As 2025 drew to a close, the Bay of Plenty property market showed continued signs of stability, with activity holding steady despite the seasonal slowdown leading into the holiday period.

The median sale price across the Bay of Plenty sat at $840,000 in December, representing a 1.7% increase year-on-year. While slightly softer than November’s median of $855,000, this movement aligns with typical December trends as transaction volumes ease over summer.

Sales activity remained positive, with 467 properties sold across the region, up 6.1% compared to December 2024. This indicates that motivated buyers were still active, even as market pace naturally slowed.

Encouragingly, the median days to sell improved to 39 days, down from 45 days this time last year, reflecting a more efficient market for well-priced homes.

Local EVES salespeople report that most vendors were realistic with their pricing, helping to maintain momentum. Open home attendance was average, as expected at this time of year, while auction activity remained steady, supported by improved clearance rates. Increased market confidence and eased interest rates continued to positively influence buyer sentiment.

Looking ahead, salespeople are cautiously optimistic about the months ahead, with many buyers and sellers expected to act on decisions made over the holiday period. A healthy level of listing stock is already lined up, setting the scene for a solid start to 2026.