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Get Friendly Expert Mortgage and Insurance Advice

Whether you’re looking to buy your first home, already have a mortgage, or are looking to invest, we’re here to help you through the sometimes quite daunting process of getting a new mortgage and protecting you with Life and Health insurance.

We make sure everything is set up correctly, help satisfy the bank’s conditions, and work tirelessly to get you the best mortgage rates and conditions… nothing goes in the too hard basket, that’s a promise!

And the best part? All this at usually at no cost to you!

That’s right, we don’t charge you for our services, so get in touch and find out how we can save you time, hassle, disappointment and money, while making your house purchase a smooth and seamless process.

The 5 Steps To Getting A Mortgage

We’ll meet and discuss your needs

We’ll go and get approval from the best bank for you

Pre-approval!

We’ll negotiate interest rates and meet to talk about how you’d like to structure your mortgage

You’ve got yourself a house!

Let us take the stress out of your next property purchase

You’re so close, you’ve been scouting the property market for months, you’ve been to countless open homes and talked to seemingly every agent in town and now you’re ready, you’ve found it… the one! Your dream home or investment opportunity!

Unfortunately, now comes the hard bit… getting it over the line. You need to tick many boxes and finance approval is one of the big ones.

Our mortgage brokers make sure you get the best deal, minus the hassle. Our insurance brokers then make sure it’s fully protected.

We will walk you through the process of buying your first (or next) property, making sure to provide you with crucial information every step of the way, pulling out all the stops to get you over the line in time so that you don’t miss out on your dream home or investment opportunity.

Important Information about The Mortgage Lab

If you would like this important information as an A4 PDF, click here.

Our services include:

  • Loans including mortgages, reverse mortgages and personal consolidation loans
  • KiwiSaver

Please refer to each adviser’s profile page for their particular service.

 

Almost all Mortgage Lab services are at no direct cost to you as our brokers get paid a commission by the banks and other lenders when a mortgage is finalised or refixed.

The exceptions to this:

  • If a mortgage is paid off or discharged within 27 months, a fee may be incurred.  See our FAQ: What if I sell my home or refinance my mortgage shortly after using a mortgage broker?
  • Finance companies may require a fee to be added to the loan rather than paying us a commission. You’ll always be made aware of these fees long before they are locked in.
  • If, following the service provided by the adviser, you elect not to continue engaging Mortgage Lab to settle the mortgage or finalise the insurance product, the adviser may charge you an hourly rate of $250 for the work provided.  The maximum charge we will typically invoice for is $3,000.

The commissions paid are below.  These commissions are accurate at the time of writing – 12/09/2024

 

Lender Upfront Trail Refix
ANZ 0.85% N/a $150
ASB 0.85% N/a $150
Bank of China 0.88% N/a $150
BNZ 0.55% 0.15% N/a
Go Home Loans (AIA) 0.60% 0.20% N/a
KiwiBank 0.55% 0.15% N/a
SBS Bank 0.75%-0.85% N/a $150
The Co-operative Bank 0.85% N/a $150
TSB 0.85% N/a N/a
Westpac 0.60% 0.20% N/a
ASAP Finance Limited Fee Charged N/a N/a
Avanti Finance Up to 0.80% N/a N/a
Basecorp Fee Charged N/a N/a
China Construction Bank 0.88% N/a N/a
Cressida Fee Charged N/a N/a
DBR Fee Charged N/a N/a
First Mortgage Trust Fee Charged N/a N/a
Liberty Financial 0.6%-0.8% 0.15% N/a
Pepper Money 0.6%-0.75 0.15%-0.2% N/a
Plus Finance Fee Charged N/a N/a
Southern Cross Fee Charged N/a N/a
Unity 0.7%-0.8% N/a N/a

Our list of 27 approved providers is as follows

Main Bank Lenders

  • ANZ Bank of New Zealand Limited
  • ASB Bank Limited
  • Bank of China Limited
  • Bank of New Zealand
  • KiwiBank
  • The Co-Operative Bank Limited
  • SBS Limited
  • Sovereign Home Loans (AIA Sovereign)
  • Westpac Banking Corporation
  • TSB

Non Bank Lenders

  • Pepper New Zealand
  • Resimac Financial Services
  • Liberty Financial
  • ASAP Finance
  • Avanti Finance
  • Basecorp Finance
  • Cressida Capital One
  • DBR
  • First Mortgage Trust
  • General Finance
  • Metro Finance
  • Pioneer Finance
  • Silver Harbour Capital
  • Southern Cross Partners
  • Xceda
  • Heartland Bank Limited (Reverse Mortgages)
  • NZCU Trustee (Personal Loans)

Please refer to each individual adviser for the full list of lenders that adviser can work with.

We may also receive a referral fee from some partners.  These include:

  • XE.com
  • Reapify Car Loans
  • Prospa Business Loans
  • Rothbury
  • Maurice Trapp Group

Mortgage advisers (often called mortgage brokers) are paid by the bank when a mortgage is drawn down.  If that mortgage is discharged (repaid and closed) within a short amount of time – typically 27 months – the broker must repay some or all of the commission (often referred to as a clawback).  In this instance, the mortgage broker has essentially done the work for no pay.

We reserve the right to charge for our time if a clawback is incurred.  The fee will be the estimated amount of hours the mortgage took at an hourly rate of $250 per hour.  Unlike other fees, such as Break Fees from the bank, we have capped the amount we can charge clients at $2,500.

If you are refinancing or selling your house, the best thing to do is immediately talk to your adviser and discuss if any clawback fees will be charged.

Our Advisers can work with the following KiwiSaver providers:

  • Generate
  • NZ Funds
  • Booster
  • ANZ OneAnswer
  • Koura

Please check the individual adviser profile pages to see who that particular adviser works with.

From time to time we may receive additional referral payments from our business partners.  Some advisers may receive payments for referring Life and Health insurance, KiwiSaver, currency exchange, Real Estate Agents or Fire and General insurance.  Mortgage Lab and the advisers do a significant amount of due diligence to make sure that all referrals are to companies of the highest quality and compliance standards.  The decision to refer to a partnering business is based on quality service first and the payment received second.

From time to time a product provider may give us a gift, hamper or ticket to an event.  The decision to refer to a product provider is based primarily on the best product for the client, not because of any gift received.  We follow a six-step advice process to assess which product is best for you.

We are bound by the duties of the Financial Markets Conduct Act (431I, 431K, 431L and 431M) to:

  • Meet the standards of competence, knowledge and skill set out in the Code of Conduct 
  • Give priority to the clients’ interest and
  • Exercise care, diligence and skill and
  • Meet the standards of ethical behavior, conduct, and client care set out in the Code of Conduct.

Mortgage Lab holds a Full license as a Financial Advice Provider.  All Advisers are Financial Advisers (FAs) belonging to Mortgage Lab’s license.

Mortgage Lab’s Financial Service Provider number is: FSP587228

Our office contact details are:

Address: Level 2, 14 Jervois Road, Ponsonby, Auckland 1011
Phone: 09 886 9779
Email: info@mortgagelab.co.nz
Website: www.mortgagelab.co.nz

Articles

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  • How Does A Student Loan Affect A Mortgage Pre-Approval?

    First home buyers are often nervous about the size of their Student Loan and how it will affect their chance of getting a mortgage.  But how much does it really…

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  • How much does a Credit Card affect your lending?

    Kiwis like Credit Cards… a lot.  If you’ve got 10 minutes, you could get one online right now (don’t).  And the price for easily-acquired, unsecured debt is usually ~20% p.a.…

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  • NZ Interest Rates Prediction 2020

    It’s the time of the year when the Mortgage Lab buffs up our Crystal Ball, gazes into the infinitely complicated world of economics and comes up with sufficiently generic interest…

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  • If you quit smoking, how fast could you pay down your mortgage?

