Latest real estate news, views & reports

Our region continues to enjoy good buyer inquiry right across our price ranges. In some areas a lack of new listings to the market has created increased demand, especially at the top end of the market.

Mount Maunganui property values continue to climb as the oceanside suburb edges nearer to the $1 million mark.

Data released by NZME’s OneRoof show the median value of Mount Maunganui property reached $890,600 as of July 31 this year.

The value is a surge of more than $70,000 from the previous year, making Mount Maunganui the Bay of Plenty’s most expensive place to purchase property.

The same data pinpoints Merivale as Tauranga’s most affordable suburb with a median value of $446,600.

The Tauranga market experienced a small slowdown over the winter, yet it is still ticking along nicely, with sales actually better than this time last year.

While first home buyers, although active, are taking longer to transact due to financing constraints and options currently in the marketplace.

If you are thinking of buying or selling, talk to EVES today.

EVES. Exceptional. Every day.

With a slight increase in the supply of residential property to the market of 0.8% by comparison to the same period in the previous year and a slight decrease in the average asking price of 5.1% by comparison to the previous month (source: Realestate.co.nz monthly property report), these stats would suggest we are in a balanced period between willing buyer and willing selling.

However, in conversations with many of our expert teams, they tell me they have many buyers who are frustrated because in certain price ranges there simply isn’t enough property to look at with the features they need in their next property.

Interest rates remain at some of the lowest rates ever. The region’s GDP continues to track ahead of the whole country at 3.9% vs NZ 2.7% (Source: Infometrics quarterly monitor for Tauranga City).

So, is this a good time to sell?

I believe that if you need to be sold before Christmas, you should want to take advantage of the sun’s magic on people’s moods.

Also remember that many buyers will want to be in their new property before Christmas.

So then, the answer is yes. Now is the perfect time to call your local EVES agent.

EVES - Exceptional. Every day.

The recently released Quarterly Economic Monitor – June 2018 completed by Priority One announces some very interesting results.

• GDP growth was 3.9% vs NZ 2.7%.  Tauranga’s economy has been growing above the national average for 20 consecutive quarters, with the upturn broad based across all indicators of spending and investment.

• The commercial construction industry is experiencing unprecedented growth, with non-residential consents 98% higher vs NZ 10%, however, residential consents dropped by 15%. Which could mean existing property will have less new builds to compete against in the near future.

• And even though the housing market quietened, it still showed some growth in sales at 0.5%.

• Spending indicators were strong, indicating households are confident in their employment and financial position. Retail trade activity increased 5.0% vs NZ 4.4%.

• Unemployment remains very low at 4.1% vs NZ 4.5%.

• Both domestic car and commercial vehicle registrations increased over the year, climbing 3.9% and 4.1% respectively.

• Traffic flows into and around the city increased 3.9% over the year.

Overall the city is strong and now is a great time to talk to anyone of our exceptional EVES people to take advantage of the pre spring and spring market opportunities.

EVES. Exceptional Every Day.

Buying at auction is not a daunting experience when you are educated in the process and follow a bidding strategy.

Vendor bidding is one aspect that scares some people and the myth that vendor bids are used to push the price up is still a perception in the market that is misleading and incorrect.

Some buyers feel that vendor bids create a situation where they are bidding against themselves which is also incorrect.

Property owners will always set a reserve price where they are comfortable to sell their property at and vendor bids are only used to assist a buyer into a position where the auction is paused and negotiations continue between the highest bidder and the seller.

At an EVES auction, vendor bids are used if there is only one bidder participating in the auction below the vendor’s reserve and will be to a level where the owners are prepared to continue discussions.

These bids are only exercised by the Auctioneer and are clearly announced.

Once negotiations are completed any amendments to the bidding will be announced and the auction will be resumed until sold or if agreement on price is not reached the auction will be closed.

With the weather of late being less than ideal, we can’t blame you for looking forward to spring because we are too.

In spring, the landscape changes – lambs, blooming flowers, blossoming trees and the temperature rises. So too does buyer activity in the real estate market.

