NZ house sales keep falling as first-home buyers drive demand

About this episode

The episode discusses the declining sales volumes in New Zealand's housing market and the impact of first-home buyers on demand.

Sales volumes have continued to decline across New Zealand’s housing market. It marks a third consecutive monthly fall and extends the subdued start to 2026 – even as property values remain broadly stable. But beneath the surface, the picture is uneven. Auckland remains soft, first home buyers are propping up demand, and the rental market is showing signs of strain. At the same time, global uncertainty and inflation risks are starting to cloud the outlook. Today on The Front Page, Cotality NZ Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson is with us to unpack what’s really happening in the housing market, and what could come next. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Host: Chelsea Daniels Editor/Producer: Richard Martin Producer: Jane Yee See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in this episode

Host: Chelsea Daniels

Guest: Kelvin Davidson

Topics covered

• housing market
• first-home buyers
• property values
• rental market
• global uncertainty
• inflation risks

Keywords

• New Zealand
• housing market
• first-home buyers
• property values
• rental market
• inflation
• Auckland

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Cotality NZ, NZ Herald

Places: New Zealand, Auckland

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