Figures released today show Grafton house prices are rising faster than any other Auckland suburb

House prices in the central suburb jumped 39-point-eight percent in the six months ending in March this year.

Mt Eden was a close second, taking the average cost of a home to well over one million dollars, an increase of just over 36 percent.

Real Estate Institute of New Zealand Chief Executive Bindi Norwell says people want to spend less time in traffic, so are buying closer to the city, while apartments are proving more popular than ever.

Grafton and Mount Eden jumped considerably more than other suburbs .... they are in the sought-after 'Grammar Zone'.