    Smoking is a difficult habit to quit but there are some powerful motivators to do so. For some, it’s the wish to live a healthier, longer life. For others, it’s…

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  • City Focus – Tauranga

    This month our Mortgage Advisers take a good look at the property sector in the beautiful city of Tauranga. Tauranga Property Prices It would be fair to say that property…

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  • Your mortgage rate is 8%

    Repeat after me.“The interest rate I pay on my mortgage is 8%…”“The interest rate I pay on my mortgage is 8%…” No it’s not You’re right, it probably isn’t.  If…

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  • Transfer Your Aussie Super to KiwiSaver

    It’s estimated that there is ~$5 billion of Kiwi’s funds ‘lost’ in Aussie Super funds. This is usually because that NZer was working in Australia, contributing to a Super Fund…

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  • Meth and investment properties – it’s worse than you think

    If you’re looking in the property market at the moment, you’ve no doubt come across the dire warnings surrounding methamphetamine, meth or “P”. The chemical process for making P is incredibly…

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  • Current NZ Mortgage Rates

    Click here to find the latest NZ Interest Rates for major banks. Info for current home owners and new buyers.

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  • What Your Mortgage Application and Tinder Profile Have in Common

    Applying for a mortgage is much like creating a Tinder profile. You want to make your mortgage application as attractive as possible to get a bank to “swipe right”. Banks…

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  • NZ House Prices Drop for Second Consecutive Month as Sellers Adjust Expectations

    Key Facts House prices declined for the second consecutive month in May. National median house price dropped to $770,000 in May. House prices fell by 2.9% nationally over the last…

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  • Affordability Improves as Auckland Sees Spike in Budget-Friendly Townhouse Listings

    Key Facts Ōtara townhouse listed for $539,000, described as “cheap as chips”. Auckland house prices have slowed down for the second month according to CoreLogic data. Some townhouses are in…

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  • Can I Buy A Home With Friends

    While house prices have eased, getting the deposit together for a first home is still a big ask. Kiwis are asking whether it is worth buying with friends instead of…

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  • Mortgage Deposit: Can I take out a loan to increase my deposit?

    As you may know from our other blogs, there are some key levels of deposit that you need to get to in order to buy a new home. The main…

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  • Deposits: How much do you need to buy your first home?

    If you have less than 20% deposit, you are referred to (by the banks) as a Low Equity (or Deposit) Borrower. You are required to meet a different set of…

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  • Nationwide Property Values Rise, But First-Home Buyers Still Have an Edge

    Key Facts New Zealand’s average property value increased by 3.33% year-on-year to $975,000. In the last three months, property values dipped 0.2% nationally. Property values decreased quarter-on-quarter in Auckland, Bay…

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  • Rising Personal Debt Forcing Most Families Out of Rent-to-Own Housing Schemes

    Key Facts Increasing levels of personal debt are barring people from rent-to-own housing schemes like those offered by Habitat for Humanity. Habitat for Humanity’s affordable housing schemes do not require…

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  • Banks Increase Lending to First Home Buyers with Low Deposits Despite Risks

    Key Facts Banks are lending more to first home buyers with less than a 20% deposit. Average mortgage for first home buyers with at least a 20% deposit in April:…

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  • Debt-to-Income Restrictions Set to Tighten Mortgage Access for Borrowers and Investors

    Key Facts Debt to income restrictions may make it more challenging for some people to qualify for a mortgage. CoreLogic’s report indicates first-time buyers with the ability to service a…

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  • Mortgage Brokers Stunned as Government Cancels First Home Grant: Impact on Buyers

    Key Facts The New Zealand government has eliminated the First Home Grant, surprising most prospective homeowners. Mortgage brokers are now facing a rise in customer inquisitions following this unexpected development.…

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  • Government Ends First Home Grant Scheme Amid Calls for More Housing Solutions

    Key Facts Government is scrapping the first home grant scheme. Kāinga Ora will no longer accept new applications for the grant. First home loan scheme will remain, allowing purchases with…

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  • Small NZ Bank Offers Lowest One-Year Mortgage Rate, But Optimal Conditions Apply

    Key Facts SBS Bank has cut its one-year interest rate for first-time home buyers to 6.14%, which is at least 1% lower than other banks’ current rates. This rate is…

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  • Flatmates and Your Mortgage

    So you’re looking to purchase. Could a flatmate help you purchase a more expensive house? Will a bank take that extra income into account? How much interest will flatmate income…

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  • First-Time Home Buyers in New Zealand Finding More Value for Their Money

    Key Facts First home buyers in New Zealand are currently gaining more for their money due to real estate trends. Property experts attribute this shift to lower deposit rates and…

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  • Rental Shortage Boosts First-Home Buyers: A Peek at the Current NZ Housing Market conditions

    Key Facts New Zealand’s housing market is currently in a buoyant phase, causing issues for first-home buyers. Increasing house prices have created a rental shortage, with first-home buyers often getting…

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  • First Home Buyers Capitalise on Lower Property Prices and Reduced Competition in Q1 2024

    Key Facts First home buyers accounted for 26% of property purchases in the first quarter of 2024, which is higher than the long-term average of 21%. Buyers are taking advantage…

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  • First Home Buyers Gain Edge as NZ Housing Market Flattens Amid Falling Construction and Rising Interest Rates

    Key Facts New Zealand’s housing market is experiencing a lull, with CoreLogic data showing a general flattening trend. In April, the nationwide average house price declined by 0.1%, following minor…

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  • Affordable Housing Project Advancing in Taupō, with 38 Homes Under Initial Proposal

    Key Facts A new housing development is progressing in the East Urban Lands area of Wharewaka, Taupō, focusing on affordable homes. The first stage of the development involves the construction…

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  • Rising Incomes and Falling Mortgage Interest Rates: A Hopeful Sign for First Home Buyers Despite Flat House Prices

    Key Facts Rising incomes and falling mortgage interest rates are significantly impacting the affordability for first home buyers. The national lower quartile residential selling price remained approximately at $600,000 in…

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  • Auction Activity Declines as New Zealand Housing Market Enters Autumn

    Key Facts Auction activity in the residential property market saw an increase last week, but the sales rate seems to be declining. Last week, 472 residential properties were auctioned, an…

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  • The Official Cash Rate (OCR) Explained

    As of 2nd April 2024, the Official Cash Rate (OCR) for New Zealand is set at 5.5%. What is the Official Cash Rate? The Official Cash Rate (OCR) is an…

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  • Moving Up the Property Ladder Remains Affordable for Established Homeowners Despite High Mortgage Rates

    Key Facts Latest data highlights the affordability of moving up the property ladder for existing home owners, despite high mortgage interest rates. A working couple that purchased their first home…

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  • First Home Buyers Paying Less for Homes as Low Equity Lending Increases

    Key Facts The average amount paid by first home buyers in New Zealand for a house in January 2024 was $656,557, a decrease by $16,784 or 2.5% since December 2023.…

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  • Reserve Bank Data Shows First Home Buyers’ Share of Mortgage Money at High Levels While Investor Share Increases Slightly in January 2024

    Key Facts The housing market saw a 23% year-on-year rise in mortgage advances for January 2024, despite the comparison to January 2023’s figures being one of the lowest monthly tallies…

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  • Improved Affordability for First Home Buyers as Lower Quartile House Prices and Mortgage Rates Decline

    Key Facts Lower house prices and declining mortgage interest rates have resulted in increased affordability for first home buyers in most parts of the country in January 2024. The national…

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  • New Reserve Bank Rules Require Aucklanders to Earn Near $200k For Average Home Purchase

    Key Facts Auckland residents would need to earn at least $172,000 annually to buy an average-priced house under the Reserve Bank’s new debt-to-income lending rules. The proposed rules, which will…

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  • Stagnant Housing Market in 2023: No Changes for First Home Buyers Despite Slight Increase in Interest Rates

    Key Facts The New Zealand housing market remained unchanged in 2023 for first home buyers which saw them neither better nor worse off in the property market. House prices, particularly…

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  • Reserve Bank Considers Introducing New Mortgage Rules to Safeguard Homeowners and Banks

    Key Facts The Reserve Bank is considering the introduction of debt to income restrictions (DTIs) and revisions to loan to value ratios (LVRs) for residential lending. DTIs are a metric…

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  • Analysts Highlight Affordable Suburbs and Growth Corridors for NZ First-Home Buyers in 2024

    Key Facts Affordable suburbs in urban centres like Ōtāhuhu, Pukekohe, New Lynn, Massey, Glendene, and Wainui in Auckland are predicted to attract more first-home buyers, according to Wayne Shum of…

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  • Forecast for New Zealand’s Property Market: Falling Mortgage Rates, Rising House Prices, and Opportunities for First-Time Buyers in 2024

    Key Facts The property market can expect a boost from potential reductions in mortgage rates and strengthening house prices in 2024. Experts voice uncertainty over the exact timeline of these…

