A new website for people trying to sell their homes privately is offering buyers an equity boost. HomeBoost.co.nz charges sellers a fee of between $500 and $2000 on each sale, and another 2 per cent of the purchase price, which is then given to the buyer.

For many people, retirement is the time to downsize from the family home to a smaller dwelling. It's a big decision so before you take the plunge, first ask yourself these six questions to ensure you make an informed choice.

Do you plan to downsize the house as a part of your retirement plan? Lots of people do. Selling the house to buy a less expensive one has been a good and easy option for a lot of people in the past.

New Zealanders can expect higher home loan interest rates, and more pressure on house prices, thanks to Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election.

The Reserve Bank has cut the official cash rate (OCR) to a new all time low, but the banks seem unlikely to pass any saving to borrowers.

ASB has increased the interest rate charged on a number of its longer-term mortgage rates.

Strong macro economic indicators and improving dairy prices are all pointing towards a positive growth story for the New Zealand economy, a top economist says.

New Zealand's fastest house price growth is no longer found in Auckland.

In mid-July the Reserve Bank announced new tighter restrictions on residential lending, including a requirement for no more than 5 per cent of bank lending to residential property investors to those with less than 40 per cent equity.

Two well-known Christchurch real estate companies have merged. Grenadier Real Estate Ltd, which has several offices in Canterbury, has bought 50 per cent of Riccarton-based Phoenix Real Estate Ltd. Both companies are Harcourts franchises.