COSTS ARE EASING
Coulson says another factor underpinning housing market momentum is that the cost of owning, maintaining, and transacting property is easing across almost every metric.
“ Construction and maintenance inflation has slowed as the building sector regains capacity. Insurance premiums are flat nationwide, and council rate increases have moderated from an average of 12.20 per cent in 2024 to 8.80 per cent in 2025.
“ Together, these trends are improving sentiment across the housing market. For sellers, that means potential buyers have more capacity, financial and psychological, to act.
“ Another factor underpinning housing market momentum is that the cost of owning, maintaining, and transacting property is easing across almost every metric.”
Daniel Coulson, Chief Executive, Ray White New Zealand
“ Our network has reported more first home buyers entering the market, and investors re-engaging as loanto-value ratio( LVR) restrictions ease from 1 December.”
The change in rules means that banks will soon be able to lend up to 25 per cent of new owner-occupier loans above 80 per cent LVR, and 10 per cent of investor loans above 70 per cent LVR.
Coulson says the shift will widen the buyer pool and support price stability through early 2026.
“ At the same time, choice is available to buyers and sellers in a more transparent market. For sellers, this means competition, but also efficiency. Properties priced and presented correctly are transacting swiftly, because when buyers have options, clarity becomes currency.”
STRATEGY OVER SPECULATION
Coulson says the strongest outcomes in this phase of the cycle are coming from strategic sellers – those who recognise that timing isn’ t about guessing the peak but reading the inflexion point.
“ With greater growth projected in 2026, sellers have the renewed opportunity to transact in an improving market. We have seen historically that acting early avoids the rush that often follows confirmation of a recovery.
“ As more households move off the sidelines, competition between sellers rises, with the potential to compress margins and elongate sales campaigns. Some of the best sales results we’ ve seen are possible from listing into optimism, not exuberance.”
Of the next few months, Coulson says Ray White’ s role is to support clients and customers to recognise these changes early.
“ With more than 190 offices nationwide, our network has the depth and agility to capture the nuances of local demand while leveraging national reach.
“ Across every region, we’ re seeing the same pattern: confidence quietly compounding. Sellers who bring their properties to market are increasingly keyed into the ability to seize a strategic window defined by balance, visibility and preparedness.”
In every economic cycle, timing separates the reactive from the ready.
The coming months – with warmer weather, stable mortgage lending rates, easing servicing costs, and improving sentiment – represent a market primed to reward readiness.
For those considering their options, the right time might not be next year – it’ s right now.
RAY WHITE NOW NEW ZEALAND | 10