Howie John - Real Estate

Real estate stats are easy to manipulate. Shift the timeframe, change the parameters, and you can make any market look like it's booming—or crashing.

I’ve seen flyers from a few local agents recently all claiming to be "Number 1" 🤨

That’s not how I operate. Moving forward, I am locking in a single, standardised framework for Central West: The 12-Month Rolling Average. Win, lose, or draw, you get the unvarnished facts.

In my July Market Update, I break down:
📊 What the actual Barfoot & Thompson July sales data shows across Auckland.
🏠 Where 3-bedroom baselines sit across Pt Chev, Grey Lynn, Mt Albert, Freemans Bay & Waterview.
💡 What this means for your Spring strategy as a buyer or seller.

Read the full update here 👇

https://active.social/social-share/3kc7u

Auckland Council officially voted 17–5 to pass amendments to Plan Change 120 (PC120).

While media headlines love talking about "10 to 15-storey height limits," here’s what’s actually happening on the ground:
📊 85% of Auckland’s land area is completely unaffected.
🚫 Blanket three-storey upzoning on quiet suburban backstreets is off the table.
🚉 Higher density is being concentrated tightly around major transit hubs and town centres.

Why does this matter if you’re buying or selling?

Headlines drive buyer perception.If you’re selling a home on a quiet side street, buyers might falsely assume a townhouse block could pop up next door. Being able to prove your property is protected is key to defending your value.

On the flip side, if your block is upzoned, knowing whether your target buyer is a family or a developer changes your entire sales strategy.

Curious about how your property boundary is mapped under the latest rules?

Drop me a DM or comment "PC120" and I’ll send you the direct breakdown for your address 📩

PC120 Update: Auckland Council has voted—here is what it means for your home

Thinking of selling in Point Chev?

Here is how we turn 1 in 2 local listings into "SOLD." 🏡✨

When 1 in every 2 properties in Point Chevalier is sold by Barfoot & Thompson, it isn't just a stat. It is a massive, real-world advantage for your sale.

Why? Because we are not a franchise.In a franchised agency, offices operate as separate businesses restricted by region. Barfoot & Thompson operates as one connected network across Auckland.

Here is what that non-franchise model means for YOU as a vendor:
🔹 1,800+ Agents Working For You: The moment you list with us, every single agent across all 80+ branches has full access to bring their buyers directly to your doorstep.
🔹 Tapping into Out-of-Area Buyers: Buyers moving from the Shore, Central Auckland, or the Eastern Suburbs are connected to your property through our unified database.
🔹 More Buyers = Maximum Sale Price: The more active buyers through your door, the stronger the competition. This gives you maximum leverage when negotiating.

The local track record speaks for itself:
📊 50.8% Market Share in Point Chev over the past 12 months
📊 44.4% Market Share in May alone

We do not just talk about network buyer power, we can prove it. I would love to show you real local case studies where out-of-area buyers brought in by our non-franchise network helped our vendors achieve premium results right here in Point Chev.

Interested to see what your home could be worth in today's market?

📩 Send me a direct message today for a confidential chat.

Howie
022 530 2007

The $300,000 illusion most Auckland home sellers fall for on Day 1. 📉🎯

When an agent walks through your front door, they know there are only two numbers that actually matter:

1️⃣ The MARKET PRICE (Reality): What active, qualified buyers are actually paying today based on hard, local sales data.

2️⃣ The HAPPY PRICE (The Dream): The ideal walk-away figure that covers your mortgage and funds your next big move.

Here’s the dirty secret of our industry: Bad agents will tell you those two numbers are the exact same thing just to get your signature.

They use flattery as a hook, lock you into a 90-day contract, and then spend the next four weeks "conditioning" your expectations down through stress and fatigue until you feel forced to accept a low offer.

I just wrote a full breakdown on how to spot this trap on Day 1—and how a transparent, data-driven strategy can actually bridge the gap between Market Price and Happy Price without the mind games.

https://active.social/social-share/1avi4

Why online property estimates are often wildly off (using my latest Pt Chev sale as proof) 🧐👇

If you own a home, you’ve done it.

We all jump on OneRoof, Homes.co.nz, or Trade Me, scroll to find the biggest number, and assume that's what our asset is worth.