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  • BNZ Develops New Framework to Support Home Building on Maori Land in Central Auckland

    Key Facts 24 homes are being built on Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei land in Central Auckland, under a new BNZ framework allowing for mortgage lending on communally owned property. These are…

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  • 4 tips to making an offer by Tender

    Recently we looked at some tips for bidding at an auction.  But what if the house you love is for sale by tender?  Tenders are much less time-pressured than auctions…

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  • Lending Market Recovery Gradual Amid Rising Mortgage Rates; Mixed Prospects for Property Owners and First-Time Buyers

    Key Facts New mortgage lending activity has seen a significant increase, with $6.5 billion worth of activity recorded up to November 2021. 55% of existing borrowers are set to see…

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  • Purchasing at Auction – A Step by Step Guide

    Buying at auction can be exciting but also intimidating. Much like your year 5 school production, knowing what to do and when to do it will help you feel more…

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  • The worst financial decision you can make

    Saving is a long, slow process. That’s why so many of us are so bad at it. You could put $20 aside every week and after a year, you’ll have…

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  • Five Ways to Optimize and Maximize Your KiwiSaver Account This Year

    Key Facts Ensuring that your KiwiSaver account is in an appropriate fund type for your financial situation and goals is essential Different funds (conservative, balanced, growth, aggressive) offer varying returns…

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  • 5 Things To Know About Your Mortgage Pre-Approval Letter of Offer

    Good news! You’ve completed your application, handed over a mountain of paperwork (just kidding, our system is paperless) and now you’re pre-approved for your mortgage! After a phone call from…

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  • Where Am I Going To Find My Mortgage Deposit?

    One of the simplest ways to grow your deposit is KiwiSaver. Below, we take a quick look at how quickly your deposit could grow and the numbers around this. Let’s…

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  • Preparation Tips for Home Buyers in 2024: Savings, KiwiSaver, and Debt Management Strategies

    Key Facts To prepare for a house purchase, establish a regular savings habit and leverage KiwiSaver contributions. Increasing your KiwiSaver contributions can help grow savings and demonstrate commitment to saving.…

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  • Tiny House Movement Gains Traction in New Zealand Amid Housing Crisis

    Key Facts The tiny house movement has emerged as a feasible solution to New Zealand’s housing crisis, offering an affordable housing option amidst escalating living costs. Approximately 58% of tiny…

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  • 3 Things You Can Do to Get Ready for Your Mortgage (No Matter When You’re Buying)

    Whether you’re getting serious about buying a house or are thinking you’d like to buy sometime in the future, doing these three things today will help you get ready for…

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  • Fixing or Refixing Your Mortgage: Three Questions to Ask

    Fixing/refixing your mortgage isn’t as exciting as buying a new house. Or, for that matter, as exciting as getting a pizza coupon in the mail. But gives you a valuable…

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  • What does LVR mean?

    Think of the loan-to-value ratio (LVR) like this:  What percentage of the house is covered by the mortgage… Or, in other words, what percentage of the house does the bank…

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  • The Mindset You Need to Get into Your First Home

    When you start thinking of owning your first home and considering the steps and challenges involved, it can feel like an impossible goal. There’s no getting around the fact that…

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  • What is Price By Negotiation?

    Until recently, selling a house by Auction has been the most popular method of selling in Auckland.  It takes advantage of the excitement in the market and pits buyers directly…

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  • Small Steps – Credit Report

    In today’s world, having a strong credit report is essential for achieving financial success. Your credit report not only determines your eligibility for loans and credit cards, but it also…

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  • Budgeting with PocketSmith

    If you’ve ever watched one of the Mortgage Lab’s webinars or Facebook livestreams, you will most likely have heard us rave about this app.  It’s one of our favourites –…

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  • Is it Worth Getting a Flatmate to Help Pay My Mortgage?

    Getting a flatmate to help pay the mortgage is a big decision. You have to share your home, and you wanted to keep a spare room for guests. But look…

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  • The Bank Said No Because of My Income

    It happens to almost everyone eventually. You walk into the bank, and ask for an amount of money, either to buy a car, house, or business and the bank declines you. Today…

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  • The Bank Declined My Investment Property Mortgage Application – Equity Hurdle

    It happens to almost everyone eventually. You walk into the bank, ask for an amount of money, either to buy a car, house or business and the bank declines you. We look…

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  • 6 Tips for Bidding at Auction

    Auctions can be an exciting and competitive way to purchase a property. However, the auction process can also be intimidating and stressful for unprepared people. To increase your chances of…

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  • NZ Mortgage Interest Rates Prediction 2023

    It’s the time of the year when the Mortgage Lab buffs up our Crystal Ball, gazes into the infinitely complicated world of economics, and comes up with sufficiently generic interest…

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  • Mortgagee Sales – What To Look Out For

    Property prices have increased significantly over the past few years but so have interest rates and with recent changes to the CCCFA, lending has gotten more difficult.  It can be…

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  • Calculating The Interest On Your Progress-Payment Construction

    Calculating the amount of interest expected in a progress-payment contract on a newly built house can sometimes seem daunting.  In this article, we walk you through some easy calculations. Recently…

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  • Cost Fluctuations in Build Contracts – Guest Blog

    Just a couple of years ago, the use of the words “cost fluctuation” in the residential building industry was about as common as the use of the word “liquefaction” prior…

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  • Prepare, Don’t Panic – 3 things to do right now to prepare for a recession (and 1 thing you shouldn’t)

    What does a recession mean for home owners? The key problem in a recession is the lack of business confidence.  Business owners lose clients and either downscale or freeze hiring. …

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  • 10 Things Homeowners Should Do Annually, But Don’t

    We love a good list, and a list of ten is universally acknowledged to be the best kind of list. So we’ve pulled together the 10 things home owners should…

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  • All About Conveyancing

    When you’re buying a house, there are a lot of things to think about. One of the steps that is often a mystery for homebuyers is what happens with their…

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  • Mortgage Calculator: How to Find the Best One

    Typically, when you use a mortgage calculator, you want to know what your mortgage payments will be (obviously). A couple borrowing, say, $800,000 for an investment property might want to know…

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  • The CCCFA and How It Affects Property Buyers

    The Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act (CCCFA) came into force on the 1st December 2021 and was largely meant to protect consumers from high-interest loan sharks. Unintended effects of…

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  • How Do You Get a Mortgage on a Tiny Home?

    Tiny homes are all the rage these days. With more people looking to downsize their lives, these little houses are popular among homeowners and renters alike. However, one of the…

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  • What is the Housing Supply Bill About?

    Recently Labour and National shocked New Zealand by not only agreeing on something but also working together on a new housing bill: the Resource Management (Enabling Housing Supply and Other…

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  • Why are There Still Lots of Property Investors in the New Zealand Market?

    If you’re interested in property investment in New Zealand, you’re likely no stranger to the increased lending restrictions put in place this year. These restrictions were intended to discourage small…

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  • How Soon Can You Re-apply For A Mortgage After Being Declined?

    No one likes being rejected. Some of us still blush when we remember being turned down by Patrick Summers at the Year 9 dance. That’s just for instance. We’re not…

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  • Should I Purchase a New Build or an Existing House?

    There’s a lot to weigh up between a new build or an existing house. Some of it is a personal preference; the beauty of a stained glass window in a…

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  • Buying a House with Bitcoin – Can it be Done?

    In no way does this article condone the investment in Bitcoin.  Invest to your personal level of risk tolerance and always seek advice before engaging in any form of speculative…

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  • Interest-Only Mortgages

    This article is current as at 1 September 2021. Interest-only mortgages can be the right strategy in certain circumstances. Unfortunately freeing up money in order to go on holiday isn’t…

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  • Property Experts You Need on Your Team

    Surrounding yourself with property experts is not just a good idea; it’s absolutely necessary. And while it sounds expensive, you don’t need to be rolling in cash. In fact, in…

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  • Debt to Income Ratios: What Are They and How Are They Measured?

    On 16 June 2021, the Government announced that the Reserve Bank has been given the authority to use debt-to-income lending restrictions as another tool in the toolbox to help settle…

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  • What Happens When You Buy a House?

