What Buyers Are Really Looking For Right Now

Andrea Skews is a licensed salesperson with Lowe & Co Realty, Real Estate Authority (REA) Board member and Karori Residents’ Association chairperson. The views expressed are her own and not made in any official capacity.

Last week I had a buyer stand in a north-facing lounge on Cornford Street and just… exhale. Not because the kitchen had been renovated or the bathroom was new. Because the sun was streaming in, the house felt dry and warm, and she could walk to Karori village, the school, and the park. She made an offer that afternoon.

That moment sums up what I’m seeing on the ground. Buyers have shifted. The question used to be “Does it look good?” Now it’s “Does it work?” I’ve seen this shift before, and when it happens, the homes that meet it move quickly. The ones that don’t get left behind.

I’m seeing buyers ask different questions now. What’s the insulation like? Is there a heat pump? Where’s the storage? What’s the sun doing in winter? These aren’t renovation questions. They’re liveability questions. Homes that answer them stand out.

Presentation still matters. But a beautifully staged home that’s cold, damp, or awkward will get polite interest and low offers. A well-maintained, practical home with good bones will get serious buyers making offers.

Location within Karori is playing a bigger role too. Close to the village, within school zones, near public transport. These have always mattered, but they’re being weighted more heavily now. Karori’s median sale price sits at $926,250, down 4.2% on the prior year, but homes that tick the liveability boxes are still selling inside 35 days. The rest sit longer and are forced to adjust.

Which brings me to pricing. Getting it right at launch is everything. Karori buyers watch closely. They know when something is priced to test and when it’s priced to sell. An overpriced home doesn’t just sit. It quickly becomes the one buyers start to question.

There’s also something harder to quantify that makes Karori special. The community itself. Neighbours who know each other. Streets with pride. A village that functions. Buyers feel it at open homes, and it’s part of why demand here has held up while other Wellington suburbs have softened.

Resilience isn’t a crisis concept. It’s just good living. And the homes in Karori that embody it are the ones selling well right now.

If you want a clear view of where your property sits in this market, I’m always available for a straight conversation.