Latest figures from Quotable Value shows the region's property market is still in decline, says Tauranga QV spokesperson Shayne Donovan-Grammer.

QV figures show Tauranga's property values dropped 2.5 per cent in December 2010 and 0.9 per cent in November 2010.

The average sale price for properties in the region was $406,482 in December 2010.

Shayne says property in the region is continuing to trend downward.

'The economy is not in a very robust state. I can't see it improving in 2011 or it may stay stagnant.”

He says apartments and vacant land are the two property sectors hurting the most.

'A lot of apartments are coming back between 30 per cent and 50 per cent down compared to two or three years ago.

'There's an oversupply of vacant land in Tauranga. There's no return off vacant land, it's just sitting there.”

Shayne believes Matua and Pillans Point are currently two of Tauranga's best performing suburbs in terms of activity.

'These areas are holding their own. They are above average areas. There are decile 10 schools and it's central to town so their turnover of sales is higher than average.”