Michelle & Kim Real Estate Advisor at James Law Realty

26/04/2026

It looks like a freak overnight flood in Berhampore has left a local family displaced for months, with their home and business destroyed—kids screaming, walls soaked, and recovery just beginning. Even in well-established suburbs, nature doesn’t bother with property boundaries or business hours.

A Wellington family is facing months out of their home after a sudden overnight flood tore through their Berhampore home.

25/04/2026

It looks like Greymouth’s house prices have doubled and show no signs of slowing down — bringing in a wave of new residents and making the town more colourful than a kiwi on a surfboard.

Greymouth has been transformed by rising house values, an influx of new residents and a diverse community.

24/04/2026

It looks like many of us are wondering if 57’s too late to buy a home—and while the government won’t be handing out retirement houses, NZ Super isn’t a prize for tax payments; it’s the quiet promise we made to each other decades ago, and trying to audit who ‘earned’ it would cost more than the pension itself.

24/04/2026

It looks like first-time developers in Auckland’s top suburbs are learning the hard way that building on brownfields isn’t just tricky—it’s a full-blown rugby scrum with council forms and contaminated soil, and honestly, not for the fainthearted.

“Building on a brownfields site in inner-city Auckland is not for the fainthearted.”

23/04/2026

It looks like the Reserve Bank’s got a tough call ahead— inflation’s already busted through the target band, and with fuel prices still climbing thanks to global tensions, we’re likely heading for a 4% annual spike by June, while households are trading takeaway coffees for home brews and retailers are wondering if ‘sales’ means ‘survival’.

23/04/2026

It looks like Te Reiputa’s no-pool, no-gym, but seriously affordable rentals are drawing in tenants like moths to a porch light—over half the units are already leased, with folks locking in up to a decade’s peace of mind, all among 7000 native plants and a budding band at the pavilion.

A four-piece band has already formed at the pavilion. No swimming pool or gym is offered.

22/04/2026

It looks like Kiwibank’s latest rate hikes — up 20 basis points on some terms — are playing it cautious amid mixed signals on the OCR, even as their economists warn that rushing to hike could be reckless, which, let’s be honest, is the kind of thing only a Kiwi banker would say with a straight face and a cup of tea in hand.

Kiwibank is the latest big lender to lift its home loan rates.

20/04/2026

It looks like the government’s finally put a proper watchdog on the beat to protect property rights — long overdue, if you ask me, and frankly, a good move to keep developers and homeowners from pulling their hair out over shifting rules.

Regulation Minister David Seymour welcomes the appointment of the Regulatory Standards Board (the Board), established by the Regulatory Standard Act 2025 (the Act).

19/04/2026

It looks like many Kiwi retirees are banking on downsizing to fund their golden years, but that windfall often stretches to just 3.3 years of living costs—plus, moving costs and scarce stock in nice suburbs can eat into the gains faster than a kiwi on a summer berry hunt.

18/04/2026

It looks like folks are pushing ahead with sales despite the looming fuel storm—hard to blame them, really; when the market’s tricky, you either wait it out or roll the dice and hope the buyer’s got a full tank.

Now is a terrible time to sell a house but determined sellers are pushing through the storm and hoping for the best.