January kicked things off earlier than usual this year, with both buyers and sellers moving sooner - and that momentum carried through into February which was welcomed.Hamilton saw the strongest February for sales since 2021, with activity sitting well ahead of this time last year. Prices have also edged up, with the median across Hamilton increasing by $28,000 compared to last year.
What I'm seeing on the ground is that buyers are feeling more confident, especially with more listings coming onto the market and giving them greater choice. That's not just local either - nationally, new listings were up 7.8% in February, the highest level for this time of year since 2013.
At the same time, well-presented and well-priced homes are still attracting strong interest, and in many cases, competition. Several properties I've worked on this year have already gone into multi-offers. So even with more choice available, buyers should still be prepared to compete, whether that's at auction or in multi-offer situations. It's not a one-sided market - it's just a more active one.
I'm currently working with buyers and sellers across a range of price points and suburbs, so if you're thinking about making a move, I'd love to help where I can.
Sources Monarch Real Estate Limited and realestate.co.nz.
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