The housing market made a lacklustre start to spring with sales numbers dipping slightly in September. Four regions went against the trend and posted higher sales in September than they did in August: Northland +19.3%, Manawatu/Whanganui +3.4%, Nelson/Marlborough/Tasman +10.4% and Southland +5.5%. However September's sales were up 5.1% compared to September last year, although sales in September last year were extremely low. Apart from September last year, sales in September this year were the lowest they have been for the month since 2011, suggesting the market remains extremely sluggish heading into spring. The graph below shows the REINZ's monthly sales figures from September 2020 to September 2023, with a trend line included.
