Rental property regains top spot with investors

The survey, released today, shows investors’ confidence has climbed to the highest levels since 2010.

The results are based on interviews with 786 people.

ASB head of wealth advisory Jonathan Beale said it indicated that investors were taking a less defensive stance and considering the benefits of higher-risk, higher-yield investments.

Rental property confidence has returned to historically high levels.

In Auckland, 25% of those surveyed said property would offer the best returns over the next 12 months. Beale said that was a level not seen since 2009.

But property’s popularity is not just confined to our biggest city.

There was a 5% jump in confidence in property among non-Auckland investors.

Beale said: “The continuing strength in investment property and lift in managed investments appears to have come at the expense of less risky investment classes, such as term deposits.”

Only 7% of investors said the sharemarket would offer the best returns over the next year.