Waikato Real Estate

Jarrod Kerr's Property & Economy Update

At our Waikato Real Estate Landlord Update in November 2024, we welcomed Jarrod Kerr from Kiwibank back to Hamilton for a wide-ranging, highly practical discussion on where the economy — and the property market — was heading next.

 

Jarrod’s message to Waikato landlords was a clear shift in tone from the “survive till ’25” narrative many of us felt earlier in the year. With inflation back near target and central banks moving into a rate-cutting cycle, he outlined why falling interest rates were likely to improve conditions for households, businesses, and asset markets — and why that matters for Hamilton and Cambridge property investors in particular. He also unpacked what quicker mortgage refixing cycles could mean for New Zealand’s recovery, with many borrowers fixed for shorter terms than usual.

 

The session covered the key forces shaping the rental and investment landscape: strong migration-driven rental demand, rent growth trends, and how improving affordability and lower rates could help bring investors back into the market (and, in turn, support new housing supply). Jarrod also spoke candidly about risk factors landlords are grappling with — including insurance repricing, climate-related exclusions, and how banks think about lending where insurance becomes more complex.

 

We also opened the floor for Q&A on Debt-to-Income (DTI) rules, bank competition and mortgage pricing, and what Jarrod was watching globally — from inflation and shipping costs through to geopolitical tensions and trade. If you’re a Waikato landlord, investor, or considering your next move in the Hamilton or Cambridge rental market, this is a valuable watch.

 

Watch the full November 2024 session here.

The Future of Property Investing with Andrew & Ed

In 2023 we invited Hamilton and Cambridge property investors to an in-depth, data-driven Q&A session with leading property investment experts Andrew Nicol and Ed McKnight from Opes Partners, hosts of the popular Property Academy Podcast.

With the general election cycle, recent Loan-to-Value Ratio (LVR) changes, and the proposed introduction of Debt-to-Income (DTI) rules all set to influence lending conditions, the session explored how political and regulatory shifts typically impact property market activity across New Zealand — and what historical data suggests may happen next for property investors.

For landlords and buyers active in the Waikato region, including Hamilton and Cambridge, Andrew and Ed also unpacked current local house price modelling, investor demand trends, and why the national property downturn appears to be over. With Reserve Bank of New Zealand forecasts indicating steady house price growth over the coming years, the discussion provided valuable insight into what this could mean for residential rental property investment performance in our local market.

Watch the full Waikato property investor seminar session to hear the key takeaways for property investors, landlords, and anyone considering entering the Hamilton or Cambridge rental property market.

Jarrod Kerr's Housing Market Update

Jarrod Kerr, Chief Economist at Kiwibank, presented on what the then-current economic cycle could mean for house prices, interest rates, and the wider residential property market.

 

Drawing on both global and domestic inflation trends at the time, Jarrod explained why inflation pressures appeared to have peaked, and how easing global cost drivers were expected to help bring New Zealand inflation under control. For property investors across the Waikato region, this had important flow-on effects — particularly when it came to mortgage rates, borrowing conditions, and housing demand.

 

The session also explored what stabilising Waikato house prices could look like over the following 12–24 months, the likelihood of New Zealand entering a technical recession, and why interest rates were widely expected to begin easing towards the end of 2023. For owners of residential rental property in Hamilton and Cambridge, these macroeconomic shifts were expected to play a key role in both short-term cashflow and long-term capital growth outcomes.

 

Watch the full session to hear Jarrod’s outlook on mortgage rate trends, the proposed introduction of Debt-to-Income (DTI) rules, and what property investors were being encouraged to consider when reviewing or refixing their home loans at that point in the lending cycle.

Ready to Earn More and Worry Less?

With over $1 billion in property under management, and more than 500 five-star Google reviews, Waikato Real Estate are Waikato’s highest rated property management company of our size.

Switching is simple. When you sign on, we handle the whole process, including liaising with your current tenant or property manager, if you have one. Get started by requesting a free rental appraisal. 

Get My Free Rental Appraisal