Recent headlines in the national media point to a period of doom and gloom in real estate. Whether it’s high inflation, house prices falling, or barriers to market entry, you’d be forgiven for feeling

pessimistic.

But not everything you read applies to us here in Central Otago. Sure, we feel some of the effects of national issues.

Those people building houses will have to be patient while building supply blockages resolve. Sellers also need to cultivate patience with homes taking a wee bit longer to sell. Mortgage holders will

certainly feel some pain if interest rates continue to rise.

Nevertheless, there’s much cause for optimism locally. Looking around Alexandra, I see more development happening at once than I think I have ever seen before.

There’s the new Countdown going up, a new Stihl shop, Postie is back in town and there’s a big upgrade happening with the development of the multipurpose entertainment centre in Tarbert

Street and Riverside Park, to name a few.

Industrial sites are hard to come by and pretty much all our commercial sites are full. Contrast that with just three years ago when there were “for lease” and “for sale” signs everywhere and many

empty retail stores!

Residential development is also in a healthy space.

Dunstan Park has sold all of stage 1 and 2 with titles come through. Stage 3 has only 3 sections left and titles are due in early 2023. Stage 4, the final stage, will be developed as house and land

packages in the near future.

Almost 60 small rural lots have sold in the William Hill development on Dunstan Road. Building won’t start until the new district plan is cemented, but the popularity reflects a trend of people choosing

country over city.

Sunderland Park in Clyde is also ticking along well, with many sections sold or under offer. Building will begin when titles are issued and the sceptic infrastructure in place.

So, next time you see negative real estate sentiment in the media, remember that our little slice of New Zealand is largely defying the doom.