From an investment standpoint, this gradual uptick is encouraging, but it also underlines that the market isn’t booming but it’s cautiously improving.

He mentioned in the article that it’s interesting to see the strong presence of first-home buyers, with “a net 53% of agents” spotting more young buyers in the market.

With banks competing for mortgage business and rates trending down, BNZ recently dropped its one-year fixed rate to 4.49%.

Considering all these numbers, it is absolutely right for one to expect first-home buyers to dominate activity over the spring and summer. For investors, this signals heightened competition in certain entry-level segments, but also opportunities to acquire properties with long-term growth potential, especially if priced attractively.

In the survey, he mentioned that “investors are still in the market, but not to the same degree, with only a net 6% of agents noting that they had seen more investors looking to buy.” In fact, more investors seem to be selling than buying due to rising operational costs like council rates and insurance, along with challenges in securing tenants. From my perspective, this trend could create opportunities for strategic acquisitions, particularly in areas where rental demand remains strong, while also highlighting the need to carefully calculate cash flow.

Finally, the data he shared on pricing and buyer sentiment reflect that “A net 11% of agents report that prices are going down,” and “30% of agents say that one of the things buyers are worried about is prices falling after they make a purchase.” As an investor, I see this as a moment for measured action: while caution prevails, disciplined buyers can secure properties at realistic values and position themselves for gains as the recovery slowly continues.

Overall, the market is improving, but it’s a mild recovery. For investors like me, it reinforces the importance of patience, research, and selective buying rather than chasing short-term gains.