House sales, prices fall
House sales fell in December and the national median price eased, the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) says.
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House sales fell in December and the national median price eased, the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) says.
Sales numbers fell back to 4397 last month, from 5138 in November, and were also down on the December 2009 total of 4957.
But REINZ chief executive Helen O'Sullivan noted that last month's house sales were higher than those in the months from August to October 2010.
The national median slipped to $352,000, from $360,000 in November and in December 2009, but was still above the median prices between July and October.
The national median number of days to sell edged lower from 40 in November to 39 in December.
Ms O'Sullivan said the fall in turnover followed a fall in listings in December and in the number of houses on the market as a result of good sales in November.
"December sales volumes are always subject to the timing and impact of the great New Zealand Christmas shut down, and January's figures will provide a better picture of market activity over summer.
"Anecdotally our members are reporting increased activity so it will be interesting to see how that translates into listings and sales."
The REINZ monthly housing price index, which is basically an average of sale prices for common groups, fell 0.6 per cent in December.
In the three months to December, housing prices were unchanged when compared with the three months to September.
The index was 1.6 percent lower than a year earlier, with house prices down 5.3 per cent from the November 2007 peak.House sa
NZPA
Tue, 18 Jan 2011
Tue, 18 Jan 2011
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House sales, prices fall
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