More affordable homes are driving enthusiasm in property sales, but experts warn the relatively cheaper housing may not last.

Boom or bust? Property writer Anne Gibson looks at predictions for the year.

Home loan affordability worsened in Auckland and Northland for first home buyers last month.

Some of the tax changes under consideration would reduce house prices and raise rents, says Westpac.

House prices stayed static in the last two months and fears of more expensive mortgage money could be to blame.

Figures released today show nationwide values are up 4.1 per cent from April but still 5.9 per cent below the market peak of late 2007.

House hunters are now competing in a shallow listings pool, forcing more of them to attend auctions.

House prices continued their upward momentum last month.

Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard has issued a warning to banks about the perils of approving high-risk mortgages.

Auckland property prices surged nearly 6 per cent in October, says real estate company Barfoot & Thompson.

Only a small portion of the Government's allocated $18.4 million to help modest income-earners buy houses has been taken up.

The Reserve Bank has left official interest rates unchanged at 2.5 per cent this morning, while confirming they are not likely to rise till the second half of next year.

Interest rates have been left on hold by the Reserve Bank this morning, with governor Alan Bollard confirming again that he intends to keep them low till "the latter part of 2010".