Local effect of lending rule change mixed bag

Whangarei's sales figures for homes with a median price of $288,000 were the highest in four years for October. Photo / File.

While loan-to-value ratio restrictions have reduced first home buyers' presence in the real estate market in southern parts of New Zealand, the new rules have had a mixed impact on Whangarei house sales.

A survey of First National real estate offices around the country last week reported on average a 27 per cent drop in first home buyers' attendance at open homes.

The survey also found on average the number of unconditional contracts for first-home buyers halved last month compared to this time last year.

Owen Norrish, from First National Blenheim, said the loan-to-value ratio restrictions had almost totally removed the bottom tier of the market.

Investors were showing increased interest, but they only wanted to buy at bargain prices, he said.

Some real estate company administrators had found similar trends in Whangarei, but others said the new rules had not slowed down the city's house sales.

Barfoot and Thompson Whangarei manager Martin Dear said a lot of first-home buyers had lost pre-approval for loans through the restrictions so they were now out of the market.

His company was getting reduced buyer interest in homes priced at around $280,000 and he did not think first-home buyer participation would lift until bank policies changed to sort out loan-to-value constraints or parents topped up first-home deposits. But LJ Hooker Whangarei chief executive Paul Beazley said his firm had not felt any impact from the loan restrictions.

Real Estate Institute figures showed the 96 homes, sold for a median price of $288,000 in Whangarei in October, was the highest number sold in a month over the past four years.

Borrowing money for homes in this price range was not "over the top" like it could be in Auckland where first-home buyers could face a $500,000 mortgage to enter the market.

Mr Beazley said "other avenues" for first-home finance apart from a direct approach to banks included mortgage brokers.

Ray White Allens director Vanessa McKenzie agreed, saying some banks were still lending up to 90 per cent of house prices to mortgage broker clients who met all other loan conditions.

"People are getting cleverer at how they get their money," she said.

Ray While Allens did not keep track of first-home buyer attendance at open homes and had no evidence at present that their numbers were down in Whangarei.

Increased investor interest in under-$300,000 houses was having an impact as properties in this price bracket previously went to first-home buyers, Ms McKenzie said.