Industry Videos

▶ 01:44 2024.06.02 45 Years Through Market Cycles: How Has This Real Estate Agency Continued to Grow? Over 45 years, the New Zealand real estate market has experienced multiple challenging cycles. With interest rates coming down and early signs of renewed activity emerging, the agency reflects on its long-term growth. It has won Large Agency of the Year for 13 consecutive years and is part of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World. From 23 branches in its early days to a growing network across Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga, the agency continues to expand its presence in the New Zealand property market.

▶ 01:59 2024.05.02 "Treat Your People Well and They Will Repay You" — Barfoot & Thompson MD Peter Thompson on People-First Leadership Barfoot & Thompson is one of Auckland's leading real estate agencies. Managing Director Peter Thompson shares his people-first philosophy: for him, real estate is about witnessing hopeful first-home buyers move into their first home, and elderly homeowners leave their homes for retirement villages. He starts early, replies to emails immediately, and takes afternoons to visit three branches unannounced to talk with frontline staff and feel the pulse of the market. He believes 98% of people in the industry do a fantastic job, and that customer experience must always be the top priority. By always putting people first, he trusts that "treat your people well and they will repay you; genuinely care for your team and they will benefit the community" — that is what real estate is all about.

▶ 02:21 2024.04.02 5 Must-Know Keys to Land Development in New Zealand — Miss One and It Could Go Wrong Barfoot & Thompson consultant Rocky Liu walks through the five essential keys to land development in New Zealand — miss any one of them and a project can go wrong. He starts with land zoning and development restrictions (Single House, Mixed Housing Suburban, Mixed Housing Urban, and Terrace Housing and Apartment zones), then weighs buying land with RC (Resource Consent) and EPA approval — which can shorten the development timeline and save surveying time, though design changes may require new approvals — versus a "blank canvas" without them. He stresses subscribing to a LIM (Land Information Memorandum) report to check restrictions, planning information and risks such as flooding zones (especially after the 2023 floods) and the constraints of stormwater and wastewater pipes. He also covers geological reports (soil conditions, bearing capacity, volcanic rock, erosion and rockfall risks) and the surrounding environment — power poles, bush, creeks, electricity boxes, slope, and whether the land is coastal, bush or flat. Knowing these factors early helps assess project feasibility and budget.

▶ 00:45 2024.03.02 Barfoot & Thompson Sold 10,080 Homes in 2024, Up 20% — Holding About 40% of the Auckland Market Barfoot & Thompson has released its 2024 market performance figures. The company sold and settled 10,080 properties in 2024, up from 8,600 in 2023 — an increase of around 20% in sales volume. The average sale price reached $1,152,000, up about 4% from $1,104,000 in 2023. Overall, 2024 outperformed 2023, and Barfoot & Thompson now holds roughly 40% of the Auckland market — figures that also reflect the broader dynamics and trends of the Auckland real estate market.

▶ 01:26 2023.12.02 Developers Forced to Sell Below Cost — NZ Property Development Shifts Toward Higher Density New Zealand property development is under cost pressure. With high interest rates and holding costs, some developers are forced to sell below cost. Development contribution fees are also rising, and utilities such as Watercare and Vector can increase charges unexpectedly — for example, Vector may require a $250,000 transformer for a street, which must be installed before a project begins, or developers could wait four or five years. Integrating development contributions into a rating system has been discussed for years and is expected to gain more political traction this year. Meanwhile, permit-free backyard cottages can help homeowners earn extra income, and self-certification can cut red tape. In terms of sales volume, the market is shifting toward higher-density models — though not apartment-level — using town-centre zoning to build duplexes with decentralised parking, creating beautiful communities without excessive density.

▶ 02:17 2023.11.02 From PhD to Real Estate Branch Manager — Betty Shao's Journey from Sales to People-First Leadership Betty Shao is a Relieving Branch Manager at Barfoot & Thompson's Support Centre, stepping in to run branches when their permanent managers are on leave or unavailable. Her role includes organising meetings, checking files, ensuring compliance with industry law and AML requirements, and leading the sales team on "caravans" to view new listings, as well as coordinating auctions and negotiations. She began at the Epsom branch as an assistant to Branch Manager David Kelly, then moved from sales management to a leadership role — in her words, from "individual heroism" to genuinely caring about what the team needs. Before that, she spent about ten years at the University of Auckland, completing her bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees, which gave her a disciplined, systematic way of working. Her philosophy: once you've made a decision, don't regret it or dwell on "what if" — focus on doing your chosen path well, because all roads lead to Rome.

