Sheryn Prince - Real Estate Sales Consultant

23/09/2026

22/09/2026

🏡 Why is the NZ property market so quiet?

It seems one big reason is that fewer homeowners are choosing to move.

Cotality says NZ residential sales have fallen year-on-year every month so far in 2026, with annual sales dropping from 91,973 in December 2025 to 89,043 in August — down 3.2%.

The biggest contributor? “Movers” - existing homeowners selling and buying another home.

Their annual deal numbers have fallen from 25,044 to 23,398 — down 6.6%.

So why the caution?

📉 Economic uncertainty and job security concerns are making people less willing to make a major move.

💰 Homeowners may also have less equity to put towards their next property. Estimated equity for a couple who bought 10 years ago with a 20% deposit peaked around $478,000 in November 2021, but had fallen to about $347,000 by August 2026.

That’s $131,000 (27%) less to put towards the next home.

And mortgage rates have risen too, with the average two-year fixed rate increasing from 4.08% to 5.30%.

So perhaps the current market isn't just about people struggling to buy.

It’s also about existing homeowners thinking:

“Maybe we’ll just stay where we are for now.”

And when fewer people move, fewer homes get sold, creating a much quieter property market.

21/09/2026

ON THE MARKET 💎

8A Cuba Street, Takaro
🛏 2 | 🛁 1 | 🛋️ 1 | 🚗 1
Enquiries Over $569,000

Modern Comfort, Walk-to-Town Convenience
https://powersrealty.co.nz/properties/8a-cuba-street/

Tucked away on a private back section, this modern home delivers effortless living in a superb central location. Designed for comfort and ease, the home offers open plan living that effortlessly extends out to a generous deck — perfectly positioned to capture the sun and ideal for entertaining friends or simply unwinding at the end of the day. Inside, you’ll enjoy the comfort and efficiency that comes with modern construction, while outside, the easy-care grounds mean your weekends can be spent enjoying life rather than maintaining it.

Features We Love:
– Two well-proportioned double bedrooms, both offering built-in wardrobe storage.
– Open plan living flowing seamlessly to a sun-soaked, generously sized deck
– Double glazing and a well-appointed heat pump for cosy winters and cool summers
– Low-maintenance grounds with a blend of lawns, stone features and established gardens
– Standalone single garage plus separate utility room — ideal for hobbies, storage or a work-from-home setup

The location truly completes the package, with an easy stroll to New World Pioneer, Central Energy Trust Arena and other handy local amenities. Whether you’re a professional couple looking to secure your first home or downsizers wanting modern comfort without the upkeep, this is an opportunity to enjoy convenience, privacy and easy living all in one.

19/09/2026

🏡 WOULD YOU RATHER? 👀

If you were buying your dream home, which would you choose?

🌳 A BIG BACKYARD
Perfect for BBQs, kids, pets and summer afternoons.

OR

🍳 A BIG KITCHEN
More bench space, more storage and room to entertain.

You can only pick ONE! 👇

🌳 Big backyard or 🍳 Big kitchen?

18/09/2026

💎💥 Viewing by Appointment! 💥💎

8A Cuba Street, Takaro

Modern Comfort, Walk-to-Town Convenience
🛏 2 | 🛁 1 | 🛋️ 1 | 🚗 1
Enquiries Over $569,000

17/09/2026

🌸 Cherry Blossom Fest 2026 is coming to Palmerston North! 🌸

Palmerston North is set to burst into colour this spring as Cherry Blossom Fest 2026 brings Japanese culture, creativity, music and plenty of family-friendly fun to the beautiful sakura trees at Coleman Place. 🌸

Taking place on Sunday 20 September from 11:30am–2:30pm, the free, all-ages celebration will offer something for everyone.

Visitors can enjoy:

🥁 IPU New Zealand – Kodama Japanese Drum Team performances, including an interactive experience
💃 Soran Dance Team – Hana performances
🖌️ Shodo Japanese Calligraphy demonstrations and an interactive experience
🕊️ Paper crane origami construction
👘 A traditional Japanese gown Dress Up Photo Booth
🍵 Matcha Tea Making demonstration
🍭 A candyfloss machine
🎨 Themed face painting
🎁 Spot prizes and plenty more!

It’s a wonderful opportunity for the Palmerston North community to come together, experience Japanese culture and celebrate the vibrancy of spring beneath the stunning cherry blossoms. 🌸

16/09/2026

🏡 Manawatū-Whanganui Property Market | August 2026

The August figures show a market that continues to favour buyers, with price levels and activity shifting compared with both last year and July.

📉 Median price: $520,000, down 4.6% year-on-year and 3.7% from July.

🏠 Sales count: Up 1.4% compared with August 2025, but down 7.9% from July.

⏳ Days to sell: 56 days, which is 14 days longer than August 2025 and 6 days longer than July. This remains well above the 10-year August average of 39 days.

📦 Inventory: 22 weeks of available stock, one week lower than the same time last year.

First-home buyers and owner-occupiers were the most active buyer groups in August, while investor activity declined. Newer listings generally attracted stronger open-home attendance, with interest tending to ease the longer a property remained on the market.

Vendor expectations varied, with some sellers adjusting their pricing to align with current market conditions.

Interest rates, job security, cost-of-living pressures and the lead-up to the general election continued to influence sentiment, particularly in some provincial areas.

Looking ahead, local salespeople anticipate broadly unchanged conditions over the next few months.

📊 For buyers and sellers, understanding local market conditions and pricing remains important when making property decisions.

12/09/2026

🌞 Why sunlight direction matters

When you’re looking at a home, it’s easy to focus on the kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms and outdoor space. But there’s another feature you can’t renovate or replace, the way the sun moves around the property.

Sunlight direction can have a big impact on how a home feels and functions throughout the day.

🌅 Morning sun can make bedrooms, kitchens and living areas bright and welcoming at the start of the day.

☀ North-facing spaces generally receive more consistent sunlight in New Zealand, particularly through the middle of the day. This can be especially valuable for living areas and outdoor spaces.

🌇 West-facing areas can capture beautiful afternoon and evening sun, but they can also become warmer in summer.

🌤️ South-facing spaces may receive less direct sunlight, which can mean cooler, darker rooms depending on the home’s layout and surrounding buildings.

When viewing a property, don’t just ask “Is this house sunny?” Ask “Where does the sun go?”

Consider the time of day you’ll use each room, where you’ll sit outside, whether neighbouring buildings or trees block the sun, and how much natural light different areas receive.

And remember: a sunny living room at 11am doesn’t necessarily mean a sunny living room at 4pm.

It’s one of those details that can make a surprisingly big difference to how much you enjoy living in a home.

🏡 Key takeaway: Look beyond what a property looks like today, think about how it will live throughout the day, across the seasons.