The surge in the Auckland housing market that began in February shows little sign of easing according to local real estate agency Barfoot and Thompson.

The company sold 809 homes last month, a 79 percent increase on April last year. The average price for a home has risen to almost $503,000.

The number of homes sold is very slightly down on March but Barfoot's managing director Peter Thompson says that is due to seasonal factors and is always the case at this time of the year.

Mr Thompson says the Auckland housing market has found strength from a catch-up surge as people follow through on long-held intentions to buy. He says many people will be surprised to learn the biggest challenge for real estate agents is a scarcity of properties to sell.