Apartments in the Auckland CBD remain the priciest with an average sales price of $1,320,000. Photo / Supplied
Apartments in the Auckland CBD remain the priciest with an average sales price of $1,320,000. Photo / Supplied
Auckland's apartment market is steady with just 12 months of supply remaining, a Colliers International research survey shows.
The survey looked at sales results from 49 new apartment projects in the CBD, city fringe and suburbs in the first half of 2017. About half of the 3795 apartments surveyed are selling off the plans, while the others are under construction.
Pete Evans, national director of residential project marketing at Colliers International, says the 12 months of remaining supply is low in comparison to other markets.
"In major cities with population growth we would expect supply to be anywhere between 12 to 24 months," he says. "Most apartment projects take two to three years to build so the current undersupply will remain in the foreseeable future.
"Auckland's population growth, as well as banks restricting funding, is not assisting the needed supply of new apartments in Auckland."
The highest number of apartment completions in more than a decade is expected in 2018.
A total of 138 new apartment buildings are forecast to be completed by 2020, which Evans says will mean better quality apartment options for Aucklanders. "With most of the 3795 new apartments either planned or under construction already sold, new supply is needed to meet future housing and lifestyle needs."
Colliers' survey results show sales prices for apartments are continuing to increase across all areas surveyed. The average sale price is now $1,120,000 up 12 per cent from 12 months ago.
Pete Evans, Colliers International. Photo / Supplied
Apartments in the CBD remain the priciest with an average sales price of $1,320,000 which is up from $1,020,000 a year ago - an increase of 29 per cent.
Sales prices in city fringe areas such as Grey Lynn, Kingsland, Mount Eden and Newton now average $1,280,000 - a 15 per cent increase from 12 months ago.
The suburban market is also up by 12 per cent from 12 months ago. Apartments in areas such as Hobsonville, Onehunga, Albany and Stonefields are now selling at an average of $824,000.
Colliers' research suggests that the market for apartments is changing. While traditionally apartments have been mostly confined to the CBD, now two thirds of both the new builds and future supply surveyed are in the city fringe or suburban areas.
Evans says this is appealing to a more diverse group of buyers.
"Developers are now delivering new apartment complexes aimed not only at the student or investor market, but to the owner occupier, bringing all new levels of quality for the discerning resident."
With developers focused on the owner-occupier market, Evans predicts that price records will be set by new luxury apartment developments in desirable city fringe suburbs such as Remuera, Meadowbank and the Eastern Bays.
