ANZ National Bank has slashed its variable home mortgage rates - putting pressure on other banks to follow suit.

Auckland is fast catching Queenstown again as the least affordable region in New Zealand.

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.

The office of the banking Ombudsman received twice the number of formal complaints in 2008/9 than it did a year ago.

New Zealanders are still optimistic about the state of the housing market, according to an ASB survey.

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.