THE LAND MARKET

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22469, 13 July 1936, Page 11

THE LAND MARKET

BUSINESS IN WAIKATO VALUES WELL MAINTAINED [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Saturday A marked improvement in land sales business in the Waikato has been noted during the last two months, according to a report issued by the Waikato Estate Agents' Institute. Values were well maintained, although in some parts there was considerable difference in the ideas of values held by buyers and sellers. The cash deposits offered have been higher than they had been for some time, and the demand for farm propositions slightly bettor than it had been for some years. Many buyers from other parts of the Dominion, particularly from Taranaki. have been interested in Waikato properties. The chief demand has been for dairy /arms and for mixed propositions in which advantage could be taken of the fat lamb market. Sheep farms seemed to have an appeal for buyers. Many requests have been received for oneman farms of from 50 to 100 acres, although several sales of from 200 to 300 acres have been made.

A pleasing feature of the business done, stated the report, was the absence of the "speculator." the purchaser in nearly every case being a bone-fide farmer, who bad taken over the area submitted with a view to becoming a permanent settler. The report added that there was a keen demand for town sections for dwelling sites. Building for letting purposes did not appeal to investors. There was great difficulty in obtaining houses for tenants in Hamilton, and more and more people were building their own hom<?6. There had been a fair inquiry for business premises and business building sites. Opinions were divided as to the effect of recent legislation. In some quarters guaranteed prices for dairy products had had the effect of hardening values, and on the other hand it had been somewhat more difficult to arrange finance lately than it had been previously.