Across the Coromandel and Hauraki, the story for November has been a blend of early energy and quieter follow through. Late October delivered a strong flurry of activity as buyers hoping for a bach before Christmas made their move. Activity then softened in early November. The usual mid-December lull appears to have arrived a little ahead of schedule this year. The bright spot is the lift in new listings as owners bring properties to market for the summer audience. That increase in choice is encouraging, and locally there is more confidence than at any point earlier in the year.

Lower-end do up properties continue to attract quick interest. Several have gone under offer within roughly two weeks which suggests buyers remain keen when the price and potential line up. The recent OCR drop has also improved the mood. The view locally is that we are at or near the bottom of the rate cycle which gives buyers more confidence to look seriously. Cheaper mortgage rates could draw more people back into the market over summer. The expectation is not for sharp price surges, and a more gentle lift in activity would be preferred.

When set against national trends, Coromandel fits the broader pattern. There are early signs of stabilising prices, steady buyer attention at the lower and mid-range, and a market that is finding its rhythm again even if it is not racing ahead. High inventory across New Zealand may continue to hold back strong price growth, so vendors who remain fixed to earlier price expectations may face slower results. Investor interest is also still cautious, which again supports a measured pace rather than rapid change.

Waikato as a whole is showing signs of steadying after a long period of softness, with most data pointing to a market that is no longer sliding but not yet sprinting either. National reports for November note slight price lifts in several heartland regions and the Waikato sits within that pattern. Inventory remains high which continues to give buyers room to negotiate, yet improved affordability following the latest OCR cut has prompted more enquiry, particularly from first home buyers who had stepped back earlier in the year. Analysts describe Waikato volumes as ‘rising off a low base with values beginning to flatten rather than fall’. Renovation ready homes and well-priced family properties are gaining the most attention. Sellers who meet the market are achieving clean results while premium homes still take longer to convert. Hauraki is not experiencing the holiday driven surges seen in the Coromandel, but the region is benefiting from the broader national shift toward cautious confidence as borrowing costs continue to ease.

Overall, the outlook for summer is cautiously optimistic. Improving affordability, good seasonal demand and renewed consumer interest are all positive signals for the next few months. The region is entering its busiest period with solid enquiry and a healthy number of listings. The coming weeks will show whether buyers step forward in greater numbers as borrowing conditions continue to improve.