Spring has always been a good time to sell. Although spring can bring out more homes for sale for you to compete with, it can also mean more buyers. Traditionally we see a rise in potential homebuyers during this season than other months of the year, which means there is the potential get more offers than any other time.

We also find that buyers are wanting to be in their new home before Christmas, meaning that they need to be out and about viewing property and purchasing well before summer starts. So there is also potential for your house to be on the market for a much shorter time than it would be throughout other seasons.

To ensure that your property is on their must-see list, you need to market it well. After all, you can’t sell a secret. You need to make sure that you have enlisted the right agent equipped with just the right marketing options for you and your property.

EVES can help. Talk to us today about selling your property in spring.

When you look at a real estate company from the outside you could be forgiven for thinking that we all look the same. Take a peek ‘under the bonnet’ and the opposite is true.

We all know that anyone can do it for less and fee discounters will always be in our market. However, all vendors deserve value for money whatever the level of fee is. They deserve the best nett result.

Cheaper fees do not equal the best nett result for you. The best nett result comes from a combination of many things your EVES agent will do for you. The best nett result comes from good advice to prepare your home prior to going on the market. The best nett result comes from great marketing to showcase your home to as wide an audience as possible. The best nett result comes from exceptional service levels so you understand, every step of the way, what is happening in the market and what this means to you and your home.

You need someone you can rely on and trust, someone who will give you the best advice, someone who has the know how and the connections and who has access to exceptional systems and support. This is priceless.

Select your agent wisely. Talk to EVES today.

EVES. Exceptional. Every day.

In real estate it’s important to take the time to accept that the world is changing. Process improvement is an ongoing positive challenge for us at EVES. The enhancements and developments provided via IT and business systems continue to provide many advantages to our sellers and buyers in our business.

In our continuing commitment to provide our clients and customers with the very best ways to achieve their goals, we are naturally very focused on this plus delivering exceptional service through our people. This also offers up business growth opportunities in our changing world.

As we continuously provide our agents with improved tools to offer you better service, we have also exposed the EVES brand to the regions. 

With all the good work our people have been doing we have been attracting attention. We are very proud of our people and are always looking for exceptional people to join our family. It is with great pleasure we announce that major offices in Hamilton and Whangarei have rebranded as EVES.

This gives our brand wider recognition and opportunities to provide our great service to benefit even more sellers and buyers.

EVES. Exceptional. Every day.

The property market is still going strong and there are many people in Auckland and the North looking to relocate to the Bay of Plenty and Waikato regions where properties are considered better value and lifestyle is a priority. 

EVES are capitalising on this interest by publishing a special A4 edition of Eves Property Magazine, featuring properties exclusively from the Bay of Plenty and Waikato and showcasing this at our stand at the iconic Auckland Home Show.

The Auckland Home Show will run over five days at the ASB Showgrounds, 5 – 9 September and this magazine gives you the chance to put your property in front of over 47,000 potential buyers!*

We will also be distributing the magazine to EVES agents’ purchaser databases.

This is a great chance to showcase your property to a large, quality audience of buyers. So if you’re looking to sell a property, talk to your local EVES office today.

EVES – Exceptional. Every day.

*Source: Auckland Home Show 2017 Post Show Report

Ever since our beginnings in 1969 we have worked hard to be exceptional.

We know that to be exceptional, you need exceptional people. Our salespeople at EVES are committed to excellence and to making buying or selling property as smooth and easy as possible for our customers. Our salespeople are passionate about real estate, have great local knowledge and a commitment to our communities.

This week, we are very excited to launch EVES new video and brand philosophy – Exceptional. Every day.

This is something that describes us as a business – and what we constantly aim to be. At EVES, every day we work hard to ensure our service, local knowledge, marketing and results for our customers are exceptional.

Every day our agents work hard to understand your goals and aspirations when selling or buying property and they are determined to bring you the best results.

Look out for our new video on Facebook and our website. 

If you are looking to buy or sell property and want to experience exceptional service, marketing, and results - talk to EVES today.

EVES has been operating in the Bay of Plenty property market for more than 30 years and during this time has provided the service of assisting property owners with managing their rentals.

