tdgeek:
Tell me what measures undertaken NOW, will restore house prices and affordability in 12 months. I can answer that, ZERO
DTIs and targeted property taxes could have a major effect. But the government has ruled out any new taxes, so are just kicking the can down the road, and I can see they will roll over on the new ute tax too, as farmers are not happy.
There are plenty of things that could be done, but many of the tough decisions are political suicides. We are in this current situation because of a lack of investment in infrastructure, and not bringing in the policies that were needed, and new home buyers and FHBs are now paying the costs.
Even all the houses now being build, many are not for people to buy, they are for investors who are going to rent them out, decreasing the percentage of home ownership, which could have the effect of keeping supply low, and pushing up house prices, which then pushes up rents. Just look at the Kiwibuild website and they are down to just a few developments left, mainly because there is little money in it for developers, compared to what they can get privately. IMO there are too many people with vested interests in property to upset the apple cart.