Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

May busy for real estate agency

Updated at 1:35 pm on 6 June 2012

Barfoot & Thompson recorded its busiest May in 11 years, with the average sales price rising to a new high of more than $580,000.

The Auckland real estate agency says the sales of 1165 houses was a third higher than the same month last year, and over half more than in April.

Managing director Peter Thompson says the higher prices are driven by the low number of newly built homes, coupled with population growth creating a housing shortage.

Ninety one homes sold for more than $1 million, while just over half of the homes sold for less than $500,000.

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