At EVES Rentals we offer a full property management service. This begins with careful and thorough tenant selection, regular routine inspections with good communication to our property owners regarding any maintenance required plus ensuring a market rental is attained. Our stringent tenant screening process combined with our robust rent policy ensures that our landlord’s investment is maximised.  

Landlords and property managers face a myriad of challenges with current legislation requirements, including but not limited to; smoke alarms, insulation, health and safety and council requirements for legal and habitable dwellings. With the prospect of continuing changes to legislation it is important to engage a professional property manager. Our team regularly attend trainings and are kept up to date with the latest information.

In our region EVES has 16 experienced property managers, based in strategic locations successfully managing over 1,500 properties.

When you are considering a property manager for your investment or family home then do come and talk to us so we can show you the EVES advantage.

The longest day has been and gone and spring is nearer than you think. Great I hear you saying, because that’s when I’m intending to sell my property. Good idea?

As an industry insider I can tell you that if you want to achieve a premium price within a short period of time, that idea is the classic mistake sellers make at this time of the year. 

Instead of capitalising on the supposed spring rush what you may find is the exact opposite as others who are also acting on that mistake flood onto the market and the market becomes awash with everyone else trying to achieve the same thing.

So instead of competing with perhaps a handful of properties in the same price range trying to attract a finite number of purchasers, you end up in a crowded market with many more properties all still competing for the same finite number of purchasers, and that adds a lot of unwelcomed stress to the process.

If you are serious about selling and you want to achieve a premium price, call EVES now, select a strong auction campaign and give yourself the very best chance to sell well.

EVES. Great people, great marketing, great results.

If you’ve heard the old cliché of ‘if you snooze you lose’ - it’s a time of the year when this can become reality if you are thinking of selling. Whilst many are thinking let’s wait until spring when things get a bit brighter, buyers are still active in the market place which has clearly been witnessed in our auction room over recent weeks.

The reasons that we buy and sell real estate are not governed by the time of the year, they are governed by our changing personal needs and circumstances along with all the things that happen in life. Your buyer may just be in search of your home as you read this article.

More importantly, the best way to force those buyers to act is by utilising the auction method of sale where the benefits are stacked in favour of both buyers and sellers. In the current market buyers have limited choices but still need somewhere to live which enhances the opportunity of creating a competitive bidding environment on auction day. Waiting until spring provides buyers more options therefore creating more competition for you as the property owner.

EVES. Great people, great marketing, great results.

The days are getting colder and wetter, but that does not mean buyers should be going in to hibernation. There are some benefits to braving the cold to attend open homes and buying during the winter months.

Winter can reveal many details about a property that buyers typically wouldn’t be able to see in the forgiving months of spring and summer. The cold, moisture and wind will test the ability of the home to insulate and keep warm, something that you want to know about if you are going to buy - and something you are far more likely to notice in winter.

Visiting a home during a rainy period can also identify any problems a property may have regarding drainage or leakage. Cloudy winter days can also highlight places in the property that are less likely to get any sunshine.

If you’re looking for a new home, take advantage of winter and start your search today with Eves.

Call any of our offices and speak to the team today.

EVES, excellent people, excellent marketing, excellent results.

Busy, successful real estate professionals usually have a wide network of friends, colleagues, referrers and influencers. This is valuable when it comes to letting people know what’s happening in the world of real estate.

It’s also valuable to communicate to as wide a group as possible, in regard to any particular property currently being marketed. All this is to maximise the opportunity for a salesperson to find the best possible buyer for any given property.

At EVES we have some very busy salespeople who take time to play an active role in their community. This may be through involvement with their children’s school, a sports team, cultural activity or through belonging to an interest group, service club, charity or church. There is a very long list of these sorts of possibilities and across our EVES teams we cover almost all those bases.

EVES leading profile in the region is as a result of the significant number of properties sold by our teams, but also definitely due to the major part our people play in the wider community.

EVES, excellent people, excellent marketing, excellent results.

Data released by Realestate.co.nz for May showed there were 1,503 residential properties for sale in the Bay of Plenty, up 0.7% on the previous month with an average asking price of $623,896 (a decrease of 7.0% on the previous month).