▶ 01:55 2023.10.02 Rangitoto College School Zone Guide — NZ's Top Public High School, Median Home Prices $1M–$2M Rangitoto College is one of New Zealand's largest public secondary schools and has repeatedly topped the national public high school rankings, offering both NCEA and IB pathways with more than 60 courses. Its school zone sits on Auckland's North Shore, bounded by the South Pacific to the east and State Highway 1 to the west, linking five east-coast bays — Rothesay Bay, Murrays Bay, Mairangi Bay, Browns Bay and Campbells Bay — plus Sunnynook, Rosedale, Pinehill and Oteha along the motorway. Parts of Browns Bay and Oteha fall within the Rangitoto College–Long Bay College double zone, while parts of Campbells Bay and Sunnynook sit in the triple zone of Rangitoto College, Westlake Boys and Westlake Girls. According to Barfoot & Thompson sales data from January to September 2024, median home prices in the zone range between $1 million and $2 million. The area is dominated by large-land older homes, with some newly built standalone houses, offering lower density than Takapuna and a more convenient location closer to the city than Long Bay.

▶ 00:50 2023.09.02 Inside Barfoot & Thompson's Full Circle Summit 2024 A look back at Barfoot & Thompson's annual Full Circle Summit 2024, capturing the atmosphere of the event — winner announcements, awards moments and team celebrations that highlight the company's annual gathering and team spirit.

▶ 02:03 2023.08.02 Pukekohe — Auckland's Investment Hotspot 50km South: 14,000 New Homes Planned, 3-Bed Averages $900K Pukekohe lies about 50 kilometres south of Auckland's city centre, a region of fertile soil and abundant produce. Over the next 30 years, roughly 1,700 hectares have been earmarked as future urban development land, with about 14,000 new homes expected. The area offers a relaxed lifestyle — international motorsport, a heritage steam train, horse riding and equestrian events, water gardens and west-coast beaches. According to Barfoot & Thompson, the Pukekohe branch completed more than 500 sales over the past year, selling about 51% of the district's listed homes and 49% of its rural and lifestyle properties. Three-bedroom homes average around $900,000 with a yield of about 3%, above most of Auckland. Situated in the golden triangle between Auckland and Tauranga, with ACG school already present and rail electrification under way, Pukekohe offers strong investment and development potential.

▶ 01:47 2023.07.02 Milford — North Shore's Premier School Zone: 15 Minutes to CBD, Beachside Living Milford is a sought-after traditional suburb on Auckland's North Shore, ideal for both home buyers and investors. Located along the east coast, it is about a 15-minute drive to the CBD, with a bus hub connecting to the motorway network and direct buses to Auckland International Airport. Backed by a lake and facing the sea, it boasts a white-sand beach, a modern shopping centre, a marina and a yacht club, all with a relaxed village atmosphere. The school zones are among the North Shore's finest — Milford School, Takapuna Normal Intermediate, Westlake Boys and Girls High Schools, Campbells Bay School, plus leading private schools Rosmini College and Carmel College. The Barfoot & Thompson Milford team has ranked as the number-one branch for five consecutive years, also achieving second in Partnership and top-three on the North Shore.

▶ 01:57 2023.06.02 Howick, East Auckland — Top School Zones, Village Charm, 15km to the City Howick sits about 15 kilometres south of central Auckland, a well-established eastern suburb rich in culture and history. Along Picton Street, colonial-era buildings and Māori heritage sites sit side by side, while antique shops, cafés and a distinctly English weekend market give the village a mid-19th-century feel — yet around the corner, Botany Town Centre delivers modern convenience. Nature is minutes away: stroll Eastern Beach, join the sailing club, play a round of golf, watch the sunset from Half Moon Bay marina, or head north to Musick Point for hiking and fishing, with Lloyd Elsmore Park adding more leisure options. Schooling is a highlight, with top-ten ranked Macleans College, established private school Saint Kentigern College and many quality primary and intermediate schools. Today Howick offers both luxurious beachfront homes and modern large-scale residential developments. The Barfoot & Thompson Howick team accounts for around 46.8% of sales in the area and knows it inside out, ready to help you find your ideal home.

▶ 02:39 2023.05.02 Albany — Auckland's Strongest Satellite City: Westfield's $500M Push for NZ's Largest Mall Albany is arguably the strongest satellite city beyond Auckland's urban core. Westfield, the world's largest retail property group, plans to invest NZ$500 million here to expand Westfield Albany — already the North Shore's biggest mall — into the largest shopping centre in New Zealand. Its sporting facilities are the envy of neighbouring suburbs: North Harbour Stadium seats 25,000 and was built for rugby and football, while the Albany pool and facilities for football, tennis, rugby, swimming, fitness and golf are all on hand. For commuters, Albany sits between State Highways 1 and 18, and the Northern Express bus reaches the city centre in about 20 minutes. Education is a standout, with two of Auckland's top-five private schools, Kristin and Pinehurst, walkable Albany primary, intermediate and high schools all rated 10 out of 10, and a Massey University campus — covering every stage from kindergarten to university. The area also offers abundant parks and reserves, from native forest trails to the Oteha Stream walkway and the small waterfall at Lucas Creek. Barfoot & Thompson holds a 60.7% market share in Albany, ranking first on the North Shore. With hundreds of Auckland Council staff moving into a new office building and Westfield expanding further, homes range from NZ$700,000 two-bedroom apartments to around NZ$1 million four-bedroom single-level brick homes and roughly NZ$2 million luxury villas.