Southland on the up.

A region with plenty to be positive about.

There’s a real sense of opportunity around Invercargill and Southland. As we head further into spring, the days are getting longer, and there’s plenty happening across our region to feel positive about. 

From local businesses continuing to invest and grow to new opportunities helping shape our future, Invercargill has a lot going for it. We might sometimes be guilty of not giving our own backyard enough credit, but Southland is a great place to live, work, raise a family and invest in property.

There’s also encouraging news for future housing choice. Changes to Invercargill’s residential development rules create more opportunities for a wider range of homes, including smaller, lower-maintenance options closer to the city centre. Over time, this could give people more choice, whether they’re buying their first home, downsizing or looking for a home that better suits their needs.

And our property market is giving us another reason to feel optimistic. The latest September figures show Invercargill is holding its own, and then some!

Invercargill’s median sale price reached a record $542,500, up 1.4% on September last year, while sales increased by 20.3% compared with August. Across Southland, 143 properties sold during September, up 10.9% on the previous month.

What really stands out is how we’re performing nationally. Compared with September last year, New Zealand’s median sale price fell 2.3% and sales volumes were down 11.6%. Meanwhile, Southland has led annual house price index growth for 14 consecutive months, highlighting the strength and resilience of our region.

It’s a great reminder that the property market isn’t the same everywhere. While some parts of the country are facing tougher conditions, Southland continues to show encouraging signs.

September also brought positive signs on the ground. Open home attendance was good, appraisal activity increased, and first-home buyers continued to be an important part of the market, followed by owner-occupiers.

The median time to sell across Southland was 30 days, two days quicker than the ten-year average for September. This is an encouraging sign, although presentation and realistic pricing remain important.

One challenge is the shortage of available properties. Southland’s housing inventory was down 8.4% compared with the same time last year, and new listings were also lower. While this can make it harder for buyers to find the right home, limited stock can help support vendors when their property is well positioned in the market.

With the November general election approaching, some buyers and sellers are taking a wait-and-see approach. However, with spring underway and summer on the horizon, local activity and the region’s performance give us reason to look ahead with confidence.

Summer has a way of showing us what we really want from a home. It might be room for visiting family, somewhere to park the boat or a sunny spot for dinner outside. For buyers, it’s worth thinking beyond bedroom numbers to how you’ll actually live in a property. For sellers, those everyday features you take for granted could be exactly what someone else is looking for.

Southland has always had a strong sense of community, and that connection is at the heart of what we do.

Our sales team is out in the community every day, talking with buyers and sellers, appraising homes and helping people make some of life’s biggest decisions. Our property management team works closely with landlords and tenants to care for rental properties and keep things running smoothly.

For us, it’s about more than a sale or a tenancy. It’s about building relationships, supporting our clients and helping people make informed decisions that work for them.

The figures won’t tell the whole story of every property, but they do reinforce what we see locally: Invercargill and Southland continue to offer real opportunities for homeowners, buyers, sellers and investors.

At Professionals Invercargill, we know our market, our people and our community. Whether you’re selling, planning your next move or need help managing a rental, we’d love to help.

Our new home at 66 Don Street is another reason we’re feeling positive about the future. We’re proud to be part of Invercargill’s next chapter. Pop in for a coffee and a chat, or give our team a call.

Here’s to a positive spring and a strong finish to the year for Southland!

Visit: www.professionals.co.nz/invercargill to connect with our team.