A shortage of rental properties has pushed costs so high, it can be cheaper to buy

A One Roof report shows in about a fifth of surveyed suburbs, mortgage payments are lower than renting.

In Northland's Kaikohe, rents are six-hundred-dollars higher than mortgage repayments.

Whangarei Mortgage broker Matt Kensington says if people are looking to set roots, buying is the way to go.

He says rates also need to be taken into consideration when buying a property.