Market confidence and positivity are evident in the latest data released by the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand.

REINZ chief executive Lizzy Ryley said the market appeared to have stabilised, which may be due to median prices remaining relatively level year-on-year across the country.

“Sales had increased nationwide, and local salespeople across the country had all commented on the growing positivity and activity they were observing at a regional level.”

National sales were up 6.4% year-on-year to 7505 sales, and New Zealand – excluding Auckland – rose 9.2%, to 5200.

Month-on-month data showed a slight increase in activity at national and regional levels. “The sales figures indicate that, even when considering seasonally adjusted data, most regions are experiencing a positive shift,” said Ryley.

“This suggests that October performed better than typically expected, given the usual shift from September to October.”

Eleven regions recorded increased sales year-on-year; and the national median days to sell decreased by one day to 41 days. “The rise in market confidence, combined with the typical spring surge, has driven increased sales year-on-year and month-on-month – up 15.4% nationally, “ said Ryley.

“Even after adjusting for seasonality, most regions show a positive shift, indicating that October performed better than expected.”

New Zealand’s median price decreased by 1.1% year-on-year, to $786,000 but nine out of 16 regions reported an increase in median prices year-on-year.

New listings continued to rise nationwide, up 5.5% year-on-year to 12,209.

“First-home buyers continue to be a dominant group across the country, taking advantage of lower interest rates and a stabilised market in terms of price, closely followed by owner-occupiers,” said Ryley. “Salespeople are telling us that the warmer weather, lower interest rates, and easing lending criteria have brought more people back into the market and boosted activity in many regions, which we can see from the data.”

October’s auction sales reached 1310 nationally, which accounted for 17.5% of all sales.

For the full monthly property report from REINZ for October 2025, see: www.reinz.co.nz/libraryviewer?ResourceID=794

For the house price index (HPI) report for October 2025, see: www.reinz.co.nz/libraryviewer?ResourceID=795