sbiddle:
Had a mail drop from a real estate company in the letter box yesterday advising a house a few doors down had sold for between $865,000 and $880,000 with the house last being sold in January 2019 for $465k
House prices in the Hutt are totally nuts - between probably 2005 and the end of 2017 there had basically been zero capital growth in prices in our area with another nearby that sold in mid 2017 selling for around 10% more than the 2005 price (sold for just over $300k). In 3 1/2 years prices have now basically gone up by 300%
What surprises me is how low lying houses close to the sea and on the waterfront are selling for such high prices when there are going to be rising sea levels, and more weather events like we have seen over the last couple of years in Wellington. Maybe they expect the taxpayer will bail them out.
IMO the real estate industry needs some heavy regulation and is one contributor with house prices going up so much. Our commissions are far higher than other countries so this is added onto the price each time it sells. IMO agents need to act in the best interests of both buyers and sellers.