Firstly, I wanted to take this opportunity to say keep safe and well during this time. United we stand against this pandemic and together we will prevail against the COVID-19 virus.

It's too early to comment on what impact this will have on the housing market. I know of many people who are motivated to sell and buy once Level 4 has been lifted. I also know of a few who have decided to hold off their plans to sell until there is more certainty and confidence in the economy. Either way, the market will pick up again (as it always does) but in this ever changing landscape it is just a question of when.

It's nice, though, to be able to share some positive news during these times. I am delighted to share with you that I am soon expecting my first child!

Obviously, I am very excited about this, however, you may be wondering:
What does that now mean if you're looking to have your home appraised or listed with me in 2020?

Due date is late April 2020 so I will be on maternity leave until September 2020
I have a network of excellent agents I am happy to recommend who operate at the same level of integrity, skill and care as I do should you decide to sell during this time
I'll still be accessible via email and phone during this time for any property advice

Until then, take care of yourself and stay safe and well.

Warmest regards,

Shannon

Tip #1. Decluttering the home

When you move, you’re most likely going to have to get rid of a few things. Take care of this before listing your house to make your life easier when selling. The less “stuff” you have, the less you have to clean and put away before viewings.

Tip #2. Keep Your Home 30-Minutes Away From Being Clean

Showings can happen quickly. You might be at the grocery store on a Tuesday afternoon and get a call from your agent that you have a showing in one hour. If your house is always 10 minutes away from being clean, you can handle showings on short-notice. The cleaner you keep your home, the less stressed out you’ll be with short notice request for viewings.

Tip #3. Leave your home on the Weekends

Weekends—especially the first two weekends your house is on the market—are typically when your house is going to get the most action. Instead of trying to live like you normally would on a weekend, plan a day trip out.

Tip #4. Be flexible

While your home might sell quickly, there’s also the chance it will sit on the market for a few weeks or months. By not being in a rush to sell your home, you’ll automatically lower your stress levels.

Tip #5. Practice a Healthy Lifestyle

One of the best ways to manage stress is by adapting or maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Socialize regularly with friends and family members, get 30 minutes or more of exercise each day, drink more water, eat healthy foods, get enough sleep each night and quit bad habits such as smoking.

Source

Source: https://financialhighway.com/minimize-stress-when-selling-your-home/

Change is inevitable but progress is optional. Each of us is responsible for our own progress.

In the words of my client, Velma, who is off to retire in Papamoa, "Shannon, I have been through many changes in governments, property markets and so forth over the years, and life's too short to worry overly about these things and then put me off from moving to where I want to be.''

And Velma is right — regardless of which party or parties are governing, I still have a job to do for you, people still want to buy houses and I'm sure you still want to get to where you want to be when the time comes.

What does the new government mean for our local market? Well, it's too early to tell until we see what policies the coalition partners have agreed on. I'm guessing immigration and foreign ownership will be in the line of fire, so there may be some impact there.

In case you didn't check them out prior to the election, I've linked to a list of Labour's proposed housing policies below.

Ban foreign speculators from buying existing homes
Labour will ban foreign speculators from buying existing New Zealand homes. This will remove from the market foreign speculators who are pushing prices out of reach of first home buyers.

Tax property speculators who flick houses within five years
Labour will extend the bright line test from the current two years to five years. This will target speculators who buy houses with the aim of making a quick capital gain. Current exemptions from the bright line test will continue.

Property speculators will no longer be able to use tax losses on their rental properties to offset their tax on other income which gives them an unfair advantage over people looking to buy their first home.

Build more affordable houses ...