Alissa Bates Real Estate

18/09/2026

Congrats to my latest vendor! We were able to sell his unit as a quiet listing (no marketing, no open homes, no signs).
Teamwork came through and we got it sold within two weeks!
If you are interested in selling your home this way, please get in touch with me on 022-015-4957 or [email protected]

15/09/2026

REINZ (Real Estate Institute New Zealand) August Report:
If you would like the full copy of the report, please let me know and I'll email it to you :-)
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/tcqqkmfEIwI

14/09/2026

The elections are rolling around soon.
Here's where Labour & National currently stand with the housing market (AI generated).

National and Labour have contrasting core philosophies on housing, with National prioritizing market-led supply and private property incentives, while Labour emphasizes direct state intervention and demand-side cooling.

National Party
--> Housing Policies ~ Supply-Side Focus: Focuses on freeing up land and streamlining planning laws to boost construction.
--> Planning and Infrastructure ~ Promised to require local councils to zone immediate land for 30 years of housing growth and make Medium Density Residential Standards (MDRS) optional for councils.
-->First Home Buyers ~ Lifted income caps for schemes like the First Home Loan to assist buyers, while rolling back certain previous demand-side grants.
--> Social Housing ~ Prefers partnering with Community Housing Providers rather than relying solely on state-owned builds to reduce emergency housing motel usage.
--> Tax and Property ~ Favors shorter bright-line test timeframes to encourage property transactions and market liquidity.

Labour Party
--> Housing Policies ~ State and Public Intervention: Emphasizes direct government-led building programs and expanding the stock of public and state houses via Kāinga Ora.
-->Urban Intensification ~ Historically pursued broad bipartisan planning rules (like MDRS and NPS-UD) to intensify urban environments and limit sprawling greenfield constraints.
--> Demand-Side Measures ~ Implemented tax settings such as removing interest deductibility for residential investment properties (negative gearing adjustments) and extending bright-line tests to cool speculative investor demand.
--> Support for Buyers ~ Focuses on targeted first-home buyer assistance and grants alongside infrastructure funding models tied to regional growth.

10/09/2026

This is a fascinating website if you haven't checked it out before:

Stats NZ is New Zealand's official data agency. We collect information from people and organisations through censuses and surveys, and use it to provide insights and data about New Zealand.

03/09/2026

The Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee raised the official cash rate by 25 basis points today to 2.75%.

What does it all mean for borrowers? We should expect banks to raise floating mortgage rates by 25 basis points. A hike in the OCR had already been priced into fixed wholesale borrowing costs, which means there is little immediate pressure for fixed mortgage rates to be adjusted. In fact, because today’s comments from the Reserve Bank were a tad less worrisome regarding inflation than those made in July, some borrowing costs have eased marginally.

30/08/2026

29/08/2026

Thank You Bite Me CBD for the amazing chicken loaded fries.
I was walking by...right place at the right time... and you handed me these VERY delicious fries as there had been a mix-up in the kitchen - for free! I was hungry too!
You absolutely made my day and I will be back for sure to order from the menu and spread the word about your awesome food!

Go check them out at 221 Devon Street E

23/08/2026

Thinking about buying? 🏡

Buying a home is exciting, but there are a few important things to get sorted before you start house hunting.

**1️⃣ Know your budget & deposit**
Talk with your mortgage adviser about your finances so you have a clear idea of what you can realistically afford.

**2️⃣ Understand how much you can borrow**
Lenders will look at your income, expenses, existing debts and your ability to comfortably manage mortgage repayments.

**3️⃣ Review your spending & tidy up your finances**
Take a look at your recent bank statements and spending habits. Where possible, cut back on unnecessary expenses and reduce or pay off short-term debts such as credit cards, Buy Now Pay Later and personal loans.

**4️⃣ Get pre-approved before you start looking**
Pre-approval helps you focus on homes within your budget, shows sellers and agents that you're a serious buyer, and means you can move quickly when you find the right property.

✨ **A little preparation now can make the buying journey much smoother.**

If you're thinking about buying and aren't sure where to start, I'm always happy to have a chat and point you in the right direction. 🏡

Call now to connect with business.

16/08/2026

REINZ monthly report July 2026 - Short Video

New Zealand’s housing market saw relatively steady prices in July, ...

10/08/2026

My dad was recently interviewed/featured on a radio podcast in the USA after being nominated for the 'Who's Who' in America 2026.
This is about his career as a ground water supply specialist.
It is a boring topic for most, but it was actually quite interesting and I definitely learned something.
Those of you who live on a life style block/rural should have a listen.
I/NZ even got a mention around the 30 min mark ;-)

https://podcast.show/closeupradio/closeupradio-186/?fbclid=IwY2xjawTl_3RwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR4ZnYbO7I8wEHxfsfOz0g3j1P5sO87Z9jgtcDag8XnIGkBq-WHII9ZfkHhqsA_aem_TMc1A1riY3jRq6FdWSQ2qA

Jack is a retired soil scientist and public/private well inspector with extensive field experience testing residential water supplies for chemical and biological co…