Four ways low rates have boosted the market

Tony Alexander

In his latest market update, the leading economist outlines how record-low mortgages have helped the property market defy pre-Covid expectations. 

1. The economist says the Reserve Bank's decision to slash the official cash rate to 1% last year encouraged "a new flow of buyers into and reduced flow of sellers out of the residential property market". Low term deposits have also driven people into the housing market and away from traditional savings, he said. 

"The RB cuts cemented in the turning of Auckland’s cycle from its flat period to upward and added strength to the regions," he said. 

2. The Reserve Bank's emergency cut in March has "again [energised] buyers and discouraged people from selling and accepting lower returns from the likes of term deposits," Alexander added.

3. The economist believes that recent rate cuts have heightened the expectation "that interest rates will remain at low levels for many years". 

"Traditional fears of a bounce back in rates to previous cyclical highs have disappeared," he said. 

4. Anticipation of further rate cuts by the RBNZ is enticing more people to the housing market, Alexander added.

"The Reserve Bank has indicated that there is scope for their cash rate to be cut by perhaps another 0.75% next year – again driving more people into and fewer away from the property market."