Auckland prices static

Auckland residential property prices have lost their upward momentum, according to latest figures from Barfoot and Thompson.

Friday, June 3rd 2016, 12:00AM

by Dana Kinita

“The average sales price has remained static for two months now,” managing director of Barfoot & Thompson, Peter Thompson said.

“In May, the average price of $874,623 increased by just over $1000 over that for April, while April’s average price increased by less than $7000 over that for March,”

“The average price in May compared to that for the previous 3 months is up only 2.4%, and the year-on-year increase for May was up only 6.4%.

“This is well down on the 12 percent increase we saw in the 2015 calendar year."

Mr Thomson said it had been five months of trading since the all-time high average price of $876,075 was set.

“In May, the median price came off its all-time high of $820,000, falling to $809,500, a drop of more than $10,000 or 1.3 percent.

“May’s median price is up 3.1 percent on the average for the previous 3 months and up 7.9 percent on the year-on-year comparison."

The stabilisation of prices is not a result of lack of buyers, he said.

“Sales numbers at 1306 rebounded off last month’s low level and were up more than a third on those for April, and up 31.4 percent on the average for the previous 3 months. Sales numbers benefitted from a strong level of new listings, which reached 1905. This was an increase of 27.3 percent on those for the previous month.

“At month end we had 3013 properties on our books. While this is higher than the previous month’s 2846, listings remain at historically low levels, and there has never been a better time to sell.

“More than a third of all the properties sold in May (464) sold for in excess of $1 million, with 14.2 percent (185) selling for less than $500,000."

Mr Thompson said in the last two months, the number of sales has not influenced prices. In May turnover was high and in April turnover was low, yet for both months prices remained relatively static or fell. ”