Stricken homeowners and workers will start receiving compensation and emergency payouts within days as Christchurch's earthquake bill threatens to exceed $2bn.

The average NZer is spending $45 less a week than before the recession in a bid to wipe out debt and inject equity into their homes.

House prices in Auckland fell during August as the number of properties being listed continues to stall.

A real estate agent who tampered with a sale and purchase agreement to increase her stake in a commission split has been fined.

A heavily tagged, unoccupied house in west Auckland has infuriated neighbours and exposed loopholes in council rules.

This $8.8m property in Auckland's Castor Bay is one of the houses being marketed at a six-day showcase in Shanghai.

Credit crunch has changed the landscape for residential building, writes Kevin Atkinson

Auckland is now the least affordable area for buying a home, taking that mantle from Queenstown for the first time since 2002.

A new survey shows the number of New Zealanders interested in investing in residential property has declined significantly, for the first time in several years.

The man behind the $27m purchase of a Queenstown property development from Allied Farmers is declining to say how the deal is being financed amid speculation Allied may be helping him.

A top economist says the property market is "stuck in neutral at best", but REINZ says property prices in the main centres are holding up well.

It's really easy to cut out the middleman.

DIYers will be able to undertake more minor work without red tape and builders will be forced to stand by their work, under law changes.