Lucy from HouGarden sat down with Kitty Long from Barfoot & Thompson Highland Park to reflect on her real estate journey, the team’s remarkable performance, and how the Auckland market is shaping up toward the end of 2025.
Kitty shared her pride in the branch’s achievements this year. Between April and September 2025, the Highland Park office recorded third place company-wide, second across Auckland’s East Side, and top sales within the Highland Park branch. “It’s really a collective effort,” Kitty said. “Every team member is amazing — we’re all proud of what we’ve achieved together.”
With 11 years in real estate and 24 years living in New Zealand, Kitty reflected on her career path and why the industry continues to inspire her:
“This line of work really suits me. Every day you meet different people and learn something new. Being able to help clients through your own experience gives a real sense of achievement.”
Discussing market conditions, Kitty described the end of 2025 as a “springtime” for real estate — a period of renewed activity and confidence:
“More and more buyers are coming into the market, whether they’re first-home buyers or investors. Sellers are also more active now, especially in the East Side, where we’re seeing lots of new listings and strong momentum.”
While broader economic conditions remain steady, lower interest rates and supportive housing policies are encouraging more people to take the step into home ownership. Kitty added:
“Ordinary families just want a home of their own — that’s their biggest dream. The current environment is helping make that dream possible.”
The conversation also touched on the long-standing collaboration between Barfoot & Thompson Highland Park and HouGarden, which continues to strengthen their reach within the Chinese-speaking community.
“HouGarden is a trusted brand in our community. It helps many clients who speak multiple languages to learn about listings, understand market trends, and make informed decisions. It’s a great resource for both buyers and agents.”
The discussion closed with optimism about the future and continued partnership:
“We’re proud of how far our team has come, and we hope to keep flying higher. I also wish HouGarden every success as you grow, especially with your new offices in Australia.”
