Good deals on mortgages and a rush to complete sales before winter have combined to make a good May for the property market, with sales surging and prices up.

Barfoot and Thompson has reported the busiest May for the Auckland real estate market in seven years, with prices up 2.5 per cent from April .

The 13.9 hectare multi-million dollar home for sale at Te Rere Cove, Church Bay, Waiheke Island.

Columnist spurs borrowers to demand lower interest rates.

Reserve Bank figures show household debt, which is 94 per cent mortgages, is still 141.7 per cent of disposable income.