    Living for the moment. Carefree long wavy hair and lots of paisley clothes. Sounds blissful, but in reality you might feel better having read the menu online before going to…

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  • Everything you need to know about debt

    Debt can be a bit of a scary word, but don’t worry, this is a safe space! This article covers what it is, how it affects your mortgage application and…

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  • 首次住房贷款 vs 首次住房补助

    之前,我们已经研究了First Home Grants和KiwiSaver之间的区别。另一个经常引起混淆的配对是“首次购房贷款”(以前称为“Welcome Home Loan”)和“首次购房补助”(以前称为“HomeStart Grant”)。它们都由新西兰住房协会(房屋局)经营,但实际上有很大的不同。

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  • 首次置业补助金 和 KiwiSaver 首套房资金提取

    首次购房者通常会被很多新概念所困扰。在本文中,我们会解释KiwiSaver首套房资金提取,还有“首次置业补助金 – First Home Grant”(以前称为HomeStart补助金)的基本知识。

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  • 银行永远不会告诉你的小秘密 – 使用多个银行

    银行是企业,目标是赚钱并成为该行业的领先品牌。这是与大多数其他企业的目标相同,归根结底,它们都是很注重销售的。因此不用说,他们不太可能为您提供涉及使用多个银行的建议。以下有两条提示是银行不会告诉你们的 。

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  • 申请贷款前期准备策略

    申请房屋贷款就像创建Tinder个人资料一样。您想使自己的申请有足够的有吸引力,让银行“向右滑动”选择你。他们对您的照片不感兴趣,但他们确实想知道您有足够的存款。他们不在乎您是否喜欢去滑板冲浪,但是他们确实在乎您是否有收入来支付贷款。他们不在乎您是否喜欢阳光与沙滩,但他们确实在乎您是否能为自己的钱负责。 

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  • How the 2020/2021 LVR Changes Affects You

    Updated 16th February 2021 It might feel like decades ago, but on 30th April 2020, the Reserve Bank announced the removal of LVR restrictions on banks in New Zealand.  In…

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  • Deposit:您需要多少钱才能购买第一套房子?

    如果您的存款少于房屋价钱的20%,这就称为low equity borrower 。对于20%或以下的借款人,您需要满足一套不同的贷款标准。

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  • Apartments: The Low-Down On High Rises

    Apartments are a very tempting purchase, especially for first-home buyers. They tend to cost less and therefore be much more within reach. And you can pretend you’re living in Manhattan,…

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  • Construction Mortgages – Turn-Key vs Progress Payment Contracts

    For some time now the Reserve Bank has tried to encourage mortgage lending on newly constructed properties. In other words, getting finance is slightly easier if you are purchasing a…

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  • Weekly Mortgage Payments Vs Monthly Payments

    The thinking behind weekly payments saving you money is this; If you pay $2,000 in monthly payments there are 30/31 days of interest charged before your next payment reduces your…

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  • A glossary of common mortgage terms

    Below is a list of standard mortgage terms to help buyers and investors understand the finance journey.  This list is taken from “The Successful First Home Buyer” book. Asking price…

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  • What is an offset account?

    An offset mortgage is when you have one or multiple bank accounts allocated to your mortgage The money in these accounts lower the amount owed. Instead of earning interest on…

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  • 什么是对冲账户(offset mortgage account)?

    对冲账户(Offset Account)是与房屋贷款账户相关联的日常交易账户。顾名思义,它的功能就是对冲您房屋贷款帐户中的本金,因而降低您所需要支付本金所产生的利息。

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  • What happens if a Registered Valuation isn’t high enough?

    There are several reasons why you might need a Registered Valuation when purchasing a property: if you are purchasing a property privately (not through a Real Estate Agent) and are…

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  • Preparing For Your Mortgage – Documentation

    This article is current as at September 2021 Being prepared isn’t just for Scouts. When applying for a mortgage you can significantly reduce wait time by providing all required documentation…

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  • Revolving Credit vs Floating Mortgage Account: What’s the difference?

    Most homeowners are familiar with fixed-term mortgages.  Over 80% of NZ mortgages are on some sort of fixed-term; the majority are currently for 1 to 2 years.  But it’s easy…

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  • Ready To Buy: 3 Things First Home Buyers Can Do Today

    Purchasing your first home can be confusing, getting organised can help. Here are 3 things that you can do today to get ready to apply for your mortgage. Order your…

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  • How Can I Get A Mortgage?

    A lot of the nerves that first home buyers feel when they decide to buy is around the mortgage.  When the maximum loan you’ve ever applied for is a $2,000…

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  • How Do I Get a Mortgage

    如何申请房贷?

    相信很多人在决定购买他们第一套房子的时候会感觉很紧张和不安。 如果你最高贷额只是一张$2000元的信用卡,那么去申请$ 400,000的贷款可能会觉得很有压力。

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  • Stop looking at the performance of house prices

    Almost every potential house buyer, at some point, will utter some version of the words “what are house prices doing at the moment?”.  It’s an understandable concern.  You don’t want…

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  • 2 Bank Account Tips The Banks Will Never Tell You

    Banks are businesses and their goal is to make money and become the leading brand in the industry. This is the same goal as most other businesses and their reputation…

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  • OCR Announcement – 16th March 2020

    The Reserve Bank today announced that the OCR would be reduced by 0.75% to a new level of 0.25%. International markets around the world have been severely affected by the…

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  • How Does A Student Loan Affect A Mortgage Pre-Approval?

    First home buyers are often nervous about the size of their Student Loan and how it will affect their chance of getting a mortgage.  But how much does it really…

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  • How much does a Credit Card affect your lending?

    Kiwis like Credit Cards… a lot.  If you’ve got 10 minutes, you could get one online right now (don’t).  And the price for easily-acquired, unsecured debt is usually ~20% p.a.…

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  • NZ Interest Rates Prediction 2020

    It’s the time of the year when the Mortgage Lab buffs up our Crystal Ball, gazes into the infinitely complicated world of economics and comes up with sufficiently generic interest…

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  • If you quit smoking, how fast could you pay down your mortgage?

    Smoking is a difficult habit to quit but there are some powerful motivators to do so. For some, it’s the wish to live a healthier, longer life. For others, it’s…

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  • City Focus – Tauranga

    This month our Mortgage Advisers take a good look at the property sector in the beautiful city of Tauranga. Tauranga Property Prices It would be fair to say that property…

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  • Current NZ Mortgage Rates

    Click here to find the latest NZ Interest Rates for major banks. Info for current home owners and new buyers.

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  • Auckland Housing Market Faces Slump Amidst Oversupply of Townhouses and Low Buyer Demand

    Key Facts A significant number of new townhouses listed on the market in Auckland are contributing to a slump in sales prices. At its peak, Auckland’s annual home consents reached…

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  • ANZ Economists Warn of Potential Downside Risks to Housing Market Amid High Listings and Changing Policies

    Key Facts The housing market remains frozen with subdued sales and stagnating prices. High property listings as investors struggle with flat to falling prices. Bright-line test changes from 1 July…

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  • Rental Property Investment Challenges Rising for NZ “Mum and Dad” Investors Amid Market Pressure

    Key Facts “Mum and Dad” investors are struggling with rental property ownership as the gap between rent returns and mortgage costs are resulting in weekly top-ups of $350-$450 required to…

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  • NZ Housing Market Favors Buyers as Resale Profits Dip and Interest Rates Fall

    Key Facts The proportion of properties resold for more than their original purchase price has slightly decreased to 92.9% in Q1 of 2024 compared to the previous quarter’s 93.5%. Sellers…

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  • Property Investors Hesitant Despite Lowered Brightline Test; First-home Buyers Take Control Amid Static NZ Property Market

    Key Facts Despite the reintroduction of 80% interest deductibility for landlords and the reduction of the Brightline test, property investors still haven’t returned to the market. QV indicates that the…

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  • Potential Challenges for Property Owners as Government’s Interest Rate Strategy May Prove Difficult to Accept

    Key Facts The government’s signalling to increase interest rates may provide a slowdown to the housing market boom. However, homeowners may find the increased rates difficult to manage, especially those…

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  • When to Get Your Business Accounts Done

    If you happen to be a salary earner, proving your income is relatively easy. As long as your employer issues decent quality payslips, you can provide the 3 most recent slips…

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  • New Zealand Government Announces Rental Rule Changes to Encourage More Landlords Into the Market

