Australasian superbrand Raine & Horne has landed in New Zealand’s fourth biggest city, Hamilton, just as the Waikato region’s housing market shows signs of a bounce back.

The new Raine & Horne Hamilton office is proudly led by the dynamic husband-and-wife team, Kylie Hooker and Buddy Annals, who are excited to bring the super brand to Hamilton and the greater Waikato area.

Both were raised on the rural outskirts of Hamilton, the duo brings extensive local knowledge and expertise to their real estate endeavours. Prior to Raine & Horne, Kylie’s career included invaluable experience with a leading rural and lifestyle agent in Hamilton. A University of Waikato business school graduate, Buddy holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing and public relations. This experience along with a successful stint in the construction sector has helped Buddy transition seamlessly into real estate.

Together, Kylie and Buddy exemplify “synergy”, using their complementary strengths to continuously deliver exceptional results for their clients. This expertise comes at an opportune time as the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) reports a 1% month-on-month increase in Hamilton City median price in August, while sales increased by 19.5%. In fact, sales have surged by 28.2% since August 2023. During the same period, median values for the Waikato Region rose by a tick under 1% month-on-month in August, while sales grew by 1.8% and 2.9% year-on-year. These regional results highlight the robust market activity in Hamilton City.

According to REINZ, investors, owner-occupiers, and first-time buyers were the most active in the Waikato, with developer enquiries reported in Hamilton.

Jen Baird, CEO of REINZ, notes a rise in auction activity across the Waikato Region in August, with more properties coming to market, higher attendances at auctions and increased sales under the hammer.

The OCR (official cash rate) announcement in August contributed to improved market sentiment, which includes more local agents reporting that market activity has improved with more people searching for property or selling. Jen Baird notes this growing optimism in the Waikato markets, a suggests a busy run to the end of the year is now a distinct prospect.

If you’re considering buying or selling a property, contact your local Raine & Horne office for expert advice and support.