Feature article

NZ housing not cheap, but affordability shows signs of improving

Housing affordability has improved to its best level since 2019

Kelvin Davidson
By Kelvin Davidson (Chief Property Economist, Cotality)
Last updated: 13 March 2025 | 5 min read

Signs of improvement, but affordability pressures remain

Renters face mounting pressures

Regional affordability shifts

What’s next for affordability

Author

Kelvin Davidson Kelvin Davidson

Discover More

Exterior of home with large pool

Listings with swimming pools, who wants a house with a pool, and latest trends in swimming pool design.

Does a pool add value to your home? Discover new design trends, maintenance-saving tech, and expert real estate advice.

Exterior of Seatoun property

First home buyer: Charming 70s home is affordable entry into blue-chip seaside suburb

This little 1970s beauty in Seatoun could be a clever first home purchase.

Advice & Tools

PROPERTY NEWSLOOKING TO BUYTHINKING ABOUT SELLINGHOME INSPIRATION

Search

Other articles you might like

Greymouth
Feature article | 5 min read
First-home buyers move from Christchurch to buy a $340,000 home in Greymouth

Moving to Greymouth, selling a car and giving up UberEats helped Kevin and Gina secure their first home.

4 March 2025

House in NZ
Feature article | 5 min read
What’s going on for each buyer group at present?

First home buyers, relocators and investors.

13 February 2025

A set of cubes with showing the year ticking over from 2024 to 2025, with a model of a property on top of the cubes.
Buying guide | 5 min read
What to expect from NZ’s property market in 2025: expert insights

A year of conflicting forces?

21 January 2025

Start a listing icon
Start a listing
Watchlist icon
Watchlist
Favourites icon
Favourites
Sign up icon
My Trade Me
© 2026 Trade Me Limited