    Key Facts New legislation affecting renters and landlords is set to be introduced to Parliament next month, says Housing Minister, Chris Bishop. The legislative changes follow National’s pre-election commitments and…

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  • Slowdown in Major Urban Property Market Growth, Auckland Values Decline: Q1 Report

    Key Facts The average value of New Zealand homes increased by 2.2% to $924,734 over the first quarter of this year. The national average dwelling value is currently 1.9% higher…

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  • “Mild Increase in New Zealand Housing Values in Q1 2024 Amid High Mortgage Rates”

    Key Facts The average value of New Zealand homes was $934,806 in Q1 of 2024, a 1.1% increase from last quarter, and a slight 0.1% increase from Q1 last year.…

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  • March Auction Boom Records High Property Listings but Lower Sales Rates

    Key Facts Auctions of residential properties in the last week of March were high at 527, down from 568 in the previous week. The overall sales rate has seen a…

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  • Residential Auction Activity Rises with a Third of Properties Selling Under the Hammer

    Key Facts Auction activity saw a surge last week after several weeks of decline. Last week, 568 residential properties went to auction, marking the third highest weekly number in over…

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  • Why Leveraged Property Investment Can Mean Higher Returns

    If you’re not in finance, you probably most often hear and see the word “leverage” discussed negatively. News articles about failed investors and companies will no doubt (accurately) list overleverage…

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  • Auctioned Residential Properties Decrease in Number but Sales Rate Remains Unaltered

    Key Facts Residential properties offered at auction have been declining for the second week straight. A total of 489 properties were monitored at auctions in the week of 9-15 March,…

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  • Interest Deductibility Rules Reinstated: Impact and Predictions for NZ Housing Market

    Key Facts The Government is reintroducing the interest deductibility rules that were phased out by the previous Labour government. The interest deductibility rule allows property investors to deduct the interest…

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  • New Zealand Home Values Continue to Rise, but at Slowing Pace, warns CoreLogic

    Key Facts The average value of New Zealand homes increased to $930,495 at the end of February, up from $928,184 in January and $924,489 in December 2023. The rate of…

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  • 10% of Auckland Residential Properties Sold at Loss in Q4 2023, with Apartments Hit Hardest

    Key Facts 10% of Auckland residential properties sold in Q4 of 2023 were sold at a loss. The percentage of properties selling at a loss in main centres ranged from…

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  • Surge in Property Listings Gives NZ House Hunters Broad Options, Asking Prices Remain High

    Key Facts Realestate.co.nz reported a significant increase in new residential listings in January, up 10.5% from January last year, with 7347 listings. The overall stock levels of properties for sale…

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  • New Zealand Property Market Sees Muted Start in 2024 Despite Rising Values in Majority of Suburbs

    Key Facts Property values are rising in nine out of 10 suburbs according to OneRoof figures. Biggest quarterly lifts recorded in Arrowtown (+8.3%), Mataura (+8.2%) and Whitford (+8%). Suburbs in…

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  • New Zealand Property Listings at Record Low while Coromandel and Central Otago Lakes Surge Amidst Summer Visitor Increase

    Key Facts The number of newly listed properties in December reached the lowest since realestate.co.nz records started 16 years ago, excluding the Covid lockdown period. A spike in new listings…

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  • ’90s Plaster Homes with Watertight Issues Prove Attractive to Certain Buyers in New Zealand

    Key Facts Real estate agents now refer to “leaky homes” as “plaster houses with watertightness issues”. Despite their issues, these houses still sell readily due to their typically reasonable prices…

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  • Three Key Influences Projected to Drive Up New Zealand House Prices in 2024

    Key Facts The decline in the number of consents for new dwellings, dropping about 21% over the past year, is causing a reduction of new houses in the market. An…

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  • Lock-Up-And-Leave Homes and Single-Level Properties Expected To Surge In Popularity by 2024, Predicts NZ Housing Expert

    Key Facts In 2024, single-level dwellings and lock-up-and-leave homes are expected to be highly popular properties, according to Bayleys head of insights, Chris Farhi. Turn-key homes are also gaining popularity…

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  • Property Market Warm-up in NZ’s Hottest and Coldest Towns: Rising Interest in Rangiora and Lake Tekapo Homes

    Key Facts New Zealand’s real estate market is warming up after over a year of coolness. Rangiora, New Zealand’s hottest town, sees increasing interest from North Island home buyers, with…

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  • Taranaki Property Market Attracts Out-of-Town Buyers and Investors, Forecasted Growth in 2024

    Key Facts Taranaki has seen an increase in out-of-town enquiries and investor interest in the property market. Bayleys Taranaki reported that 26% of their buyers last year were from outside…

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  • The One Bank Trap and The Several Bank Nightmare

    A common phrase in mortgage world is the “one bank trap”. It’s when you have all your lending with one bank which gives the policy makers at the bank all…

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  • How Do I Calculate Yield on an Investment Property?

    When buying your own home, you need to be good at negotiating with your partner over issues such as whether an outdoor pizza oven is a must-have or a nice-to-have.…

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  • Should You Refinance to Another Bank to Get a Better Interest Rate?

    You’ve got a fixed-term account maturing soon and the bank or your broker has sent you some interest rates. Maybe your current bank is offering 0.1% higher than another bank…

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  • The Bank Said No to Your Investment Property (Credit Hurdle)

    It happens to almost everyone eventually. You walk into the bank and ask for money, either to buy a car, house, or business. But the bank declines you. Today we’ll…

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  • The Bank Said No Because of My Income

    It happens to almost everyone eventually. You walk into the bank, and ask for an amount of money, either to buy a car, house, or business and the bank declines you. Today…

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  • The Bank Declined My Investment Property Mortgage Application – Equity Hurdle

    It happens to almost everyone eventually. You walk into the bank, ask for an amount of money, either to buy a car, house or business and the bank declines you. We look…

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  • The Rule of 72: A Simple yet Powerful Financial Tool to Estimate Investment Growth

    The Rule of 72 is a widely-used financial concept that allows investors to estimate how long it will take for an investment to double in value, given a fixed annual…

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  • NZ Mortgage Interest Rates Prediction 2023

    It’s the time of the year when the Mortgage Lab buffs up our Crystal Ball, gazes into the infinitely complicated world of economics, and comes up with sufficiently generic interest…

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  • What to Look for When Buying an Investment Property

    Buying an investment property is a different bag of hedgehogs than buying a property for yourself. When you’re buying your own home it’s (arguably) totally reasonable to debate for hours…

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  • Can I Buy an Investment Property?

    Our childhoods have betrayed us. Property investment is not as easy as rolling a four to land on Mayfair, paying £400 then sitting back to wait for someone to land…

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  • Cost Fluctuations in Build Contracts – Guest Blog

    Just a couple of years ago, the use of the words “cost fluctuation” in the residential building industry was about as common as the use of the word “liquefaction” prior…

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  • Prepare, Don’t Panic – 3 things to do right now to prepare for a recession (and 1 thing you shouldn’t)

    What does a recession mean for home owners? The key problem in a recession is the lack of business confidence.  Business owners lose clients and either downscale or freeze hiring. …

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  • How Do Banks Calculate if I Can Afford an Investment Property?

    This article is available in Chinese here. If you’re looking into whether you can afford an investment property, you’re not alone. Owning rental properties is a common kiwi dream. Many…

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  • 银行如何计算我是否负担得起投资物业?

    拥有出租物业是新西兰人的普遍梦想。我们中的许多人都设想退休后会拥有几个或更多的永久业权财产,每周都会带来大量的钱来补充我们的养老金。

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  • All About Conveyancing

    When you’re buying a house, there are a lot of things to think about. One of the steps that is often a mystery for homebuyers is what happens with their…

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  • Mortgage Calculator: How to Find the Best One

    Typically, when you use a mortgage calculator, you want to know what your mortgage payments will be (obviously). A couple borrowing, say, $800,000 for an investment property might want to know…

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  • The CCCFA and How It Affects Property Buyers

    The Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act (CCCFA) came into force on the 1st December 2021 and was largely meant to protect consumers from high-interest loan sharks. Unintended effects of…

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  • What is the Housing Supply Bill About?

    Recently Labour and National shocked New Zealand by not only agreeing on something but also working together on a new housing bill: the Resource Management (Enabling Housing Supply and Other…

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  • Why are There Still Lots of Property Investors in the New Zealand Market?

