For many Kiwis, paying off a mortgage is a marathon effort - but on November 1, 10 lucky Auckland Marathon runners will have the chance to run down their rate

State and council civil servants need to remember their budgets come from the pockets of everyday New Zealanders, writes Kerre McIvor.

A small section in the once-sleepy town of Riverhead has sold for close to $400,000 - five times over its CV.

You can make a standard KiwiSaver first-home withdrawal without the additional top-up from the HomeStart grant. Helen Twose talks about the rules.

The words "double Grammar zone" plastered across a real estate billboard is enough to make any red-blooded agent salivate, writes Bernard Hickey.

State-owned bank now offering six-month rates of 5.19 per cent - and 4.59 per cent for a two-year term.

Bidding war for two-bedroom brick and tile Auckland bungalow pushes selling price to shocking $1.8 million.

REINZ figures show prices up $125,950 on last year as banks cut mortgage rates on back of Reserve's dropping interest rates to 2.75 per cent.

Most economists expect the bank to now retain an easing bias, with some tipping the rate to drop to 2 per cent.

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has snapped up an eight-bedroom 17th-century Grade II-listed home in north London.

BNZ reduces one-year fixed rate to 4.35 per cent ahead of Reserve Bank's expected announcement that OCR will be cut.

The Knight Frank Global House Price Index released today ranked NZ only behind Hong Kong, Turkey, Estonia and Luxembourg for annual house price rises.

London's housing crisis has led to one landlord getting creative.

Barfoot & Thompson blames fall in Auckland market on winter weather, the Reserve Bank and international economic instability.

Behaviour by Auckland's housing speculators indicates the property market could be about to reach peak point.

A 488ha South Waikato rural property sold at auction last week for $5.25 million, says PGG Wrightson Real Estate.

The Taupo firm will pay a 5c-a-share final dividend on November 6, the first dividend since April 1998.

The IRD IS proposing a withholding tax of 33 percent of a vendor's gain on a sale, or 10 percent of the total purchase price.

Virtual furniture is being superimposed into empty rooms for real estate adverts to attract potential buyers.

Only one in five voters do not support a ban on foreigners buying houses - but most of the others want to see evidence of a problem first.

Hundreds of thousands of Auckland households can expect an increased dividend payment of $345 in late September from the community trust that owns most of Vector.

The Government is trumpeting the creation of 11 new special housing areas to help tackle soaring Auckland house prices.

Eleven new areas are being set up across Auckland with the potential to provide 1600 new homes.

Shelley Bridgeman recently sold her house. The sale would not enter local folklore for the price it attracted, making her question the 'runaway market'.

A one-bedroom state house in one of Auckland's most expensive suburbs sat vacant for 805 days before being sold.

A large residential site in the heart of Mt Albert could easily contain 15 or 16 well-designed town houses and units instead of three large houses: expert.

The Auckland Council is holding the line on rules to protect the city's built heritage after being advised they are a burden on landowners seeking to develop their properties.

Auckland Transport is taking legal action to force owners of Eden Terrace properties to sell up for the $2.5 billion City Rail Link.

A review of Auckland Council's sport and recreation assets not only involves 13 golf clubs valued at $200 million-plus, but also all the council's bowling clubs.

Auckland's property market has boosted the price of a Whangaparaoa home by more than $200,000 in six months, and a Mt Albert unit by almost $100,000 since April.