Latest real estate news, views & reports

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.

Recently we read in the Bay of Plenty Times the story of our Mayor Greg Brownless and a delegation of 24 local business, sporting and student leaders heading to Tauranga’s sister city Yantai, China. Their mission is to promote Tauranga exporters and the region as a destination for rugby players, students and scientists to develop their skills.

When you couple these international growth opportunities with exciting local property developments, the resurgence of ‘outside interest’ in our market and a growing local economy, it makes the next financial year look very strong for Tauranga.

The other change we’ve seen in our property market recently is the strong return of First Home Buyers. Good news is we have been able to match these buyers with more homes coming to the market. This has created the perfect environment for us to repeat our EVES First Home Buyers Seminars.

If you’re looking to sell a property that’s perfect for the first home buyers’ market, talk to your favourite EVES agent today.

EVES - excellent people, excellent marketing, excellent results.

Easter is always a busy time in our region and we welcome all visitors to the Bay. Those arriving (and those of us staying) will be immersed in the 2018 Jazz Festival.  For 41 years the National Youth Jazz Competition has showcased the very best of emerging jazz players. Over three days Combos and Big Bands from New Zealand Secondary Schools strut their stuff for trophies and awards. The careers of past winners Nathan Haines, Hollie Smith and Sacha Vee were arguably launched here. 

Along with the variety of ticketed concerts at Baycourt Theatre there is the Downtown Carnival and other associated events that can be found at www.jazz.org.nz. Also the Artisan Fair, the world famous Easter Rotary Booksale and great cafes to choose from after a walk up or round the mighty Mauao all adding to the vibrancy of our city.

Our EVES salespeople will be working hard over Easter with a full list of open homes so if you are visiting and would like to live in this gorgeous place we call home or if you live here and need to expand to accommodate the visitors then be sure to get in touch with one of our EVES salespeople.

EVES - excellent people, excellent marketing, excellent results.

February data released by Realestate.co.nz showed a slight decrease in the number of new listings in the Bay which has clearly contributed to fuelling buyer demand during March. Supported by growing consumer confidence (as reported on stuff.co.nz) and continued lower interest rates, this trend appears to be the new norm for a while yet.

That means for sellers who want to achieve the very best price and terms for the sale of their property, the selection of the very best ‘manager’ of the process becomes absolutely critical. Defining ‘who’ the buyer will be, ‘where’ they may come from, ‘how’ they shop and how to bring them to your front door are some of the most important elements that you must consider.

That ‘manager’ must also be able to expertly guide buyers though the logistical, financial and emotional obstacles that they will go though, so that they are in a position to make you an offer you can’t refuse.  

This is what we do best. Understanding your situation, making recommendations that will best serve your needs and managing all of the sometimes difficult and complex processes that result in the best outcome for you.

Let us help you to achieve the things that are important to you. Call any of our EVES salespeople today.

There’s been plenty of noise lately around the declining success of auctions. Our results under the hammer are telling quite a different story. It’s been great to see the auction process still creating happiness for both buyers and sellers.

In reality, over the last year our EVES sales people have sold over 70% of the properties that have gone to auction at varying stages of the campaign. These results illustrate the superb work of our EVES salespeople.

The common objections around this method of sale tend to come from a lack of understanding of the auction process.

The most common is an expectation that auction day will be sale day. In fact auctions are a three part process and auction day is merely the day when cash buyers have an opportunity to buy. If we don’t sell on auction day, we can still bring all those cash buyers and conditional buyers back to the table and see a successful result.

For more of the best auction advice contact your favourite EVES agent about our three part selling at auction video seminars and our team can guide you through how the auction process can help you get your property sold.

It’s hard to believe that summer officially drew to a close last week. Let’s hope the warm weather carries on for a little longer.

Like our weather, our property market remains a favourite topic for our local community. And rightly so!

