5 Buying Tips to Stay Ahead of the Market Rebound

With the Reserve Bank trimming interest rates by a full 1% over recent months, now’s the time for Kiwi buyers to act strategically. Whether you’re upgrading, downsizing, investing, or buying for the first time, the window to make your move before prices start climbing is tightening.

After a couple of years of market uncertainty, we’re finally seeing house values stabilise. This could quickly turn into price growth as rate cuts give buyers access to cheaper loans and sellers more confidence in achieving their desired prices.

A recent OneRoof survey shows Kiwis are preparing for this rebound:

  • 41% believe affordability will improve in the next year.
  • 21% say lower rates will influence their buying decisions.

If you’re looking to buy or upgrade, here are some key tips to help you make the most of this moment:

Buy Now
The national average house price dropped 1.1% in September to $957,000 (OneRoof-Valocity House Value Index). If you’re selling to upgrade, remember: while you might get less than you hoped for your current home, lower prices mean more affordable options when buying. You’ll likely come out ahead overall.

Focus on Timing
Don’t stress about nailing the perfect timing to sell and buy. Conditions are currently in your favour, and it’s easier to make a move now than when the market shifts further towards sellers.

Get Your Finances Sorted
With rates lower and competition heating up, you’ll need to act fast when you find the right property. Get your pre-approvals and finances in order now so you can move quickly.

Prep Your Home for Sale
If you’re selling, get your property market-ready without delay. While selling first is often the safest move, a shifting market might call for more flexibility. Speak to your agent about the best approach for your situation.

Partner with the Right Agent
A great agent will provide honest guidance on your property’s value, help you highlight its best features, and steer you away from unnecessary upgrades. Plus, we’re here to help make the process as smooth as possible.

Now’s the time to be proactive and make your move while conditions are in your favour. Ready to chat? Get in touch today!

Let’s discuss your home selling strategy.

By choosing us, you’ll benefit from our expertise and commitment, ensuring you feel confident and valued throughout the entire process.

Alex Hewton – Malins

This is the second time we have sold with Ben and both times the result has been outstanding. On a personal level we click and its clear he actually cares about both the sellers and the buyers he is working with. The result we achieved and the sheer quantity of offers received in a dead market shows what an outstanding salesman and marketer Ben (and is his team) is.

Yasas Gamage

Ben, Peter and Jade. You guys are the most awesome Real Estate Agents we have ever met. We went to hundreds of open homes and met many agents throughout our search for a home, yet we would come back to you straight away for our next house. Thank you!

Jo Mcgeachin

Ben was extremely easy to talk to and very informative about how things would progress. He listened to us and advised us about the right way to go. We are very happy with his pleasant and professional manner.

Jason Pepping

Ben is a very personable agent. He has excellent communication and was usually available to answer any questions we had, regardless of the hour!

Carla Shields

Ben and the team did an amazing job selling our house. They know the market so well and gave us the best advice throughout the whole process. We have used them before and so glad we choose to use them again. Highly recommended.

Jaan Turia

Ben worked exceptionally hard on our behalf to get the sale over the line. Ours was not straightforward by any means, and Ben navigated through the many twists and turns to ensure a very satisfactory outcome for us. We highly recommend Ben. 🙂