    If you’re interested in property investment in New Zealand, you’re likely no stranger to the increased lending restrictions put in place this year. These restrictions were intended to discourage small…

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  • Interest-Only Mortgages

    This article is current as at 1 September 2021. Interest-only mortgages can be the right strategy in certain circumstances. Unfortunately freeing up money in order to go on holiday isn’t…

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  • The Income Hurdle – Why Most Kiwi Investors Only Own a Single Investment Property

    For many of us, the game Monopoly informs our earliest understanding of how investment property works. And so we are given to believe that it’s fairly straightforward to grow from…

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  • Property Experts You Need on Your Team

    Surrounding yourself with property experts is not just a good idea; it’s absolutely necessary. And while it sounds expensive, you don’t need to be rolling in cash. In fact, in…

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  • Debt to Income Ratios: What Are They and How Are They Measured?

    On 16 June 2021, the Government announced that the Reserve Bank has been given the authority to use debt-to-income lending restrictions as another tool in the toolbox to help settle…

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  • 我可以购买投资物业吗?

    99%的新西兰人的梦想和目标是拥有房产。一旦实现了,人们通常就开始转向购买其第一笔投资物业。

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  • Changes to the Property Investment Rules

    On 23 March the government announced policy changes to the rules governing the property market. The intention behind these new rules is to reduce access to finance for property investors…

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  • 物业投资规则的变更

    在3月23日政府宣布了对房地产市场规则的政策更改。这些新规定的目的是减少房地产投资者的融资渠道,以便为首次购房者提供更多机会。

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  • The Revolving Credit Tax Trap for Investors – Guest Blog

    Revolving Credit can be an excellent tool for both homeowners and property investors to reduce interest costs and speed up the repayment of their mortgages while keeping the availability of…

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  • How the 2020/2021 LVR Changes Affects You

    Updated 16th February 2021 It might feel like decades ago, but on 30th April 2020, the Reserve Bank announced the removal of LVR restrictions on banks in New Zealand.  In…

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  • Apartments: The Low-Down On High Rises

    Apartments are a very tempting purchase, especially for first-home buyers. They tend to cost less and therefore be much more within reach. And you can pretend you’re living in Manhattan,…

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  • A glossary of common mortgage terms

    Below is a list of standard mortgage terms to help buyers and investors understand the finance journey.  This list is taken from “The Successful First Home Buyer” book. Asking price…

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  • 准备购买:首次置业者可以准备的三件事

    在买人生中的第一套房子过程中可能会令人困惑,准备好买房的关键是要有条理。以下三件事是您可以提前做,以准备申请房屋贷款。

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  • Ready To Buy: 3 Things Investment Property Buyers Can Do To Get Ready

    So you’ve decided to purchase an investment property, here are first 3 things you can do to get the ball rolling.

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  • 循环信贷(Revolving Credit)与浮动贷款账户(Floating Mortgage Account)有什么区别?

    大多数业主都熟悉定期贷款。超过80%的新西兰房屋贷款是有固定期限的, 大多数的期限是1到2年。但很多人不清楚循环信贷和浮动贷款账户之间的区别。

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  • OCR Announcement – 16th March 2020

    The Reserve Bank today announced that the OCR would be reduced by 0.75% to a new level of 0.25%. International markets around the world have been severely affected by the…

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  • NZ Interest Rates Prediction 2020

    It’s the time of the year when the Mortgage Lab buffs up our Crystal Ball, gazes into the infinitely complicated world of economics and comes up with sufficiently generic interest…

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  • City Focus – Tauranga

    This month our Mortgage Advisers take a good look at the property sector in the beautiful city of Tauranga. Tauranga Property Prices It would be fair to say that property…

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  • Meth and investment properties – it’s worse than you think

    If you’re looking in the property market at the moment, you’ve no doubt come across the dire warnings surrounding methamphetamine, meth or “P”. The chemical process for making P is incredibly…

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  • Current NZ Mortgage Rates

    Click here to find the latest NZ Interest Rates for major banks. Info for current home owners and new buyers.

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  • NZ Property Market Sees Modest Sales Growth Amidst High Listings and Flattening Prices

    Key Facts Sales activity increased by 9.2% annually in May, with 6,789 transactions. Overall sales volumes are below the normal annual level, with 73,181 deals in the past 12 months.…

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  • Eased Granny Flat Regulations Applauded for Boosting Affordable Housing Supply

    Key Facts New law changes aim to simplify the process for building granny flats under 60 square metres. The policy eliminates the need for building consents in certain areas. Opposition…

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  • Minister for Housing Advocates for Lower House Prices Despite Potential Homeowner Concerns

    Key Facts Housing Minister Chris Bishop advocates for a reduction in average house prices, which he regards as too high. Bishop’s stance is unusual among New Zealand politicians, who have…

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  • NZ House Prices Drop for Second Consecutive Month as Sellers Adjust Expectations

    Key Facts House prices declined for the second consecutive month in May. National median house price dropped to $770,000 in May. House prices fell by 2.9% nationally over the last…

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  • NZ Housing Market Struggles: Falling Prices and High Interest Rates Pressure Homeowners

    Key Facts Households with mortgages should not expect interest rate cuts for at least six more months. Kiwibank survey: nearly one in three respondents cannot cover a $500 unexpected bill…

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  • Potential Loss for Auckland Homeowners as One in Eight Properties Sold During Boom May Now Trade for Less

    Key Facts The government continues to express concerns about the high housing prices in New Zealand. Financial measures are being formulated by the government to cool down the property market.…

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  • When to Get Your Business Accounts Done

    If you happen to be a salary earner, proving your income is relatively easy. As long as your employer issues decent quality payslips, you can provide the 3 most recent slips…

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  • Decline in Housing Market Participation by Migrants with Residence Visas Noted in Q1 2024

    Key Facts Migrants’ share of the New Zealand housing market decreased slightly in Q1 2024, accounting for 13.1% of total dwelling purchases. This number represents a fall from the 14.0%…

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  • Auckland Housing Market Likely to Remain Soft Despite Surge in Migration, Predicts ANZ Report

    Key Facts ANZ Property Focus report suggests that the Auckland housing market may remain weak over winter. Auction clearance rates and sales-to-listings ratios suggest that Auckland house prices may soften…

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  • Christchurch Homeowners Hesitate to Upgrade Due to Rising Interest Rates and Living Costs

    Key Facts Increased interest rates and living costs are causing Christchurch homeowners to hesitate on climbing the property ladder. Property listings in Christchurch have increased by 20%, but buyer numbers…

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  • NZ Government Announces Financial Services Reform to Improve Home Loan Access and Strengthen Customer Protections

    Key Facts The New Zealand government announced reforms to simplify lending and strengthen customer protections. The changes are part of the National-ACT Coalition agreement to update the Credit Contracts and…

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  • New Zealand Housing Market Experiences Soft Start in the First Quarter of 2024

    Key Facts The New Zealand housing market saw a soft start in the March quarter, with CoreLogic’s House Price Index rising by 0.5% in March. The average property value across…

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  • The Official Cash Rate (OCR) Explained

    As of 2nd April 2024, the Official Cash Rate (OCR) for New Zealand is set at 5.5%. What is the Official Cash Rate? The Official Cash Rate (OCR) is an…

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  • Pay Down Your Mortgage Or Save Into Your KiwiSaver?

