Northland regional property market insights

The cost of buying a home in Northland bounced up month-on-month slightly in November 2024. Our Trade Me Property data shows that the average property price in Northland in November 2024 was $883,700, compared with $815,900 in October. However, the November 2024 figure is still down 1% when compared to the year before, when the average cost of a home was $841,700.

Listing volumes from Northland on Trade Me Property were up month-on-month. In November 2024, there were 1,729 homes available for sale on our site, compared to 1,633 in October. This was also up compared to November 2023, when 1,627 in November 2023.

The average cost of renting a house in Northland was $620 in September 2024, according to our data. This was a 3.3% increase month-on-month, and a considerable 6.9% increase year-on-year. This follows a broad pattern of gradual but consistent increases in the cost of renting property in Northland over the last five years.

The availability of Northland rental properties advertised on Trade Me Property has shown a clear seasonal pattern in recent years. Generally, we see more properties available to rent in Northland during the cooler months, and more demand, and therefore less supply, in spring and summer. In September 2024, there were 436 properties available to rent on Trade Me Property, an increase on the 347 available in the same period last year.

Northland is often referred to as “the birthplace of New Zealand”, due to the fact that the Waitangi Treaty Grounds fall within its 13,000 square kilometre area. But not only is Northland a place of huge cultural and historic significance, it’s also known for beautiful archipelagos of islands, dense kauri forests and jaw-dropping waterfalls. The 203,900 people who call Northland home (according to the 2023 census) get to enjoy all of this on their doorsteps, as well as fantastic opportunities for recreation, including tramping, diving and fishing.

Northland itself is made up of the following districts:

• Far North
• Kaipara
• Whangārei

The last of these districts is home to the region’s largest city, Whangārei. This vibrant city, which is the northernmost in Aotearoa, has a population of around 86,000 and is known for bustling shopping districts, a beautiful harbour and diverse and energetic community.

According to data from the Ministry for Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) from 2018, the School Education industry is the largest employer in Northland, accounting for 5% of all employees. This was followed by cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services, and then hospitals. In total, Northland comprised 3% of Aotearoa’s GDP in 2018, according to MBIE.