bay, Auckland's most expensive suburb?
Interview with Custom Residential.
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The rise and rise of Auckland's Grey Lynn
Can the suburbs of Auckland's inner west continue to show rapid capital appreciation?
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New edition of Where to Live in Auckland released
Tomorrow sees the release of the latest, 2012 edition of homebuyers’ bible, Where to Live in Auckland. Penny Lewis, Editor of Herald Homes, talked to author/publisher Stephen Hart about the latest edition and some of its findings. How has Auckland property fared over the last 12 months? In price terms, pretty well, compared to the rest ...
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Five golden rules for property investors
Stephen Hart’s company, Auckland HomeFinders, helps homebuyers and investors with all aspects of buying, including where and what to buy and at what price. Here he outlines some key considerations for people considering investing in residential property. Buy well to start with. The two key elements to buying well, not surprisingly, r...
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Play the numbers game to buy better
To really understand the market place and recognise a bargain, you ideally need to view between 80 and 100 homes over say, 10 to 12 weeks. That’s a lot easier to achieve if you live in a large city rather than a country town where you might be forced to reduce your viewing list accordingly. However, I think you will understand the ...
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Something old…or something new?
Buying an original weatherboard villa or similar character home may seem romantic to some, but for others the idea of a brand new home appeals most. They look great, those gracious white, weatherboard villas and bungalows with mature gardens in Remuera, Epsom, Mt Eden and the like. They conjure up memories of a more sedate era. Or may...
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Six tips on buying better
Before doing anything, have pre-approved finance in place – this should be the first task on a buyer’s to-do list, but is often one of the last to get done. It sounds obvious, but without a formal commitment of how much you can borrow from your lender, you have nothing. In order to buy well and negotiate strongly, buyers must be abl...
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Some asking prices are fair, others are outrageous.
Some asking prices are fair, others are outrageous. Here are some ways to help buyers determine which are which. Local Council Websites Most local councils have rating information for houses on their websites. Just go to their home pages and click on “Rates and Property Information.” Search by the address and it will provide you wit...
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Why Auckland's inner-west suburbs have fared so well
Custom Residential, 12 October, 2011 Stephen Hart interviewed about Grey Lynn and other "hot" suburbs.
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Using a mouse to buy a house
The internet has transformed the home-buying process, especially for would-be immigrants wanting to find out how far their British pounds or South African rand will take them in the New Zealand housing market. Whether you’re in Dunstable or Durban you can click on any of the major New Zealand real estate sites. From there you just ta...
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Are you about to buy next door to the Waltons or the Battersbys?
We all know the importance of neighbours. Good ones make life easy and happy; popping in for a coffee and a friendly chat or to borrow a cup of sugar. Bad neighbours, on the other hand, can be the bain of your life; raucous parties, howling dogs, boundary disputes and snubbed noses – life can become a melodrama of arguments and tiff...
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The detail of retail
It sometimes takes a while for retailers to catch on to the fact that their suburb has changed in nature and is showing distinct signs of becoming trendy. Those tyre yards and grubby lunch bars have a habit of sticking around far longer than they have a right to, even when it’s obvious to every one of their well-heeled new resident...
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Beach life
For most of us the summer holidays are over, but those memories of cloudless days, sandy beaches and sea breezes still linger. Maybe it’s time to ditch the house in the clogged city suburbs and relocate to a neighbourhood by the sea. What are some of the options for Aucklanders? Takapuna Takapuna is Auckland’s answer to Malibu Beac...
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Interview on TV1's Agenda
Predicting the burst of the property bubble.
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Neighbourhoods are like brands
Why do some neighbourhoods suddenly take off? How do you spot the next Ponsonby or Grey Lynn before everyone else? Neighbourhoods are like brands. Their very names bestow upon their residents a certain image or set of characteristics. Some have always been revered for their cachet. Remuera, Parnell, and Herne Bay are the Hermes and Gie...
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The Rules of Attraction – how to attract buyers in a quiet market
Things have changed in the world of real estate. Houses aren’t selling and buyers are thin on the ground; that means they should be sold to differently if vendors want to successfully sell their homes. Gone are the days when auctions were the prevalent method of selling a home. Sure, they still exist, but they are far less evident ...