While seven residential sections were sold in the Wakatipu area in February, and nine were sold in March, a total of 18 section sales were recorded in April.
Mr Snow said this demonstrated there was demand from local and regional buyers for land to build on in the short term.
"This activity is good, honest grassroots recovery in the market and is a further indication that health is returning to the property market.
Increasing sales numbers of land parcels is encouraging, as building is one of the engine rooms for the local economy," he said.
He noted seven out of the 18 sales were at Jacks Point, where he saw local residents identifying the area as the next step up the property ladder.
Overall property sales in the Wakatipu in April, including apartments, totalled 47 dwellings, compared with 40 in March and 45 in February.
April was 27% down on April last year, when there were 64 sales.
However, April 2009 was an exceptional month, recording the highest number of sales during the recession, Mr Snow said.
Low apartment sales pulled the total number of sales down for April, when only three sales were recorded.
In March, seven apartments were sold, whereas in April 2009 the number reached 18.
Mr Snow put slow apartment sales down to a combination of oversupply and reluctant investors.
However, he saw hope in the potential return of Australian investors.
"It appears as though winter will be a very important time for Queenstown businesses and the property market as we are expecting record numbers of Australians again this year.
"We are expecting them to be relatively bullish, coming to Queenstown with a very strong dollar and arguably one of the world's most buoyant economies, [and] we expect their attitudes will be reset to investing in property again."
