Real Estate Today - New Zealand

18/07/2026

Why the best agents are quietly becoming harder to recruit.

For years, recruiting top-performing real estate agents was largely a numbers game.

Offer a better commission split, a bigger market share or a stronger brand, and chances were you'd at least get a meeting.

Today, that formula is changing.

Across Australia and New Zealand, agency leaders are discovering that attracting experienced agents has become one of the industry's biggest challenges. It's not because there aren't talented professionals in the market. It's because those professionals have become far more selective about where they choose to build their businesses.

The question is no longer, "What commission are you offering?"

It's, "Why should I join your business?"

That subtle shift is reshaping recruitment strategies across the industry.

The best agents aren't simply looking for another office. They're looking for a platform that helps them perform at a higher level.

Technology has become one of the biggest differentiators.

Agents now expect integrated CRMs, AI-powered marketing tools, automated workflows, digital listing presentations, social media support and systems that remove administrative friction from their day. Every hour spent chasing paperwork is an hour they're not prospecting, negotiating or building relationships.

An agency that invests in technology isn't just buying software — it's buying back time for its people.

Leadership has become just as important.

Across Australia and New Zealand, agency leaders are discovering that attracting experienced agents has become one of the industry's biggest challenges. It's not because there aren't talented professionals in the market. It's because those professionals have become far more selective about where the...

18/07/2026

Five-year career penalty scrapped in major reset for New Zealand real estate real estate agents.

The Regulatory Systems (Occupational Regulation) Amendment Act 2026 received Royal assent on 8 July after passing its third reading in Parliament on 30 June. Among its changes is the removal of a five-year disqualification period that could follow the cancellation of a real estate licence for certain administrative or continuing professional development failures.

The reform does not make continuing professional development optional.

Nor does it prevent the Real Estate Authority from cancelling a licence where an agent fails to meet the requirements necessary to remain licensed.

What it changes is the penalty that followed.

Under the previous framework, an agent who lost their licence after failing to complete compulsory CPD or meet particular fee obligations could be prevented from applying to return to the profession for five years.

That consequence was widely criticised as disproportionate to the offence, particularly when compared with the treatment of similar administrative breaches in other regulated professions.

A compliance failure could end a career
The severity of the former rule was not theoretical.

The Real Estate Agents Disciplinary Tribunal confirmed in a January 2026 decision that the Registrar was required to cancel a salesperson’s licence after the licensee failed to complete the required continuing education.

The Tribunal found the statutory process had been followed and that there was no error of fact or law capable of overturning the cancellation.

That decision demonstrated the limited discretion available under the previous system.

An agent did not need to mislead a purchaser, mishandle client money, conceal a defect or engage in serious misconduct to face potentially devastating professional consequences.

An unresolved CPD failure could be enough to trigger licence cancellation and, under the former settings, a lengthy exclusion from the industry.

The new law separates those administrative failures from conduct that genuinely raises questions about whether a person is fit to practise.

The Regulatory Systems (Occupational Regulation) Amendment Act 2026 received Royal assent on 8 July after passing its third reading in Parliament on 30 June. Among its changes is the removal of a five-year disqualification period that could follow the cancellation of a real estate licence for certai...

18/07/2026

If you could only keep one thing, what would it be?

Every real estate professional builds their business around a collection of valuable assets. Some spend years developing a database of past clients and referral partners. Others invest heavily in their personal brand, social media presence or the latest technology.

Some rely on an exceptional assistant or a high-performing team, while others believe their office location remains their greatest advantage.

But what if you had to choose just one?

It's an interesting question because it goes to the heart of what really drives success in real estate.

Would you keep your database, knowing that years of relationships, referrals and repeat business could help rebuild almost everything else?

Would you choose your social media following, believing your personal brand could generate new opportunities faster than any traditional prospecting method?

Perhaps your CRM is the engine of your business, housing every client interaction, prospect and campaign you've ever created. Or maybe it's AI and automation that now allow you to work smarter, respond faster and stay ahead of the competition.

For many principals, the answer may not be technology at all. It could be the people around them. A great assistant, a trusted property manager or a high-performing sales team can often achieve more than any software platform ever could.

The reality is that there isn't a right or wrong answer.

Every successful business is built differently, and every agent values different strengths. Yet asking the question reveals something important about how we view our businesses.

Are we relying on technology?

Every real estate professional builds their business around a collection of valuable assets. Some spend years developing a database of past clients and referral partners. Others invest heavily in their personal brand, social media presence or the latest technology.

18/07/2026

Property managers are not looking to terminate tenancies, they are often trying to prevent them.

