Is the house price crash nearly over?

Is the house price crash nearly over?
House prices in December were down 15% from the November 2021 peak. (Image: Depositphotos)
Jenny Ruth
Economists are sticking to their forecasts that house prices are set to fall more than 20% from their November 2021 peak, but the data is showing the rate of decline has slowed.The latest figures for December show prices were down 13.7% from a year earlier, the same as the annual decline in November, and that took the decline from the peak to 15%, as measured by the Real Estate Institute’s house price index.That’s a little surprising to me because the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) hiked its official cash rate (OCR) by an unprec...

More Economy

How to Be Wrong: summer reading for the PM
Economy

How to Be Wrong: summer reading for the PM

Advice on leading for innovation, threats to democracy, gangs, and more.

Pattrick Smellie 28 Nov 2025
RBNZ officials not against more transparency, just cautious
Economy

RBNZ officials not against more transparency, just cautious

The key is that any changes add value, says Assistant Governor Karen Silk.

Rebecca Howard 28 Nov 2025
‘Looking up’: Recovery taking hold as business confidence hits 11-year high
Economy

‘Looking up’: Recovery taking hold as business confidence hits 11-year high

Business confidence jumped another nine points from 58 to 67 in November, the highest level in 11 years, the ANZ Business Outlook survey for November shows.“Things are looking up!” said ANZ chief economist Sharon Zollner.“Out of a hole, admittedly,” she added.When interpreting qu...

Staff reporters 27 Nov 2025
Rodger Finlay new RBNZ chair, Rhiannon McKinnon to board
Economy

Rodger Finlay new RBNZ chair, Rhiannon McKinnon to board

Finlay is expected to deliver increased accountability and transparency.

Rebecca Howard 27 Nov 2025