So what is the market doing? It actually doesn’t matter.

What matters is what you need and what we can do to meet those needs within those market dynamics, because property that is well presented, matched with the right method of sale and a cleverly aimed marketing campaign promoting the benefits of your property’s features, while being managed by a competent salesperson who is supported by many experienced managers, peers and world class resources, will be major factors to achieving the result you want.

So no matter what type of property and no matter what your situation, we have the people, experience, track record and resources to be able to help you achieve a successful result. Call any of our people today to find out how we can do that for you.

EVES, excellent people, excellent marketing, excellent results.

First home buyers that require due diligence to be completed prior to purchasing a home should not eliminate viewing auction properties, it could well be your dream home that fits all the criteria that you are looking for. An auction is just a different method of sale that allows a property owner to work with cash unconditional buyers on auction day, however, should the property not sell, any conditional buyer can immediately come forward with an offer conditional upon your satisfaction of any due diligence requirements you have. 

First home buyers should be aware that there are only a limited number of cash buyers that can bid at auction and there are more conditional buyers in the market than there are cash buyers. Being the first of the conditional buyers to present an offer to a vendor is a very powerful position to be in so being ready to present your conditional offer immediately the auction is closed is a smart move and could secure the home of your dreams.

For more information on this, contact any of our team who are more than happy to spend time with you and guide you through the buying at auction process.

EVES, excellent people, excellent marketing, excellent results.

The iconic building may be gone but the team at EVES Mount aren’t going anywhere. They are currently housed in temporary premises in the Pheonix carpark while a new urban green space development is underway, providing a new space for people to enjoy in downtown Mount Maunganui.

According to Tauranga City Council, the new space will feature grass areas to play and relax, native trees to provide shade and a flexible space for events and activities all year round.

“It will create a greater sense of belonging for our community by encouraging social interaction through a shared space to rest and play. The new space will support the growing visitor and residential population by inviting people to stay longer in the Mount CBD.”

While the new permanent building is being constructed, it will still be business as usual for our Eves Mount office – they are here to help you with all things real estate. So if you are thinking of buying or selling, visit them at their temporary office today in the Pheonix carpark, Downtown Mount Maunganui.

EVES - excellent people, excellent marketing, excellent results.

Successful real estate professionals have a wide network of friends, colleagues, referrers and influencers. This is valuable when it comes to letting people know what’s happening in the world of real estate.

It’s also valuable to communicate to as wide a group as possible, with regard to any particular property currently being marketed. All this is to maximise the opportunity for a salesperson to find the best possible buyer for any given property.

At EVES we have some very busy salespeople who take time to play an active role in their community. This may be through involvement with their children’s school, a sports team, cultural activity or through belonging to an interest group, service club, charity or church. There is a very long list of these sorts of possibilities and across our EVES teams we are very well connected. 

EVES leading profile in the region is as a result of the significant number of properties sold by our teams, but also definitely due to the major part our people play in the wider community.

Talk to EVES about what’s happening locally and if its superb real estate services you require, that’s what we do!

EVES held its annual Awards last week and celebrated top performing individuals and offices for the 2017/2018 financial year.

These nights are always so special as the whole group gets together to enjoy each other’s company, share some stories and celebrate outstanding performance. It’s our people that make this Company great and awards night recognises this.

On the night, Danielle Hayes of EVES Mt Maunganui was awarded “Eves Salesperson of the Year” in a close decision over Chris Royal and Crystal Harvey from EVES Cherrywood.

The much sought after “Eves Top Office of the Year” was won by Eves Cherrywood who snatched back the advantage from EVES Mt Maunganui, who were last year’s winners.

“Eves Administrator of the Year” Sandy Steel from Eves Cherrywood is a fine example of the important role that our support staff have.

Nicholas Meloni from Eves The Lakes Office was awarded  “Rothbury Top Referrer.”

“Eves Marketing Campaign of the Year” was awarded to Barbara Sternberg of Eves Bethlehem.

To top the night off “Property Manager of the Year” was taken out by Alisa Cowdrey of Eves Papamoa.