    It’s a question we get asked a lot. If we have an extra amount of money in our salary, should we use the money to pay down our mortgage or…

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  • Rampant Rental Rise Continues for Seventh Consecutive Month Amidst High Net Migration and Limited Supply

    Key Facts Rent prices continue to increase rapidly, with a 6% rise in the year to February. This trend of rising rent has been consistent for seven straight months, due…

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  • Rising Mortgage Rates Pressure New Zealand Homeowners as Residential Listings Surge

    Key Facts The cost of living crisis is causing discomfort among Kiwis with mortgages due to current rate levels. Realestate.co.nz reported that there were 11,788 new residential listings in February,…

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  • Non-Performing Housing Loans in NZ Reach a 10-Year High Amid Rising Mortgage Stress

    Key Facts Non-performing housing loans in New Zealand increased more than 10% in the past month and has now reached a 10-year high. Reserve Bank (RBNZ) reports shows that non-performing…

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  • Tauranga Property Market Boosts National Average with 0.9% Increase in House Prices

    Key Facts According to data taken at the end of January, property values across New Zealand have risen by 0.9 per cent compared to three months ago. 90 per cent…

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  • Unexpected Change in Market Predictions Indicates Interest Rates Hikes, Not Cuts, for NZ Homeowners

    Key Facts Economic data has caused markets to revise earlier expectations of a cash rate cut. ANZ predicts that the official cash rate will increase twice more this year, a…

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  • Mortgage Figures Indicate Quietest Year in New Zealand Housing Market Since 2017

    Key Facts New Zealand saw a slowdown in its housing market in 2023, with only $62.116 billion worth of new mortgages being issued, according to Reserve Bank figures. The average…

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  • Auckland’s Housing Market Experiences Significant Increase in December Sales Despite Gradual Price Rise

    Key Facts Barfoot & Thompson sold 830 houses in December, reflecting a 12.3% decrease from the previous month, but a remarkable 57.5% increase from December 2022. In Auckland, the median…

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  • 4 tips to making an offer by Tender

    Recently we looked at some tips for bidding at an auction.  But what if the house you love is for sale by tender?  Tenders are much less time-pressured than auctions…

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  • Purchasing at Auction – A Step by Step Guide

    Buying at auction can be exciting but also intimidating. Much like your year 5 school production, knowing what to do and when to do it will help you feel more…

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  • Parking Apps Offer Earning Potential for Kiwi Homeowners Renting their Driveways

    Key Facts Kiwi homeowners can earn extra income by renting out their driveways or parking spaces via parking app companies. Parkable’s CEO, Toby Littin, stated that most listed spaces are…

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  • The worst financial decision you can make

    Saving is a long, slow process. That’s why so many of us are so bad at it. You could put $20 aside every week and after a year, you’ll have…

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  • Tips to Reduce Mortgage Stress Amid Rising Interest Rates in New Zealand

    Key Facts Mortgage hikes have created financial struggle for many homeowners as 50% of all mortgage-holders have fixed rate periods expiring in 2024. There are numerous ways to ease the…

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  • Pros and Cons of Auckland Residents Selling Homes to Shift to Cheaper Regions

    Key Facts Thousands of Aucklanders have moved to cheaper regions during the pandemic to release equity in their homes. Despite the cost benefit, factors like jobs, desired living location, support…

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  • Wellington Housing Market Trends Hinge on Interest Rates and Public Service Cuts

    Key Facts Median house prices in the Wellington region fluctuated between $733,000 and $805,000 in 2021. The most and least expensive suburbs were Seatoun ($1.7 million) and Wellington Central ($466,200)…

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  • Fixing or Refixing Your Mortgage: Three Questions to Ask

    Fixing/refixing your mortgage isn’t as exciting as buying a new house. Or, for that matter, as exciting as getting a pizza coupon in the mail. But gives you a valuable…

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  • Budgeting with PocketSmith

    If you’ve ever watched one of the Mortgage Lab’s webinars or Facebook livestreams, you will most likely have heard us rave about this app.  It’s one of our favourites –…

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  • Should You Refinance to Another Bank to Get a Better Interest Rate?

    You’ve got a fixed-term account maturing soon and the bank or your broker has sent you some interest rates. Maybe your current bank is offering 0.1% higher than another bank…

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  • Is it Worth Getting a Flatmate to Help Pay My Mortgage?

    Getting a flatmate to help pay the mortgage is a big decision. You have to share your home, and you wanted to keep a spare room for guests. But look…

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  • The Bank Said No Because of My Income

    It happens to almost everyone eventually. You walk into the bank, and ask for an amount of money, either to buy a car, house, or business and the bank declines you. Today…

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  • The Bank Declined My Investment Property Mortgage Application – Equity Hurdle

    It happens to almost everyone eventually. You walk into the bank, ask for an amount of money, either to buy a car, house or business and the bank declines you. We look…

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  • 6 Tips for Bidding at Auction

    Auctions can be an exciting and competitive way to purchase a property. However, the auction process can also be intimidating and stressful for unprepared people. To increase your chances of…

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  • NZ Mortgage Interest Rates Prediction 2023

    It’s the time of the year when the Mortgage Lab buffs up our Crystal Ball, gazes into the infinitely complicated world of economics, and comes up with sufficiently generic interest…

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  • Getting a Divorce and a Mortgage – Here’s What to Know

    Divorce is usually an incredibly stressful, time consuming and brain draining process. Conversations over dividing the kitchenware can be as tense as a peace treaty negotiation – yes, who gets…

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  • Can I Buy an Investment Property?

    Our childhoods have betrayed us. Property investment is not as easy as rolling a four to land on Mayfair, paying £400 then sitting back to wait for someone to land…

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  • What is a Reverse Mortgage?

    Retirees often find themselves in a difficult financial position.  Short on income but lots of equity, usually stored in their homes.  A typical mortgage top-up won’t work in this scenario. …

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  • Cost Fluctuations in Build Contracts – Guest Blog

    Just a couple of years ago, the use of the words “cost fluctuation” in the residential building industry was about as common as the use of the word “liquefaction” prior…

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  • Prepare, Don’t Panic – 3 things to do right now to prepare for a recession (and 1 thing you shouldn’t)

    What does a recession mean for home owners? The key problem in a recession is the lack of business confidence.  Business owners lose clients and either downscale or freeze hiring. …

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  • 10 Things Homeowners Should Do Annually, But Don’t

    We love a good list, and a list of ten is universally acknowledged to be the best kind of list. So we’ve pulled together the 10 things home owners should…

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  • All About Conveyancing

    When you’re buying a house, there are a lot of things to think about. One of the steps that is often a mystery for homebuyers is what happens with their…

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  • Mortgage Calculator: How to Find the Best One

    Typically, when you use a mortgage calculator, you want to know what your mortgage payments will be (obviously). A couple borrowing, say, $800,000 for an investment property might want to know…

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  • The CCCFA and How It Affects Property Buyers

    The Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act (CCCFA) came into force on the 1st December 2021 and was largely meant to protect consumers from high-interest loan sharks. Unintended effects of…

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  • Why are There Still Lots of Property Investors in the New Zealand Market?

    If you’re interested in property investment in New Zealand, you’re likely no stranger to the increased lending restrictions put in place this year. These restrictions were intended to discourage small…

    Read More

  • Can I Get a Top-Up on My Mortgage?

    There are many valid reasons why you might be looking to pull some equity out of your property to use elsewhere. This is commonly called a ‘top-up’ on your mortgage. …

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  • Applying for Financial Hardship as a Property Owner In A Covid-19 World

    This article is current as of 1 September 2021 It’s Covid-19 lockdown déjà vu for New Zealand. While most of the country is now at level 3 Auckland will remain…

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  • Interest-Only Mortgages

    This article is current as at 1 September 2021. Interest-only mortgages can be the right strategy in certain circumstances. Unfortunately freeing up money in order to go on holiday isn’t…

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  • Property Experts You Need on Your Team

    Surrounding yourself with property experts is not just a good idea; it’s absolutely necessary. And while it sounds expensive, you don’t need to be rolling in cash. In fact, in…

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  • Why Should You Use a Mortgage Broker If You Already Have a Mortgage?

    When you think about mortgage broking (okay, you probably don’t think about mortgage broking but stay with us) you probably think about it in the context of buying a house.…

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  • What Happens When You Go to Buy Your Next House?

    Buying your first house is quite a linear process, you get pre-approval, you buy a house. When it comes time to sell your home and buy a new one, the…

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  • Better Budget – All About Your Heat Pump

    Heat pumps are great.  They are efficient and quick to work.  In fact, GenLess says that a heat pump is the most energy-efficient way of using electricity to heat your home.…

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  • 我可以购买投资物业吗?

    99%的新西兰人的梦想和目标是拥有房产。一旦实现了,人们通常就开始转向购买其第一笔投资物业。

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  • Everything you need to know about debt

    Debt can be a bit of a scary word, but don’t worry, this is a safe space! This article covers what it is, how it affects your mortgage application and…

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  • How the 2020/2021 LVR Changes Affects You

    Updated 16th February 2021 It might feel like decades ago, but on 30th April 2020, the Reserve Bank announced the removal of LVR restrictions on banks in New Zealand.  In…

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  • Apartments: The Low-Down On High Rises

    Apartments are a very tempting purchase, especially for first-home buyers. They tend to cost less and therefore be much more within reach. And you can pretend you’re living in Manhattan,…

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  • How to Move Cities When You Have a Mortgage

    With more employers than ever allowing staff to work remotely, you may be thinking of buying outside the city limits. Without the long commute to work limiting your thinking, suddenly…

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  • Renovate your home or pay down your mortgage?

