AN easing in house prices is looming as the Government begins to implement sweeping changes affecting mainly foreign buyers and investors. The most important determinant of year-on-year changes to house prices was mortgage interest rates. However, Mr Stephens also noted there were several variables open to the Government or Reserve Bank, should house prices take too much of a nose-dive. It was also possible the Government "might go cold" on some of its proposed policies, if house prices started to fall sharply. "After all, the only thing less popular than rising house prices is falling house prices," Mr Stephens said.

Source: Otago Daily Times April 22, 2018 17:03 UTC