Auckland and Queenstown housing markets most at risk in a downturn

Auckland’s housing market would be more at risk in a property downturn than any other main centre, according to a new Property Vulnerability Index, reports Interest. The Index is based on a broad range of economic and housing measures, such as demand for property in each area, affordability, credit behaviour, local employment, investor activity and the balance of supply and demand. While not intended as a forecast of values, the Index is a “relative assessment of each area’s risk in the event of a more significant downturn in the property market.” Two centres which stand out as being vulnerable are Auckland, which is by far the country’s largest property market, and Queenstown-Lakes.