After a quieter winter, spring has brought a welcome lift in the Wellington and Hutt Valley property market. It is not a surge, but there is a noticeable sense of movement with new listings appearing, open homes busy again, and conversations around buying and selling starting to sound more confident.
National Trends: A Market Stretching Its Legs
Across New Zealand, sales activity rose 3.1% year-on-year to 6,346 transactions, with eleven regions recording more homes sold than a year ago. Homes are also shifting slightly faster, with the national median days to sell shortening by six days to 43.
Price trends remain steady rather than strong. The national median sale price eased 1.5% to $770,000, while the number of homes for sale grew 2.3% year-on-year. Taken together, the data shows a market finding its rhythm. It is not racing ahead, but it is beginning to move again after months of hesitancy.
Wellington: Activity Returns, But Caution Lingers
In the Wellington region, the median sale price sits at $760,000, down 3.2% compared to last year. While that figure suggests moderation, agents are reporting healthy turnouts at open homes, particularly for well-presented properties that are priced with the current market in mind.
Homes that hit the right balance of price, presentation and timing are still selling. Those that stretch expectations are sitting longer. It is a market rewarding realism, where informed decisions and professional presentation are making the difference.
Hutt Valley: More Choice, Measured Pace
In the Hutt Valley, a steady increase in listings and townhouse developments is giving buyers more breathing room. The Lower Hutt median sale price now sits at $680,000, with 123 total sales recorded in September and an average of 60 days to sell.
The longer sale period reflects a market where buyers are taking their time, comparing options and negotiating carefully. Most of the current movement is driven by first-home buyers, who remain active despite tighter budgets and lending conditions. Investors are quieter for now, creating a window where owner-occupiers can make their move without competing against multiple cash offers.
A Market Finding Its Balance
While affordability and access to finance remain challenges, the recent 50-basis-point OCR reduction has sparked fresh enquiry and conversation. Confidence is building, but it is cautious, the kind that grows one step at a time rather than overnight.
Across Wellington and the Hutt, the tone is steady and pragmatic. Sellers are adjusting expectations, buyers are doing their homework, and both sides are leaning toward balance rather than speculation.
Takeaway
Spring 2025 is not about acceleration, it is about re-engagement. The market is moving again, gently but with intent. For Wellington and Hutt homeowners, this season is less about chasing record highs and more about making well-timed, well-presented decisions in a market that is quietly finding its confidence again.