Market Commentary - September 2025
Auckland Central Property Market Commentary – August 2025
Prepared by Chris Cairns | Cairns & Co - Ray White Auckland Central
Common Sense Prevails: A Siesmic Shift for Character Buildings
Auckland has been exempted from the earthquake-prone building regime. After a full review, the government has moved to a new proportional, risk-based system that focuses only on genuinely high-risk areas. For apartment owners, this is a transformational shift. Body Corporates no longer need to build costly seismic reserves, banks can fund with confidence, and buyers can enter the market without hesitation.
Building & Construction Minister Chris Penk said the old system was “well-intentioned” but had imposed “an overwhelming financial burden on building owners.” He added the reforms would “save New Zealanders more than $8.2 billion in remediation and demolition costs.”
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown who has been pushing for the changes, called it “a win for the city and the region,” pointing out that unnecessary seismic upgrades had “pushed up construction costs, making developments unattractive to finance companies and investors.”
Character Apartments After the Reform
Auckland exempt from earthquake-prone regime
Banks and buyers free to engage with confidence
Values sure to improve with clarity and renewed demand
For those Body Corporates that had raised levies to cope with looming seismic upgrades, those levies or funds can now be reduced or redirected into projects that add value to the building, or even credited back to owners
This shift resets the playing field for Auckland’s character apartments, giving sellers a cleaner, stronger story to take to market.
Market Momentum: Signs of Energy Returning
This reform lands just as the market is showing fresh signs of life. REINZ’s latest figures show modest year-on-year growth in Auckland’s median prices, and at City Realty Group we are seeing:
Stronger open home attendance, particularly for well-presented apartments
Auctions attracting more bidders, with genuine competition on realistically priced stock
Buyer enquiry lifting, encouraged by lower interest rates and improved confidence
Momentum is building, and in property cycles it is the early movers who often secure the best results.
Financial Outlook
The Reserve Bank’s 2025 rate cuts are starting to flow through to mortgage costs, easing buyer budgets
Analysts expect only modest national growth this year, with forecasts ranging between 1.3% and 2.5%, but the key is stability rather than further decline
For Auckland Central sellers, that stability plus the seismic exemption is a double tailwind that should underpin confidence through spring
Why This Matters for Sellers
This month’s changes create a rare moment of alignment:
Regulatory relief: The seismic compliance cloud has lifted, banks can lend, buyers can buy
Cost relief: Levies can reduce, making ownership and investment more attractive
Buyer confidence: Apartments once considered risky are back in play
Spring momentum: Listings are rising, open homes are busier, and auctions are seeing competitive energy
For owners of character and older stock, the opportunity is especially strong. The barriers that once held prices down are gone, just as buyers return.
Final Word
The Auckland Central apartment market is entering a new phase. With seismic obligations lifted, finance flowing more freely, and buyer confidence growing, this spring is shaping up as one of the best times in years to bring a property to market.
If selling or moving has been on your mind, let’s talk about how to position your property to make the most of this shift.
Even if you are not planning to sell immediately, it is a smart time to understand your position. If you're curious about what your property might be worth in the current market, we’d be happy to provide a no-pressure, up-to-date appraisal:
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