The latest property sales figures look good for Northland where volumes and average prices are on the rise, and show the second best performance in New Zealand.
Northland trounced all other North Island regions, according to the Real Estate Institute New Zealand's June index, with a sales volume increase of 39 per cent, second only to Canterbury/Westland's 56 per cent over the past year.
Northland's average price also went up, by 10 per cent, in June compared with May, beaten only by Central Otago Lakes (11.5 per cent).
Northland and Central Otago Lakes properties were also the longest on the market - the average "days to sell" in Northland was 80, and Central Otago Lakes, 81.
The June median price for Northland was $308,000 (up from $280,000 in May) and in Otago Central Lakes $465,000 (up from $417,000).
But Northland's 10 per cent price increase should not be interpreted as an "across-the-board" rise in property prices and values, REINZ Northland spokesman Graham Lester said. The increase was inflated by a few higher-end properties selling after a slow period for that market, he said.
"Yes, we're receiving some good results but we're finding that the higher priced properties are moving, upmarket home and lifestyle blocks, for example," Mr Lester said.
"We've been stuck in that first home buyer and investment house market for so long it had started to stagnate a bit and the figures reflected that. There's been a shortage of good properties on the market, and they are being snapped up fairly quickly. Listings are still hard to get in the family home range and buyers are well educated now - they know what the price should be and what they expect to pay."
Mr Lester said there was pressure on sellers to be realistic about their prices because of that. However, the outlook was promising as the Northland industry had its best May for years, and banks were still lending fairly easily.
June was traditionally a slower sales month than May, a pattern evident in all regions apart from Northland which bucked the trend to record an increase of 2 per cent.
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REINZ chief executive Helen O'Sullivan said prices around the country were "on the whole, steady rather than up" - a sign of recovery from a financial crisis, not a boom.