Want to know what's going on in your suburb? Receive your free suburb profile today. Ask me for details.

You never know what is going to happen next. Sitting in the office earlier today we heard a scream "Stop him" only to look up and see a young guy sprinting past the office and down the road being closely followed by a staff member from the neighbouring pharmacy yelling "stop him." Out the door I go and the chase starts, after a young guy who is quickly apprehended by some great locals in a team effort. (the young guy tripped over because his baggy jeans - with no belt, which of course fall down!!) We hold him until Police arrive, which I need to state arrive only minutes later and of course they know his name immediately, the stolen item is recovered and details are recorded of victims, witnesses etc. It goes to prove, if we have a zero tolerence of crime as a community and we take action against it then we all become stronger for it. This lifted the felling of community and the ability of working together. Well done Sandringham. 

Suburb;                     # settled sales in May;       Average days on market;         Average sales price:

Sandringham                 20                                 40                                         $623,190

Mt Albert                       29                                 30                                         $581,000

Mt Eden                        32                                 33                                          $743,750

Avondale                      12                                 32                                          $388,500

Pt Chevalier                  13                                 51                                          $574,000                         

Fallout from the world's financial crisis and the release of the National Government's budget has provided major influences on the world of real estate in New Zealand.

We have seen previously booming regions of New Zealand fall from the heady highs of 2007 into negative territory. We have seen proposed new developments shelved more quickly than milk nearing its used by date. and property speculators have closed their cheque books as banks stall lines of credit.

House values across the country are losing ground because of cautious buyers and high levels of distressed sales pulling down prices.

QV Valuation's June index - calculated from the previous three months' market figures - is 5.2 per cent above the same period last year. This followed the 5.6 per cent reported last month, which was down on the 6.1 per cent of the previous month.