In today’s market where investors are sparse and buyer activity on properties is reduced, as a first home buyer you should see every property that is available for sale to find the home of your dreams. Turning rent payments into mortgage payments is a prudent action so never let the auction get in the way.

The current market is experiencing a lot of early post auction conditional activity on properties that haven’t attracted the cash bidders at the auction. This increases your chances of securing the home you really want. Don’t wait until after the auction to view the property as you may just find it under contract before you have had the chance.

Viewing the property and deciding it is the one you want is your first step, the second is to identify what due diligence clauses you would like in your offer then have your sales consultant prepare your conditional offer ready for you to sign and insert the price you would like to offer.

By attending the auction you are then in a position to complete your offer and have it presented to the owner for consideration ahead of any other conditional buyers expressing interest immediately the auction is closed.

EVES, excellent people, excellent marketing, excellent results.

It’s hard to know where to start when buying your first home.

Over the past few months we have seen a strong return of First Home Buyers in our property market. We know this journey can be daunting, there are so many things to consider when buying your first house; location, price, type of home, local schools, transport and amenities, type of street, number of bedrooms, the list goes on. Then there is securing a loan, doing due diligence and the auction process to understand.

In conjunction with Rothbury Life we ran another of our successful First Home Buyer seminars this week. A panel of experts including mortgage specialists, real estate experts, builders and lawyers joined us to discuss everything you need to know about buying your first home.

We have all this information available and our sales people are happy to take you through the entire process, as well as help you find your dream first home. So call the EVES team today.

EVES - excellent people, excellent marketing, excellent results.

Once again the March REINZ report has shown that we live in a popular region. The volume of sales completed in March were up 19.9% in February to just over 300. In addition to this we witnessed a 3.5% increase in the median sale price to $650,000.

Following what was a post election slow down and a wetter than usual spring in 2017 we have seen a more positive market trend over the first three months of this year which continues into April. Our EVES salespeople are experiencing good numbers at open homes, a gradual return of the first home buyer and good activity on most property.

What does this mean to you when looking to sell?

Demand still remains however, some homes are taking longer to sell and we are negotiating more conditional contracts. Being prepared before going to market is essential and some ‘old school’ pre sale house preparation and knowledge will make your home more saleable.    

The best advice when preparing to go to the market is to talk to one of our EVES salespeople so you understand how to make you home stand out in the market and attract the very best buyers.   

EVES, excellent people, excellent marketing, excellent results.

It’s interesting to note the range of opinions about what’s happening in the property market. This can make it quite confusing when it comes time to sell and certainly the most common question we get asked is “is this a good time to sell?”

Typically boom markets are when there are more willing buyers than property for sale. A recessionary market is commonly denoted by the opposite conditions.

Right now I would call our current market conditions ‘normal’.  Interest rates are low. The supply of property to the market is easing but still tight in some segments and buyer enquiry from both the local market and Auckland remains robust.

The key for sellers is to hire someone who understands the market and can provide useful and timely advice. Where are buyers coming from for property like yours? How many sales have there been in your price range and therefore how many buyers could there be in the market for your type of property right now? What is the best way to promote and showcase your property? How can we maximise the value of your property?

These are some of the many questions that EVES people can answer for you and coach you through the selling process.

EVES. Excellent people, excellent marketing, excellent results.

When looking for a transparent method of sale, prudent property owners are opting for the auction option to realise the true market value of their home.

Whilst past sales statistics provide guidance on an estimated value there is nothing more reassuring than when two buyers are prepared to fight it out head to head in the EVES auction room to determine who wants the property the most and vendors can rest easy knowing they have achieved the best the market will pay.

From a buyers perspective, there is comfort in the ability to see what another buyer is prepared to pay in an open transparent forum and make a decision on whether to pursue the property further or walk away unlike in a concealed multiple offer situation where all offers are presented simultaneously.

In our latest reporting period EVES conducted 184 auctions of which 76% were sold. 5% were sold prior to auction day, a further 41% sold at auction and 30% sold in the post auction marketing period.

To capitalise on EVES auction action and get you property sold in an expedient manner call any one of our EVES offices today.