A Wellington real estate expert says the rise in house prices is incredible

CoreLogic's House Price Index shows Wellington has topped the main centres for house price growth over the past year.

Houses now average just over 1.1 million dollars in the capital.

Greater Wellington also saw major growth with the Kapiti Coast and Lower Hutt's average house prices rising by nearly 40 percent over the same period.

Lowe and Co Managing Director Craig Lowe says demand is driving the prices.

Lowe says he's seen the biggest growth in the past 12 months - in 21 years of selling real estate.