But there are early signs that the market may be starting to shift.
Vanessa Williams, spokesperson for realestate.co.nz, says:
“The total value of reductions was less in Q3 2025 than it was in Q3 2024, meaning the gap between what sellers want and what buyers will pay is closing.”
She says the drop is probably due to rising buyer confidence as interest rates fall.
“When demand picks up, sellers don’t have to work as hard to close the gap.”
The number of users of realestate.co.nz increased by 12.2% year-on-year in Q3 2025.
*This data reflects the difference between a property's original asking price when listed on realestate.co.nz and its price at the point of sale or withdrawal. While it doesn’t show the final sale price, it provides a strong signal of how much sellers are adjusting to meet buyer demand.
Average price drops per listing reveal where sellers are adjusting most
Nationally, vendors who reduced their asking prices in Q3 2025 took an average of $34,598 off each listing. Regionally, Coromandel recorded the largest average drop, with sellers trimming $61,788 from their original asking prices. Gisborne followed at $54,000, while Wellington, Central Otago/Lakes District, and Auckland rounded out the top five with average reductions of $45,718, $44,433, and $42,919, respectively.
“Looking at average reductions per listing gives us a clearer picture of how much sellers are actually flexing,” says Williams. “These figures show that in many regions, vendors are making significant adjustments to meet buyer expectations and get deals over the line.”
She adds that as confidence lifts, sellers may find they don’t need to adjust prices as much.
Buyers using realestate.co.nz to search for a property will be notified of any price reduction to their saved listings.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Hannah Franklin | hannah@realestate.co.nz
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