Which way will the property market go now?

[stoploss]

The big problem is mortgage resets into the new higher rates. Unlike in N. America, you can't get a 30 or 40 year mortgage fixed term rate in NZ. Typically max is 5 years and all those that mortgage 2 - 5 years ago will be in for a rude awakening if they were mortgaged to the max.

I prefer to use the street level barometer on house price sales. Down my street there's been a house gone for sale over ; first listed 2 months ago and went for auction after another auction. It's clear the listing was passed and sellers in today's market are refusing to sell for less. Likewise in the past year i've seen more and more houses being 'passed' in as they don't meet the reserve price. Interestingly QV valuations sent in the mail has placed our neighbourhood as a whopping +54% increase in the past 3 years. If next year or so houses continue to lose their ground, then i would be quick at filing for a reassessment as a way to lower the rates bill.

Just because your house value goes down , doesn’t mean your rates will .

[Baa_Baa]

Just because your house value goes down , doesn’t mean your rates will .

Maybe, if you are passive and don't do anything about it. Suggest, that you challenge the minion on the spreadsheet at the Council who's plugging in the numbers from who knows where, and calculating what Rates they think you are liable for. I can assure you that their blunt instruments are unlikely to be close to the truth.

Go after them, it's perfectly within your rights to do so. If the capital valuation of your 'improvements' or your 'land value' have gone down, it's quite legitimate to challenge the Council that your Rates should go down as well. Contest the valuation that your Rates are calculated on, insist on a real-person valuation from them (maybe back it up with an independent valuation) and challenge your Rates assessment.

You can also challenge their assessment that your valuations have gone up, hence Rates gone up as well. Can you be bothered doing these challenges is the only question, you'll have to abide by their assessment if you do nothing, or you can influence their assessment if you do something.

Done it a few times, it always worked in my favour. Passive Rates payers get screwed, whereas active challengers get the concessions that reflect reality on their capital land and improvements valuations. Five minutes on a phone call to Council and chaperoning a valuer on your property, makes a big differences to your rates payable.

Try it. Passive loses, active wins.