Foreign firms play an important role but we need good rules in place, writes Brian Gaynor.

After years of increases, New Zealand rents stalled last month, says Trade Me Property.

Auckland developer Tony Gapes of Redwood Group is poised to sell three-quarters of New Zealand's most affordable intensive housing project to Chinese interests.

One of Auckland's most upmarket new apartments hits the market tomorrow, although it is not yet built.

Regional leaders say they want foreign investment, but not in their houses, despite claims by Prime Minister John Key to the contrary.

Figures showing bank loans to investors outnumbering first-home buyers by three to one are hard evidence of what has undoubtedly been happening for a long time.

John Key does not need know how many Auckland houses are sold to foreign buyers to see banning such sales is a bad policy, writes Jamie Whyte. Foreign buyers make New Zealanders altogether better off. The more the better.

The Property Institute has vowed to find out how many foreigners are buying Auckland houses and what influence they are having on the market.

There is a important debate to be had about foreign investment in NZ because we are a small, open economy and a big shift in global trends can have a disproportionate impact, writes Liam Dann.

A 12m-wide sliver of land wedged between two houses is up for sale in Ponsonby.

Colliers' advertising in China for Auckland apartments talks up soft rules.

Both an open door and tight controls on foreign home ownership have dangers, but with no figures we can't have a debate.

One of New Zealand's most prominent and outspoken economists, Shamubeel Eaqub, has resigned from the NZIER.

Exactly where does the housing ladder lead, asks Brian Fallow - to financial security, or to years and years of debt servitude?

John Armstrong takes a look at the rules surrounding property investment by foreign nationals in other countries around the world.

Labour's Mt Roskill MP Phil Goff admits some of the constituents in his ethnically diverse electorate could be put off by his party's comments on Chinese housing investors.

Comedian weighs in on the property debate: "Being Chinese in New Zealand always puts you on the back foot."

A property investor says Kiwis asking for inflated prices are to blame for the overheated housing market - not foreign buyers.

How can the air be gently let out of the souffle without having it collapse? Mathhew Goodson writes.

Under current rules there are no specific size requirements for non-permanent accommodation - including 9sqm apartments.

Craig Elliffe writes: The officials' paper indicates an exemption will apply when you inherit a property from a deceased estate or have transferred as part of the property settlement.

It's 7.9sq m inside, has no kitchen, sink or toilet and fits little more than a single bed - but a buyer has just paid $104,000 for the shoebox living space.

Auckland's credit-financed housing bubble is a grave threat to the NZ economic outlook, writes Matthew Goodson.

The results of a probe into retirement village residents' complaints and disputes with their owners and managers will be revealed next month and could lead to a shake-up.

A Chinese couple have taken a novel approach to quickly building Auckland homes - using a crane to swing four new units into place over just two days.

A big wave of Chinese cash is heading our way. Is New Zealand prepared for a massive $10b to drop on the property market?

A tenants' watchdog has warned rent increases risk pricing people out of Auckland's heated housing market, sparking homelessness and social problems.