REAL ESTATE MARKET

Hokitika Guardian, 14 July 1925, Page 1

REAL ESTATE MARKET

WRUJXCTOX. July 10. The Government Statistician lias added some very useful figures to the •’.Monthly Abstract of Statistics," ami these arc the statistics of land transfers which may lie accepted as a very good guide to the tone of the real estate market. The figures for the past two financial years are given, and the,* are very interesting, for the year muled March 31st, 1921. the number of transfers of town and suburban properties registered was 23,625, and the consideration amounted to .C17.051.d2J, making the average COSO. for the year ended March 31st, 1925, the transactions in town and suburban properties numbered 25,803, nr 238 more than in the previous year, and the consider-

ation amounted to C.1,,72->,592. an increase of CM 1.039, while the average consideration per transier was CG.So, as compared with COSO in 1923-21. which seems to indicate that the values of such properties 'remained practically stationary during the two years. The transfer of country properties for the year ended March 3.lst, 1921. numbered 8311. ami the consideration amounted to £10,289,720. making the average value Cl9oo. In the year to March 31st. 1923. there were 8383 transfers, or 74 more than in the previous year, and the consideration was Cl 3 823.103. a decrease ol C 110,203. tin* ju*eri!i£o wur king out at Cl9oo, or COO less than in. the preceding year, showing the values of country properties tended downwards.

Taking both classes of properties, the number transferred in 1923-21 was 33,930 and for 1921-23 31,218. The consideration in the former year being C 33.871.209, and €33.319.003 in the following year. With an increased number of transfers the consideration money was less, from which it may be inferred that land values had not varied much in the two years. The statistics are given for each month beginning with April. 1923, and the figures present some interesting annual fluctuations. January shows little activity amongst both town and country properties. but the latter show a speedv recovery during February, and the former during March. April is low throughout, followed by a sharp recovery in May. In each of the two years covered country properties showed high figures in August, and the total consideration in connexion with December country transactions was also high in both years. The figures tor Al’iv 1923, are given for each land district and the total town and suburban transfers was 2193. against 24,-. in May last year, and 2(562 in May. 19°3, the consideration being £l,0 V ‘>.- .•>•57 a gainst C 1.762.301 last year and £1.307.11 7 in May. 1923. The eon,.trytransfers numbered 919. as against .01 in Mnv last year, and 775 m May. 1d23. and the consideration involved was <M 971.039. against £1.378.01'-last year and C 1,413.023 in May, 3923. The average consideration of the country properties transferred in May this year was £2077. which contrasts with £I9OO shown in May last year.