The Real Estate of New Zealand (REINZ) comments that despite a dip in April sales activity, most regions remained relatively steady with broader market conditions largely unchanged. Overall, the number of sales remains close to the long-term April average, highlighting that this year’s softer headline result still sits comfortably within the market’s historical range. However, April 2026 marks the first clear sign that the combined weight of cost-of-living pressures – higher fuel costs, food prices, insurance, and local body rates – began influencing buyer decisions in a meaningful way.