A recent post from experienced property manager Cherie Osbaldiston has highlighted one of the most misunderstood parts of the property management profession: what really happens before a tenancy reaches termination.

Ms Osbaldiston said she had recently issued a termination of tenancy following a breached mediated order, describing it as a decision that was not made lightly.

According to Ms Osbaldiston, it was the first termination she had issued since opening her business two years ago.

Her comments have struck a chord with property managers because they reflect a reality often unseen by the public, landlords and tenants alike. Termination is rarely the first step. In most cases, it comes after repeated conversations, phone calls, emails, meetings, mediation, warnings and attempts to resolve the situation before it escalates.

For property managers, these situations are rarely simple. They sit at the intersection of legislation, housing pressure, financial loss and human emotion.

Ms Osbaldiston said many people assume property managers simply kick tenants out, when in reality most would rather keep a good tenant in place than see a tenancy end.

She said the process can raise many emotions - disappointment when mediated orders are ignored, sadness when families may have to move quickly, frustration when the public assumes property managers act without reason, and dread when there is likely to be a tribunal process, clean-up or hardship ahead.

A recent post from experienced property manager Cherie Osbaldiston has highlighted one of the most misunderstood parts of the property management profession: what really happens before a tenancy reaches termination.

08/07/2026

Why top Agents are choosing eXp Realty in New Zealand | The focus on New Zealand, & what's next in this episode of RET'S - The Chat.

In this episode of The Chat, we sit down with Felix Bravo, Managing Director of eXp International, for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of real estate, the growing focus on the APAC region, and how the industry is evolving in a rapidly changing market.

We talk about where the real estate industry is at right now, why more experienced agents are exploring new business models, the support tools available through eXp, and what the forecast looks like for the eXp model across Australia, New Zealand and the wider Asia Pacific region.

Felix also shares his perspective on where we are heading with AI, how technology is changing the way agents operate, and why the future of real estate will be shaped by flexibility, leadership, ownership and smarter systems.

A must-watch conversation for real estate agents, business owners and industry leaders looking to understand what is coming next.

We unpack:

• What is driving experienced agents to explore Australia’s ATM model

• The rise of new country leaders, including Matt Jones and Mindy Powell-Hodges

• Why more agents are turning into business owners and looking for a better way forward

• The scale of the network, including 80,000 agents, 30 countries and one office model

• The model explained, and why it is attracting attention across the real estate industry

• The story behind the first cloud based real estate network

• What tools are available in the exp toolkit

• Where the industry is heading with AI

• How technology, leadership and agent ownership are reshaping the future of real estate

LISTEN BY CLICKING THE LINK BELOW:

🎙️ Real Estate Today | The Chat In this episode of The Chat, we s...

18/04/2026

LJ Ho**er has welcomed changes to methamphetamine regulations, describing them as a positive step forward in providing much-needed clarity and consistency for the rental sector.

New rules under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 will come into effect today (16 April 2026), introducing clear thresholds and processes for managing methamphetamine contamination in rental properties.

LJ Ho**er Head of Operations NZ Allaine Burkett said the changes will help remove long-standing uncertainty for landlords and property managers.

“This is a welcome and practical update for our industry,” Burkett said. “For many years, methamphetamine contamination has been an area where guidance has not always been clear or consistent.

These new regulations provide defined thresholds and processes, which will support more confident and informed decision-making.”

LJ Ho**er has welcomed changes to methamphetamine regulations, describing them as a positive step forward in providing much-needed clarity and consistency for the rental sector.

18/04/2026

The New Zealand real estate sector is observing a notable shift in the operational strategies defining agent success.

The emphasis is moving from sheer volume of activity to the strategic application of resources and technology.

This evolution suggests that future market leaders will be distinguished by their intelligent application of systems, rather than simply their capacity for extended work hours.

Historically, the industry often equated continuous engagement, such as constant phone availability and extensive weekend hours, with professional achievement.

However, current market dynamics and consumer expectations are driving a demand for more refined and efficient service delivery.

Agents are now contending with increased requirements for rapid communication, sophisticated marketing, and streamlined transaction processes from initial enquiry through to settlement.

The New Zealand real estate sector is observing a notable shift in the operational strategies defining agent success. The emphasis is moving from sheer volume of activity to the strategic application of resources and technology. This evolution suggests that future market leaders will be distinguishe...

18/04/2026

In many offices, the conversation around growth starts with the same question.

How do we get more listings?

But listings are rarely the first battle. Appraisals are.

Before the signboard goes up, before the campaign launches and before the sold sticker appears online, there is a quieter contest taking place every day across Australia. The fight to win the opportunity to sit at the kitchen table in the first place.

