Back in 'the day', if you wanted to create an outdoor living space, you invited your mates around to help you whack up a deck in an afternoon, followed by a celebratory crate of beer.

And when it got too hot, you put up the trusty beach umbrella. You know the kind - floral, fringed and secured by one of those concrete umbrella stands. Which you invariably stubbed your toe on.

Outdoor living spaces have moved on a lot since then. Increasingly sophisticated, they are now seen as an extension of the home.

Would you buy a house with a complete stranger?

A new property 'speed dating' concept is pairing people up to do just that.

Let me tell you a tale of two brothers.

One bought his first house 10 years ago, and is now settled down with a family. The other went travelling, recently returned to New Zealand, and is now looking to buy his first home.

Over the past few years we've seen a lot of new kids on the real estate block. A booming market has attracted a lot of new players. Which is great – choice is always a good thing right?

When you make an offer on a property it will either be conditional or unconditional. But what’s the difference and is an unconditional offer worth all the effort? Read on for a plain-english explanation.

It’s always a hard decision deciding the best way to sell your house. Trying to determine which method will get you the most return. Auction. Price. Or other. There’s no right or wrong answer. It all depends on the market and the particular nuances of your property.

I've just sold the roughest property I've ever listed. It was a mess. Contaminated, right next to a massive power pylon, damp and mouldy, totally trashed and full of all sorts of rubbish and rotten food. And did I mention fleas?

Selling a lot of houses means I see a lot of tears. Usually, there are tears of happiness. Often there are tears of sadness. And sometimes there are tears of frustration. But when children are involved they can take the crying and emotions to a whole new level.

With apartments springing up all over town, it appears that more and more Kiwis are embracing this style of living and all it has to offer.