But I just sold 9 Montrose Street in Point Chevalier for $1,700,000.

Right before the auction, the digital "crystal balls" were having an absolute tug-of-war over what it was worth:

The Reality: Sold for $1,700,000
-OneRoof: Said it could be as low as $1,500,000
-Realestate.co.nz: Pushed out a median of $1,650,000
-Homes & Trade Me: Sat at $1,680,000
-Council CV: Towering up at $1,850,000 (highly inflated because of its THAB zoning as a development site!)

The gap between the computer’s absolute lowest guess ($1.5M) and the official council valuation ($1.85M) was a massive $350,000.

Here is the real problem: Buyers have selective sight. They always anchor to the lowest price. (And oh do they love to quote that bottom price!).

They will hold onto that $1.5M estimate like a shield to justify a cheeky offer, while sellers are naturally looking at the CV. This creates a massive expectation gap before anyone has even made a cup of tea.

The truth? Online portals are just math equations. They can’t see inside your house, they don't understand zoning nuances on the ground, and they have no idea if you've done a beautiful renovation (which can easily double a $20k investment at sale time without the website algorithm ever noticing).

I’ve written a quick, blunt breakdown on exactly how this "tug-of-war" happens and how you can find out what your place is actually worth today.

Read the full article here:
👉 https://active.social/social-share/fvdp7

Or, if you just want a real-time view of your immediate neighborhood without the computer guesswork, check out your local market tracker here:
👉 https://shorturl.at/2dJqs

The RBNZ just surprised everyone by hiking the OCR to 2.50%.

If you’re thinking about selling your home, you’re probably wondering: Is this going to scare buyers away?

The short answer is no—but it has completely changed how they are behaving. Successfully selling right now isn't just about watching house prices; it’s about understanding buyer psychology under this new budget pressure.

In my latest update, I break down the absolute reality check on what this means for local property owners:
🔻 The Fixed Rate Reality – Why banks already priced this in.
🧠 Buyer Psychology – How changing budgets affect how they choose a property.
🔑 The Vendor Strategy – How to position your home to attract competitive offers today.

Before you read the scary media headlines this weekend, get the actual facts on how this impacts your street.

👇 Click the link below to read the full breakdown!

Surprise OCR hike reality check: Fixed rates, buyer psychology & your property

🌅 NEW LISTING | 505/9 Sarawia Street, Newmarket

The ultimate urban sweet spot exists! 📍 Perched perfectly between the historic charm of Parnell Village and the world-class shopping of Newmarket, this 1960s gem is ready for its next chapter.

It's an ideal match for professionals, medical staff, university students, or first-home buyers looking for effortless city-fringe living.

Why you’ll love it:

🌊 Sweeping, elevated views of the Waitematā Harbour

🛏️ 1 Bed | 🚿 1 Bath | 🚗 1 Car Space (an inner-city luxury!)

🛍️ Strolling distance to Auckland’s best fashion, cafes, and transport links

Whether you're looking for a chic lock-and-leave or a blue-chip investment, this is your entry into Auckland's most prestigious corridor.

✨ CV: $450,000
⏰ Deadline Sale: Closes Wednesday, 22nd July 2026 at 3:00 PM (Unless Sold Prior)

DM us for viewing times or to request the info pack today!

View listing => https://shorturl.at/U0WfE

How should Auckland grow? 📈🏙️

Big changes are coming to our city's housing rules under the Plan Change 120 update. The council is currently weighing up 4 distinct paths—ranging from a bare-minimum approach to massive transit-led development.

Check out the slides to see:
🔹 The 4 scenarios being considered
🔹 What they mean for local housing capacity
🔹 The exact timeline for your public feedback this July!

Aucklanders get a 20-day window to make formal submissions soon, so make sure you’re up to speed. 🗓️

YOUR NEW HORIZON AWAITS 👀

A sneak peek at what’s coming next! We are keeping this one under wraps for just a little bit longer, but if you’ve been dreaming of an apartment with a stellar view—minus the cramped inner-city hustle—you’ll want to watch this space.

Imagine having the Domain, Parnell, and Newmarket right on your doorstep.

Intrigued? Drop a 💬 below and be the first to know when it goes live.