The agents growing fastest in 2026 are not leaving that to chance. They are building deliberate systems that create more appraisal conversations, more often.

Here are seven ways smart operators are doing it.

https://www.realestatetodaynewzealand.com/post/7-ways-agents-can-win-more-appraisals-in-2026

24/03/2026

New Partnership set to drive growth at Ray White Bays Offices.

Ray White Mission Bay is entering a new chapter, with Ray White Eastern Group business owner Anton Huang joining forces with business owner Wayne Maguire.

Ray White Eastern Group comprises offices in Howick, Botany Town Centre, Flat Bush, Half Moon Bay, Pakuranga and Beachlands; while Ray White Mission Bay includes Kohimarama and St Heliers.

The collaboration brings together two experienced leaders in Auckland’s eastern suburbs, linking Ray White’s strong presence across east Auckland with the highly regarded offices in the central eastern bays.

Ray White Mission Bay is entering a new chapter, with Ray White Eastern Group business owner Anton Huang joining forces with business owner Wayne Maguire.

24/03/2026

Rental Affordability Eases Nationally, But Regional Divides Persist, New Report Shows.

A new regional rental affordability report released by Property Brokerskers and property research firm The Property Knowledge shows signs of improving rental affordability across New Zealand but warns that significant regional disparities remain.

The latest Regional Rental Affordability Index reveals the share of income spent on rent nationally has eased from 39 percent to 35 percent over the past year, reflecting a modest improvement for tenants.

However, the report highlights that housing pressures remain unevenly distributed across the country, with several regions still experiencing acute affordability challenges.

Professor Graham Squires, Director of The Property Knowledge and lead researcher for the report, says the national improvement masks deeper structural differences between regional economies.

“Rental affordability across New Zealand continues to shift in ways that reveal deeper structural dynamics in both regional labour markets and housing supply,” Squires said.

“What stands out in this latest cycle is the broad, if modest, easing in rental pressure, with the national share of income spent on rent falling from 39 percent to 35 percent over the year.”

However, he said the improvement has not been felt equally across the country.

“Regions such as Gisborne, Northland and Hawke’s Bay remain under acute affordability strain, with households still allocating more than 40 percent of earnings to rent, even after year-on-year reductions,” Squires said.

At the other end of the spectrum, regions such as Southland and the West Coast continue to show the strongest rental affordability, reflecting both lower rental levels and more stable local labour markets.

The report also highlights that rental trends are increasingly being influenced by underlying economic conditions such as regional wages, industry composition, and demographic changes.

David Faulkner, General Manager of Property Management at Property Brokers, said the findings reinforce the importance of understanding local market dynamics when managing rental portfolios.

“From a management perspective, this latest update shows a rental market that is stabilising but still demanding close attention,” Faulkner said.

“The national improvement in affordability is welcome, yet the real story lies in how differently regions are tracking. Some markets, like Wellington, are showing early signs of renewed rental momentum after a quieter period, while others continue to feel the weight of constrained local economies.”

The report notes that Wellington saw rental activity begin to strengthen again toward the end of 2025, suggesting the capital may be entering a new phase of market recovery after a softer period.

Faulkner said property managers are increasingly having to consider the broader economic environment affecting tenants.

“What stands out operationally is the interplay between rents and earnings. Even where rents have softened, wage patterns, especially the pronounced gender and age-based earnings gaps, continue to shape tenant capacity and behaviour,” he said.

The research also highlights significant income disparities across regions and demographics. Data shows earnings differences persist between genders across every region, with some of the largest wage gaps appearing in smaller labour markets where employment opportunities are less diverse.

Professor Squires said these economic patterns ultimately influence how housing markets evolve.
“The persistent gender and age-related earnings gaps, particularly in smaller regions, underscore that affordability is not simply a housing story but a labour market one,” he said.

“As these disparities compound over time, they shape who can access which regions, and ultimately how regional housing markets evolve.”

The report also identifies seasonal and structural influences on earnings patterns across the country. For example, a dip in earnings during September 2025 was likely driven by temporary slowdowns in industries such as construction, agriculture and tourism as they transition between seasonal cycles.

Despite these complexities, Faulkner says the broader trend suggests the rental market is gradually adjusting following several years of intense pressure.

“The convergence of rents across regions suggests a more competitive national market. Property managers will need to adapt quickly as affordability pressures shift and tenant expectations evolve,” he said.

The Regional Rental Report is produced by Property Brokers in partnership with The Property Knowledge and provides insights into rental affordability, wage trends and regional housing dynamics across New Zealand.

https://www.realestatetodaynewzealand.com/post/rental-affordability-eases-nationally-but-regional-divides-persist-new-report-shows