The opening month of the year is always a great litmus test for the market. A quiet start in terms of volume, such as in 2024 when we recorded only 18 residential house sales, proved to be the precursor to a challenging year where volumes and overall market confidence remained subdued.
In January 2025, this improved to 24 house sales, representing a 33% lift in volume, and overall the 2025 market was significantly healthier than the year prior. Now, in January 2026, we have witnessed another lift in activity — up 25% to 30 residential house sales for the month. This is particularly encouraging given early January is typically a slower period as buyers and legal professionals enjoy their holiday break.
The median house price for the month was also strong, sitting at $1,725,000, which bodes well for a positive year of sales ahead in 2026.
Eight section sales, three lifestyle block sales, and one apartment sale rounded out the month.
If you have any questions about this information, or if these positive early signs have prompted you to consider where your property currently sits in the 2026 market, please don’t hesitate to get in touch — we’d be more than happy to help.
The Ray White Wānaka June 2026 property report reveals a winter cooling in residential house sales volumes, which dropped 13% year-on-year. However, the market was heavily bolstered by a massive wave of 40 section transactions, while the median house price held steady at $1,575,000. Wānaka Market Metric June 2026 Result Residential House Sales 34 Median … […]
Wānaka property continues to stand strong, defying the North Island slowdown with 41 house sales in May matching last year’s volumes and the median price climbing 7% to $1,550,000. Local market insight from our recent Info Collective event also revealed that domestic buyers overwhelmingly drive our high-end market, accounting for 22 out of 24 residential … […]