NZ house prices, volumes increase in May; outlook 'finely balanced'

NZ house prices, volumes increase in May; outlook 'finely balanced'
Tina Morrison
By Tina Morrison June 14 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand house prices rose in May as more properties changed hands, showing the market is buoyant heading into winter, the Real Estate Institute said. The Reinz house price index - which measures the changing value of property in the market - lifted 3.7 percent to 2,702 from the same period last year as 11 of 12 regions recorded an increase. The Manawatu/Whanganui region had the highest annual growth rate of 14.3 percent followed by Gisborne/Hawke's Bay up 14 percent, and Southland up 12.2 p...