|
|
Shonky gasfitters fined
Homeowners are being warned of the importance of qualified tradesmen carrying out gasfitting work after two Upper Hutt men were fined for shonky work.Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board deputy registrar Kern U'ren said in...
Divided Auckland: More become tenants in own city
The growing gap between rich and poor has made an extra one-sixth of Aucklanders truly "tenants in their own country".Aucklanders who own their own homes have declined from 74 per cent in the 1986 Census to 58.7 per cent last year,...
One path to owning (Auckland) home gone forever
As Georgina Kupa tells it, it was no accident that the proportion of Aucklanders owning their own homes peaked in 1986 - the last year that families could cash in the future value of their family benefits.Mrs Kupa and her husband...
Divided Auckland: Renting trend to last for decades
The trend of more renters in Auckland is to continue into the middle of the century, with an Auckland Council analysis tipping three out of 10 households will not afford a $400,000 house by 2051.The council suggests that if 450,000...
Real estate guru joins fight for truth
A former high-flying property guru, author and housing investment advocate has turned his back on an Auckland life, joined tent protesters in Dunedin and now is selling a board game he invented.Kieran Trass, who wrote books on how...
Summerset finishes work on $115m site
Retirement village owner/operator Summerset has completed a new $115 million Manukau complex.Norah Barlow, chief executive, said about 300 people would eventually live at Summerset by the Park on a 4.3ha site adjoining Barry Curtis...
Bunnings on move with five stores
Hardware DIY chain Bunnings says it is opening three new stores this year, with plans to build a further two, as it welcomes a new boss in New Zealand.Jacqui Coombes, who has been appointed general manager, said yesterday Bunnings...
$16 house man: real estate genius or squatter?
After paying $16 to file a one-page claim to an empty, $340,000 ($407,000 NZD) home in an upscale Dallas suburb, Kenneth Robinson moved in furniture, hung a "No Trespassing" sign in the front window and invited television cameras...
Strong property sales but prices lower
Auckland's biggest real estate agency recorded its strongest January in four years but prices were still down on December.Barfoot & Thompson's data for last month showed 683 sales, down on December's 714, and prices down from December's...
Realistic rents fill space in Hamilton
Realistic rents and building upgrades are credited with filling up retail space in Hamilton's central city.There are fewer empty shops in the CBD than at any time in the past three years, with mainly food and fashion retailers moving...
Forever around the pool in Omaha
In line with the old adage of you get out what you put in, this Omaha waterfront home has been an easy-care, low-maintenance holiday escape for an Auckland family for a decade, largely thanks to their efforts when the house was designed...
Students find rent a hurdle
Record high rents are pushing some young people to cancel university studies and others to sign up for welfare grants.As the academic year dawned, Auckland's biggest student union said steep accommodation costs had a big impact...
Land grab: All white by us
On a weekday afternoon, Gulf Harbour is deathly quiet. That is until a bunch of schoolboys - still wearing knee-high socks - pull up in an ageing Japanese hatchbacks and head out to the jetty with boxes of beer under their arms. As...
Relish the sea breeze in Westmere
If you've had the pleasure of taking Penny Whiting's sailing courses over the last 45 years, you'll be familiar with this yachtswoman's great sense of humour and her motto: "If it's hard, you're doing it the wrong way ..."Seems...
Kiwis regain full control of dairy empire after $54m sale
Agribusiness mogul Alan Pye and his associates have full control of New Zealand's largest dairy farming conglomerate after South Canterbury Finance sold its $54.4 million stake in the $535 million business yesterday.The straight-talking...
Through leadlights' glow in Epsom
Cornwall Park truly becomes part of your life when it's just over your back fence, says Alison Crum, whose character-rich Epsom home enjoys absolute parkside living.Alison and her husband David bought this graceful 1930s home more...
Construction to be foundation of economic rebound: BNZ
The construction sector is likely to be the foundation of healthy growth in the New Zealand economy over the next two years, with rebuilding after Christchurch's earthquakes only part of the lift.Bank of New Zealand senior economist...
Jan property sales best in four years - Barfoots
Barfoot and Thompson, Auckland's largest residential realtor with 40 per cent of the market, reported its strongest January month in four years and said it expected gradual and modest increases in house prices over the first quarter...
Cameron: 'Thrilled' to call NZ home
Hollywood director James Cameron says he wants his children to grow up close to the land and with a strong work ethic when they make the move to South Wairarapa.The Avatar and Titanic director has bought two farms in the South Wairarapa...
Number of homes for sale plunges in Waikato
The inventory of homes for sale in the Waikato region has seen a dramatic decline, with the number now less than half that at the same time last year, a report shows.But Hamilton real estate agents say the city's market is likely...
|
|