Opportunity under the hammer
SAM STEELE HEAD AUCTIONEER RAY WHITE NEW ZEALAND
The early weeks of 2026 have delivered something the property market has been waiting for: momentum that feels genuine. Buyer confidence is strengthening, sales activity is lifting, and the tone of enquiry has shifted from cautious observation to purposeful engagement – all signs that the market is moving out of its softer phase.
The shift has been most visible under the auction hammer. Across Ray White’ s national network, 571 auctions were conducted in January and February, a 7.10 per cent lift on the previous month, accompanied by a noticeable rise in bidder participation. Auction rooms that were subdued a year ago are once again animated, with buyers prepared to compete when the right property appears.
The breadth of outcomes has been equally telling. Sales achieved through auction ranged from $ 75,000 to more than $ 6 million, spanning lifestyle holdings, entry-level homes, family residences, and premium assets. This wide distribution – long regarded as a reliable barometer of sentiment – suggests confidence is returning across the full spectrum of the market, not just the top end.
AUCTION
DAYS
Sold faster under the hammer
35.5
DAYS
20 days faster
OTHER SALE METHODS
55.5
Faster timelines can help sellers align with relocations, school moves or other time-sensitivie plans.
National metrics reinforce the picture. Average registrations climbed to 2.5 bidders per auction, with many campaigns attracting double-digit interest. Auctions accounted for 36.8 per cent of all new listings, underscoring their enduring appeal to vendors seeking competitive tension, price discovery and certainty of outcome.
This preference has been supported by a series of largescale auction events across the Ray White network – from South Auckland, Central Auckland and the North Shore to Gisborne, Bay of Plenty – each delivering strong volumes and, crucially, decisive results. These events act as pulse checks for the wider market, and recent performance suggests the pulse is strengthening.
“ These events act as pulse checks for the wider market, and recent performance
suggests the pulse is strengthening.”
Sam Steele, Ray White New Zealand, Head Auctioneer
Speed remains one of the auction method’ s defining advantages. Properties sold under the hammer averaged just 35.5 days on the market compared with 55.5 days for other sale processes – a meaningful difference for sellers coordinating relocations, school transitions, or year-end plans.
In a market where certainty has been elusive, the ability to transact quickly and transparently is proving highly attractive.
As 2026 gathers pace, the overall mood across the property landscape is distinctly more optimistic. Importantly, activity is broadening across regions and price brackets rather than concentrating in isolated pockets.
Taken together, these signals suggest a market regaining balance and confidence at the same time – the foundations now appear firmly in place for a year of steady progress rather than volatility.
RAY WHITE NOW NEW ZEALAND | 16