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Housing set to prosper on strong migration

Tuesday 23rd of June 2009

Seasonally adjusted, a net 2,690 migrants arrived in May, the most since July 2003 when 2,800 permanent and long-term visitors arrived, according to Statistics New Zealand.

"The gain in migration represents a tangible positive ingredient for underlying housing demand, reinforcing the improvement in affordability resulting from lower mortgage rates and falling house prices," said Robin Clements, economist at UBS New Zealand.

"With clear evidence of housing activity turning up, the drag that housing has placed on gross domestic product growth is set to fade in the second half."

In May, the total number of properties sold rose to 6,291, from 4,372 in the same month of 2008, according to the Real Estate Institute.

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