One of the things we love about real estate is that every day is different. Daily changes mean that over a month we can see significant shifts in what’s happening in the Bay of Plenty real estate market. This month we’ve seen a shift back to increased interest from Auckland* and a significant lift in listing activity compared to January.

With this ever changing market and with more homes for sale it means finding the right buyer requires up to date knowledge and plenty of skill. To get the best possible outcome for your sale or purchase, it’s important that you choose an agent who can give you the very latest and best advice.

If you want the good advice from a team that is focused on the best outcome for you, then give our EVES team a call today.

EVES, more people selling more property.

*Latest search stats from Real Estate.co.nz

When I look at the economic growth of our region I am heartened by what I see. The region and our city continues to go from strength to strength which can only be good for all of us as ‘our place’ continues to attract more people and investment which produces more and more opportunities for individual abundance and shared success.

The Bay of Plenty - is quite literally one of the very best places in the country to live - in terms of quality of life; work - in terms of opportunity; play - in terms of community, entertainment and sport, and to bring up a family in terms of education, safety and a positive future.

With changing needs and growing confidence comes the desire for a change in where we live. Our research supports the fact that if there was ever a time to sell well, it’s now. Many price ranges and several property types indicate supply gaps which in turn creates real opportunities for sellers as demand rises.

So when you need to sell and for a premium, talk to any of our consultants to learn how we sell so many properties for the very best price the market will pay.

Time for you to take advantage of our expertise. Call today.

EVES, more people selling more property.

It’s a sight to behold when there is a full ground at a sports event. Thousands of passionate folk cheering in support of their local team. On Wednesday at the Bay Oval we will witness this when our mighty Black Caps take on England in the second of five ODI matches this summer.

Our company is proud to be closely involved and associated with the Bay Oval, but we’re even more proud of our eight offices across our region with over 200 dedicated salespeople, experienced property managers, efficient administrators and a passionate auctioneering team all supported by world class IT, marketing, finance, HR and sponsorship teams.

Just like any great team, EVES relies on many individuals working together to assist you to maximising the value of your real estate asset. A considered team approach is needed with a plan to ensure all possible buyers are made aware of your property being available for purchase.

If you are considering selling your home and would like the ultimate team experience, call one of our EVES salespeople today. 

EVES, more people selling more property.    

The latest QV House Price Index, released last week, shows the residential property values for January increased 6.4% across New Zealand over the last year and the nationwide average value now sits at $671,531.

This same report also stated that values in the Auckland region only rose 0.7% over the same time period and the biggest increases across New Zealand were seen in some of the smaller cities with Napier increasing 15.4% and Nelson 9.9%.

In our local market we experienced a 3.9% increase year on year for an average sale value of $698,875 and interestingly a 1.7% lift over the last three months! Across the Western Bay of Plenty a strong 7.3% growth was attributed to the recovery of the Kiwifruit market.

What do these numbers mean to us? Certainly the market activity is not what it was 18 months ago as we are back to a ‘normal market’ and when you couple the good numbers through open homes and the auction results YTD, a nice picture forms of a steady market.

Your EVES salesperson will provide you relevant data about real estate in your local patch. Give them a call today.

EVES, more people selling more property in 2018.

What a fascinating property market we saw in January here in the very hot and sunny Bay. It hasn’t just been temperature records that have been broken, we continued to see the confidence in our region and housing market grow with asking prices up 1.6 percent to reach an average sale price of just over $637,000.

The latest Realestate.co.nz stats showed January looking a little quieter compared to January 2017 with 466 new homes coming onto the market, a 12.6 percent drop. This isn’t unexpected as we’re comparing to a local property market that has been incredibly active in the last few years.

Interestingly the media around the Bay of Plenty being ‘unaffordable’ doesn’t seem to have dampened online interest, with the majority of viewers coming from Auckland, closely followed by Bay of Plenty locals and Wellington in third place. This is a good reminder to make sure property marketing campaigns are national, not just local.

If we can assist in anyway then call your local EVES agent.

EVES, more people selling more property in 2018.

