real estate

The number of real estate agents working in Otago and Southland has plunged by almost a third in three years, licensing figures show.

The Otago and Southland real estate markets have helped push the nationwide volume of house sales up by 25.3% in March this year, compared with the corresponding period last year - the best monthly result the market has recorded since November 2007.

There are indications the Queenstown real estate sector might be entering a phase of "renewed confidence", Real Estate Institute of New Zealand Queenstown spokesman Kelvin Collins said.

Dunedin building companies are optimistic new homes are back on the agenda for property seekers.

Good demand for in-town property from the Australian and New Zealand domestic markets resulted in two sections selling for more than $1 million each and three apartments for more than $1.25 million each in July, Real Estate Institute of New Zealand Queenstown spokesman Kelvin Collins said.

The number of new listings in Canterbury rose 17% in July from June but remains 23% down on a year ago.

Two Auckland real estate who came to blows over the sale of an Auckland property have been fined.

Sellers of subdivided land from the former Hawthorn Estate development at the centre of resource consent controversy after last week's Environment Court ruling made the originally proposed water features mandatory, say their potential buyers were always made aware of the issue.

Parties involved in the merger of three real-estate brands into a single company in Wanaka say the move sets a precedent for New Zealand.

The national housing market staged a modest recovery in February compared to January but volumes were halved in earthquake-hit Canterbury, the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) said.