The country's largest real estate agency had a relatively quiet start to the year, with sales volumes down compared to last year and prices particularly soft in Auckland. Harcourts sold 1302 residential properties throughout the country in January, down 9.1% compared to January last year. In Auckland sales were down 15.1% compared to last year,…

Housing and Urban Development Ministry officials have conceded that the Government's new 'Healthy Homes' initiative will likely drive up rents, see rental stock taken off the market and may increase demand for public and emergency housing. Additionally, Housing New Zealand says the new measures launched by Housing and Urban Development Minister Phil Twyford on Sunday may…