We certainly have been enjoying some amazing weather during the last weeks of January and it’s great to see this having a positive effect on people’s outlook.

We have also seen a nice lift in the local real estate market with good activity levels at open homes and renewed interest from first home buyers and investors.

The Auction rooms were open for the first time last week and we witnessed initial caution in the first session followed by a greater than 80% success rate in session two.

So 2018 is off to a steady start here at EVES and if we can assist you with any real estate matter, be it wanting to sell or buy, have your investment property managed or just a chat about the market and outlook for 2018, call into one of our offices across town.

EVES, more people selling more property.

This past week we have welcomed over 360 players to the annual EVES 5 Course Classic Golf Tournament, 5 great courses over 5 days.

With players (and supporters) from throughout New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the UK, Japan, Taiwan and Malaysia it has been an ideal opportunity to showcase not only Te Puke, Omanu, Mount Maunganui, Tauranga and Omokoroa golf courses but also the diverse range of restaurants, cafes and retail outlets. The tournament has run for over 20 years and there is a high percentage who return each year.

We also took the time to reflect on the many other wonderful events over the past fortnight and to name but a few, The ICC Under19 Cricket World Cup at our fabulous Bay Oval, Four Nations International Hockey featuring a four day test series between, NZ, Japan, Belgium and India. The iconic Port of Tauranga Half Ironman and the Tauranga Air Show. There was also a plethora of theatrical entertainment from Shakespeare to Pantomime, art exhibitions and Night Owl Cinema. Wow!

If you are a visitor and contemplating a move to our vibrant city then be sure to contact one of our EVES offices and talk with one of our experienced salespeople.

Coming back to those first few days in the office is never easy, but it is a little easier when you’ve been able to enjoy some summer sunshine, the beach, a few barbecues with the family and even an ice cream or two. It’s been fantastic to see some refreshed (and slightly browner) looking faces returning around our offices this week.

As I touched on in my two previous comments, the sense I get about 2018 in our region is a very positive one. Our property market continues to have buoyancy with plenty of visitor interest and sales activity during the holiday period. According to Trade Me’s December data the average asking price for the Bay of Plenty is up 7.6% year on year and views on property listings nationally are up 18.5%.

When you combine this continued strength with exciting projects and international events happening in our region in 2018, it’s easy to get excited about the year ahead.

It’s certainly full steam ahead at EVES, so to keep up to date with what’s happening in our ever changing market, follow our blog, Facebook page or get in touch with one of our EVES team.

EVES, more people selling more property in 2018.

By now most of us have been back at work after what I hope was a relaxing break for everyone. Across our region we have enjoyed a great number of experiences to entertain us over the festive season from international cricket and concerts to our beaches, rivers and lakes. We are indeed lucky and the area continues to develop and offer more and more for us to enjoy.

On the property front we see 2018 being similar to last year with strong demand in our region and activity right across the buying range, in particular first home buyers re-entering the market, with investor activity flat lining. Our lower interest rate environment will continue to support home buyers’ investment decisions.

In this week’s EVES Property there are plenty of good investment opportunities to start the year with. If any of the homes featured within the following pages attract your interest or attention, feel free to contact our on-call team of property specialists who can assist in answering your query.

EVES, more people selling more summer property.

2018 has arrived and with this comes new opportunities. If your New Year’s resolution involved a property investment then you will enjoy this bumper edition of ‘EVES Property’.

Right across Tauranga and the Mount at this time we welcome visitors from around
New Zealand (and the world) to our beautiful city. Many, like you, will enjoy their time here so much they will want to plan for a return. Why not talk to one of our EVES agents today with regard to the property market here. You never know your luck!

Our market continues to grow and the region benefits hugely by attracting new businesses, new families and great opportunities. All the ingredients are there for an exciting and prosperous 2018 for our region. As a proudly locally owned and operated business we are looking forward to continuing to help locals get great property results.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all our readers a safe and prosperous year ahead. May your property dreams come true.

EVES, more people selling more property.