First home buyers are standing ready .... as prices heat up

StatsNZ has released data showing the national median house price has risen to 730-thousand dollars, up 19.3 percent on January last year.

Buyers are now turning to more affordable areas, with regions like the West Coast and Southland having double digit sale increases.

One Roof Editor Owen Vaughan says there is a common mentality.

He says they think if I don't buy now then they're going to miss out and they'll be more expensive in a month, two months or a years time.