by Metropol | September 2, 2026 8:33 am
Trade Me Property figures across the winter period show the wider region is flat, but the annual picture is where Canterbury and Christchurch shine.
Canterbury asking prices are up 3% year-on-year, outperforming the 2% national average. Christchurch City is performing even more strongly, up 4% annually, close to double the national rate of growth.
Looking closer at property types in Christchurch, premium family homes remain the standout. Asking prices for larger properties (5+ bedrooms) jumped 17% year-on-year, while traditional 3-4 bedroom family homes rose a healthy 4%. At the smaller end, 1-2 bedroom properties eased 1%, likely reflecting the steady pipeline of new townhouse developments offering first-home buyers and downsizers more accessible options.
Our recent data for the three months to the end of July also shows properties in Christchurch city are the quickest to sell across the motu by a comfortable margin.
Underpinning these prices and speed to sell is tight supply paired with steady interest. There were 3% fewer listings hitting the market in July compared to July 2025, yet search activity in the region remains among the strongest across the country.
Looking at the rental market, Canterbury shows similar strength. While the national median weekly rent held flat over winter, Canterbury rents rose 4% year-on-year. Christchurch rentals were the driving force, up 5% annually, with 1-2 bedroom rentals hitting a record high. For landlords, this signals resilient returns, with the city appealing to tenants for its relative value compared to Auckland and Otago.
Source URL: https://metropol.co.nz/tight-supply-gavin-lloyd/
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