One of the criteria to qualify as a first-home buyer is that you have never held an "estate in land", either solely or jointly with another person.

The Reserve Bank is about to undertake a major review of the capital regime for New Zealand's retail banks.

The decision of banks to stop lending to foreign house buyers appears to have taken everyone by surprise.

BNZ has joined ANZ Bank and Westpac's local unit in restricting mortgage lending for foreign property buyers.

COMMENT: Debt is growing twice as fast as economic growth, writes Brian Fallow.

COMMENT: House prices are rising at 30 times the rate of inflation. 16,000 houses are year are being bought by foreign speculators. Record numbers are living in cars and garages, writes Andrew Little.

COMMENT: Housing. How hard is it really? Here's a house, here's a door. Windows: one, two, three, four. And the hatchback, if you have one.

The former managing director of a cool store that exploded, killing a firefighter and injuring seven others, has bought the site.

A unit in Mt Roskill? Or a country house with its own natural moat? This Auckland 'island' is for sale - tipped to go for under $1m.

A brick and tile unit has sold for more than $1 million - a new benchmark, according to a realtor.

In an era when most couples with kids both work, having one parent who's the sole breadwinner is a luxury ... and sometimes a burden.

A historic home steeped in Kiwi aviation history on the former Hobsonville Airbase is up for tender.

COMMENT: How does buying now compare to 1989? The data may surprise.

NZbuilding activity grew for a fifth quarter in the March period as Auckland dominated construction for both residential and commercial construction.

COMMENT: Rather than waving a magic wand at the housing problem, the Government has waved the big stick - telling the Council to free up land, writes Barry Soper.

Median sale prices dipped between April and May, yet sale volumes rose sharply between the two months.

A week ago, when the Budget had delivered no answers to the hyperinflation of house prices, the PM told us to wait for a National Policy Statement.

Heartland Bank has told investors it is monitoring the dairy sector "with close attention".

Auckland first home buyers are being encouraged to learn some lessons from post-quake Christchurch.

The average Auckland house price is heading for $1 million by this time next year based on current trends.

Average value of an Auckland property rose to $955,793 in the past three months - but rate of increase lagged behind rest of New Zealand.

COMMENT: Vindictive attitudes are no surprise given the failure of the right to rule the Super City since its creation.

Are Auckland real estate agent has produced a full music video to market a house.

Australian entrepreneur specialising in mall upgrades has paid about $90 million for Takapuna's Shore City Shopping Centre.

New Zealand residential building consents climbed 6.6 percent in April as new housing intentions climbed at their fastest monthly pace in eight years.

Only months after a landmark 1905 villa was removed from Jervois Rd in Herne Bay, plans have been lodged to remove a second villa a couple of blocks away.