New Real Estate Institute of New Zealand figures show house sales in Tauranga rose by three per cent in December 2015, compared to the same month the previous year.

These figures also show that the number of house sales in Mount Maunganui and Papamoa increased by one per cent for the same period, but fell across the rest of the Bay of Plenty region.

Median prices rose by 24 per cent to $560,000 in Mt Maunganui/Papamoa, and by 16 per cent to $470,000 in Tauranga. Compared to November, the median price rose four per cent in Tauranga

In the Eastern Bay of Plenty, the number of house sales fell by 17 per cent, while the median price rose by 11 per cent to $300,250. Compared to November, the median price increased by six per cent.

REINZ Waikato/BOP regional director Philip Searle says there's indications that first home buyers across the region are starting to find increased price competition.

'Which in some cases is making buying difficult for them. Aucklanders continue to feature strongly across the region, particularly in Tauranga.

'Listings remain very tight across the region with the significant fall in the number of days to sell compared to last December indicative of underlying demand."

The number of days to sell improved two days in December, from 33 days in November to 31 days in December, while it improved by 10 days compared to the same month 2014.

Over the past 10 years, the average number of days to sell during December for the region has been 44 days

Across New Zealand, house sales were up 3.5 per cent (7,313) in December 2015, but down nine per cent compared to the month before.

The national median price was $465,000 for December, an increase of $15,000 or three per cent on December 2014, and up one per cent compared to November.