Buying a property at auction can feel fast paced and unfamiliar — but with the right preparation, it can also be one of the clearest and most confident ways to purchase.
Whether you’re a first home buyer, investor, or returning to the market, preparation is everything. Here’s what you need to know before auction day so you can bid with confidence.
With the right preparation and guidance, buying at auction can be a fast, transparent, and rewarding way to secure your next property.
If you’re thinking about bidding, talk to a financial adviser at Mortgage Money, who work closely with the experienced team at Summit Real Estate. From pre-approval through to unconditional finance, we’ll help you understand your options, stay within budget, and bid with confidence on the day.
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Number of Sales December2024
Number of Sales December2025
Average Number of Days to Sell*
Average Sale Price
Nelson
68
87
33 vs 35 in December 2024
$718,00
Tasman
46
74
30 vs 30 in December 2024
$810,000
Marlborough
73
70
30 vs 30 in December 2024
$660,000
Source: REINZ – New Zealand Property Report, December 2025 *Compared to December 2024, REINZ Monthly Property Report Published January 2026.
Nelson saw the median price decrease 4.3% year-on-year, settling at $718,000.
Marlborough experienced an uplift, with the median price up 6.5% year-on-year to $660,000.
Tasman recorded a slight softening, with the median price down 1.6% year-on-year to $810,000.
Across the region, first home buyers remain the most active segment, providing consistent momentum. Some overseas buyer activity was noted in Nelson, while the Marlborough Sounds saw a reduction in buyers operating above the $1 million price point.
Vendor expectations continue to adjust to current market conditions. As supply has begun to outweigh demand in some areas, many sellers are adopting a more realistic and pragmatic approach to pricing.
Open home attendance varied, with stronger turnout at selected properties, though overall numbers remained modest. Auction activity also differed by location. In Nelson, auctions are increasingly being used as a sales strategy by agents, while Blenheim saw limited auction attendance and lower seller confidence in auctions as a preferred method of sale.
Encouragingly, market sentiment is improving, driven by increased buyer interest, steady sales volumes, and growing positivity among participants. Local salespeople expect the market to remain a buyer’s market in the near term, with optimism that sales volumes will lift as both local and visiting buyers re-enter the market.
The Top of the South average days to sell currently sits at 35 days, reflecting a market that is active but still measured — rewarding well-presented, well-priced properties.
WATCH MARKET REPORT VIDEO
Renters across the Nelson Tasman region are heading into 2026 with significantly more choice than this time last year, as new data reveals one of the largest increases in rental listings anywhere in New Zealand.
Figures from realestate.co.nz show that new rental listings in Nelson and Bays jumped 92.6% in December 2025, compared with December 2024. A total of 52 properties were listed during the month, up from just 27 a year earlier.
This surge was reflected in the overall availability of rental homes, with total rental stock in the region rising 88.5% year-on-year to 49 properties. Nelson and Bays ranked as one of the strongest-performing regions nationally for new rental supply, second only to Wairarapa.
According to Summit Property Management General Manager, Stew Henry, the increase has been driven by several factors.
“We’ve seen a higher number of tenants purchasing homes over summer, which means existing rental stock needs to be re-let,” says Henry.
“The properties new to the rental market are a mix of investors and people moving out of town who wish to retain ownership of their homes.”
Henry says Summit experienced a particularly strong end to the year, with a bumper letting month in December, signing 52 new tenancies across Nelson and Marlborough.
Nationally, realestate.co.nz data shows new rental listings rose 19.8% year-on-year in December to 5,349 properties, up from 4,464 in December 2024. The national average asking rent also declined, falling 2.4% year-on-year to $626 per week, with 13 of New Zealand’s 19 regions recording price decreases.
Realestate.co.nz spokesperson Vanessa Williams says the increase in listings is shifting the balance for renters.
“A nearly 20 percent increase in new listings certainly provides more choice for renters, and in some regions, that choice has doubled,” Williams says.
“With stock building and competition among landlords rising, renters will continue to find themselves in a stronger position to negotiate on price or lease terms in 2026.”
The data highlights a rental market entering 2026 in a very different position to previous years—particularly in regions like Nelson Tasman, where supply has rebounded strongly.
Source: Kate Russell, Top South Now
Read the original article here.