SELL IN SPRING FOR HIGHER PRICES, WINTER FOR FASTER SALE
When you are selling a house, your success often seems to come down to a bit of luck.
The right buyer finds your open home, and - if you're really fortunate - gets into a bit of competitive bidding with another keen purchaser to push up the price.
But when the market is not so hot, that luck can feel harder to find. The latest Real Estate Institute figures show the number of sales in September was down by a quarter, year-on-year.
Market commentators say timing your sale right can help. Kim Sinclair, of Crockers Research Hub, said data showed a connection between migration flows and house price movements.
New Zealand's net migration has been running at a record rate as more people move here and fewer leave. This is one of the factors credited with driving strong house price growth over the past five years. But Sinclair said there was a clear pattern of migration dips between March and May each year, and again in November. That seemed to correlate with dips in sales prices, too.
Sinclair said it made sense that an influx of new arrivals looking for a home would have an effect on the housing market. "This suggests that selling property may not be recommended during those periods as demand may be lower and, conversely, these periods could be good times to buy." Nigel Jeffries, head of Trade Me Property, said winter was the best time of year for sellers who wanted a quick sale. His site's data showed that between June and August, houses spent less time on the market. Last year, properties in Wellington and Christchurch sold faster in winter than in any other season, spending an average of 24 and 38 days on the market, respectively.
Poll: Should the government levy industries that contribute to financial hardship?
As reported in the Post, there’s a $30 million funding gap in financial mentoring. This has led to services closing and mentors stepping in unpaid just to keep helping people in need 🪙💰🪙
One proposed solution? Small levies on industries that profit from financial hardship — like banks, casinos, and similar companies.
So we want to hear what you think:
Should the government ask these industries to contribute?
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59.2% Yes, supporting people is important!
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25.6% No, individuals should take responsibility
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15.2% ... It is complicated
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
A Neighbourly Riddle! Don’t Overthink It… Or Do?😜
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post if you know the answer and the big reveal will be posted in the comments at 2pm on the day!
If you multiply this number by any other number, the answer will always be the same. What number is this?
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