There’s no escaping the fact that we are living in uncertain times. It’s why the country continues to hang on to the Government’s daily Covid-19 status updates, why debates over border controls and quarantine continue to rage nationwide, and why the ever-growing flow of economic analyses continue to attract unprecedented attention.

It’s all about trying to make sense of a world that has spiralled out of our control as Covid-19’s devastating health and economic impacts have spread. It’s about the search for answers. And it’s about the struggle to wrest insight into what might lie ahead.

These same inclinations apply when it comes to the property market too. But, to date, the market is proving difficult to pin down. It’s bounced back strongly post-lockdown, defying sales and price expectations along the way.

We’re told that this state of affairs won’t last. That when the wage subsidies and mortgage “holidays” come to an end later in the year things will change. But that message doesn’t seem to be born out by the current property environment.

Quite the reverse, in fact. It seems the good old Kiwi love of property is running hot. Currently, I know a much greater number of people, both investors and first home buyers, who are actively looking to buy, than I have in years.

There’s likely to be a number of reasons for this. One is that the combination of historically low interest rates, the removal of the LVR restrictions and the predictions for a fall in prices is proving highly attractive to buyers looking for a deal.

The other is that, as it always has, property represents a safe haven in the storm. It’s a tangible, solid asset. And the underlying fundamentals of the market remain much the same as before lockdown: there’s a widespread lack of supply and high demand for housing in New Zealand.

For many that makes property an investment with potential and a real option going forward. In these confusing times, that counts for a great deal. So, in this issue of NZ Property Investor, we provide a wealth of content which both illustrates and supports that.

First up, our lead article investigates the enduring theory that, in New Zealand, property values double every 10 years. Perhaps needless to say, the truth turns out to be more complex. But the article also highlights just why property investment remains so attractive especially over the long-term.

In a similar vein, our profile – of Christchurch couple Vaughan and Renee Tither – provides an inspiring demonstration of what property can do for your life and future. And our commercial feature takes a fresh look at the retirement village sector as an investment option.

Hopefully, these articles, and the rest of this month’s content, will add to your property knowledge bank and provide some sustenance and certainty going forward.