    The question of whether to renovate or pay down your mortgage is not an easy one to answer. It depends on your situation, the state of the property, and what…

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  • Weekly Mortgage Payments Vs Monthly Payments

    The thinking behind weekly payments saving you money is this; If you pay $2,000 in monthly payments there are 30/31 days of interest charged before your next payment reduces your…

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  • A glossary of common mortgage terms

    Below is a list of standard mortgage terms to help buyers and investors understand the finance journey.  This list is taken from “The Successful First Home Buyer” book. Asking price…

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  • What is an offset account?

    An offset mortgage is when you have one or multiple bank accounts allocated to your mortgage The money in these accounts lower the amount owed. Instead of earning interest on…

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  • 什么是对冲账户(offset mortgage account)?

    对冲账户(Offset Account)是与房屋贷款账户相关联的日常交易账户。顾名思义,它的功能就是对冲您房屋贷款帐户中的本金,因而降低您所需要支付本金所产生的利息。

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  • Preparing For Your Mortgage – Documentation

    This article is current as at September 2021 Being prepared isn’t just for Scouts. When applying for a mortgage you can significantly reduce wait time by providing all required documentation…

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  • Revolving Credit vs Floating Mortgage Account: What’s the difference?

    Most homeowners are familiar with fixed-term mortgages.  Over 80% of NZ mortgages are on some sort of fixed-term; the majority are currently for 1 to 2 years.  But it’s easy…

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  • Bank Relief Packages and Mortgage Holidays

    Article current as of 1st April 2020 (no April Fools jokes are contained – all information accurate) With the recent announcements with bank relief packages and mortgage holidays, we are…

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  • OCR Announcement – 16th March 2020

    The Reserve Bank today announced that the OCR would be reduced by 0.75% to a new level of 0.25%. International markets around the world have been severely affected by the…

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  • How much does a Credit Card affect your lending?

    Kiwis like Credit Cards… a lot.  If you’ve got 10 minutes, you could get one online right now (don’t).  And the price for easily-acquired, unsecured debt is usually ~20% p.a.…

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  • NZ Interest Rates Prediction 2020

    It’s the time of the year when the Mortgage Lab buffs up our Crystal Ball, gazes into the infinitely complicated world of economics and comes up with sufficiently generic interest…

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  • If you quit smoking, how fast could you pay down your mortgage?

    Smoking is a difficult habit to quit but there are some powerful motivators to do so. For some, it’s the wish to live a healthier, longer life. For others, it’s…

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  • City Focus – Tauranga

    This month our Mortgage Advisers take a good look at the property sector in the beautiful city of Tauranga. Tauranga Property Prices It would be fair to say that property…

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  • Your mortgage rate is 8%

    Repeat after me.“The interest rate I pay on my mortgage is 8%…”“The interest rate I pay on my mortgage is 8%…” No it’s not You’re right, it probably isn’t.  If…

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  • Eased Granny Flat Regulations Applauded for Boosting Affordable Housing Supply

    Key Facts New law changes aim to simplify the process for building granny flats under 60 square metres. The policy eliminates the need for building consents in certain areas. Opposition…

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  • New Home Building Consents Continue to Decline, Reaching Record Lows

    Key Facts Number of building consents for new homes in April: 2926. Consents for new apartments particularly low with just 98 units last month. Building consents for new dwellings have…

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  • Auckland’s New Home Construction Rate Expected to Drop by Over 25% in Next Two Years

    Key Facts The number of new homes being built in Auckland is likely to decline by more than 25% over the next two years. The decline is being attributed to…

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  • Surge of New Homes Entering the Market Causes Concern for Developers in South Auckland

    Key Facts A recent surge in newly built homes is raising worries among local developers in South Auckland. Experts predict that the market could be flooded with properties. The number…

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  • Building Costs for New Zealand Homes Increase Despite Decrease in Size and Consents

    Key Facts The number of new homes being consented has dropped over 37.4% since Q1 2022. In Q1 2024, 7717 new dwellings were consented, a 20.6% decrease from Q1 2023.…

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  • First Home Buyers Gain Edge as NZ Housing Market Flattens Amid Falling Construction and Rising Interest Rates

    Key Facts New Zealand’s housing market is experiencing a lull, with CoreLogic data showing a general flattening trend. In April, the nationwide average house price declined by 0.1%, following minor…

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  • Affordable Housing Project Advancing in Taupō, with 38 Homes Under Initial Proposal

    Key Facts A new housing development is progressing in the East Urban Lands area of Wharewaka, Taupō, focusing on affordable homes. The first stage of the development involves the construction…

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  • Stabilising Residential Construction Costs Lower Risk of New Build Cost Overruns

    Key Facts Residential construction costs have risen by only 2.3% in the year to March, signifying a moderation in price hikes, according to the Cordell Construction Cost Index by CoreLogic.…

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  • New Zealand to Automatically Approve Overseas Building Materials to Reduce Construction Costs

    Key Facts A legislative change to the Building Act in New Zealand will allow the automatic approval of residential building materials approved in trusted overseas markets. This reform was announced…

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  • New Zealand Sees Significant Decline in New Home Consents, Non-Residential Construction Shows Resilience

    Key Facts The number of new homes consented in the year to February fell by 24.8% compared to the previous year. In the 12 months leading up to February this…

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  • Decline in New Home Builds and Major Home Alterations Impacting New Zealand’s Building Industry

    Key Facts Not only the construction of new homes is decreasing, but also the number of major alterations to existing homes. A building consent is required for these structural changes,…

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  • NZ’s Housing Minister Proposes Zoning Changes, Infrastructure Funding, and Incentives to Tackle Housing Crisis

    Key Facts Housing Minister Chris Bishop is advocating for more land to be rezoned in order to increase the number of homes in New Zealand. The “housing trifecta” policy proposal…

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  • New Home Consents Plummet in 2023 Following Record 2022 Figures, Amid Rising Construction Costs

    Key Facts Applications to build new homes in New Zealand have seen a significant decrease off a record-setting year. According to Stats NZ, the number of new homes consented in…

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  • November 2023 Sees 11% Fall in New Dwelling Consents with Significant Drops in Auckland and Wellington

    Key Facts New dwelling consents in November 2023 fell 11% seasonally adjusted, after an 8.5% increase in the previous month. The number of standalone units consented in November exceeded that…

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  • Kāinga Ora to Build 600 New Homes in Rotorua by End of 2023, Including Central CBD Apartments

    Key Facts Kāinga Ora, the New Zealand government’s housing agency, plans to build over 600 homes in Rotorua by the end of 2023. Almost 500 homes are currently under planning…

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  • Residential Construction Cost Growth at Lowest Level Since 2016, CoreLogic Reports

    Key Facts Residential construction cost growth is at its lowest since 2016, standing at 2.4%, as opposed to the 10-year average of 4.5%, as reported by CoreLogic. The reduced amount…

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  • Horowhenua Mayor Pushes for Council Role in Enabling Affordable Housing Construction

    Key Facts Horowhenua, like many regions across Aotearoa, is dealing with a shortage of affordable housing, particularly smaller one- and two-bedroom dwellings and universally designed homes. This limited availability challenges…

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  • Calculating The Interest On Your Progress-Payment Construction

    Calculating the amount of interest expected in a progress-payment contract on a newly built house can sometimes seem daunting.  In this article, we walk you through some easy calculations. Recently…

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  • Cost Fluctuations in Build Contracts – Guest Blog

    Just a couple of years ago, the use of the words “cost fluctuation” in the residential building industry was about as common as the use of the word “liquefaction” prior…

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  • Why are There Still Lots of Property Investors in the New Zealand Market?

    If you’re interested in property investment in New Zealand, you’re likely no stranger to the increased lending restrictions put in place this year. These restrictions were intended to discourage small…

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  • Should I Purchase a New Build or an Existing House?

    There’s a lot to weigh up between a new build or an existing house. Some of it is a personal preference; the beauty of a stained glass window in a…

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  • Construction Mortgages – Turn-Key vs Progress Payment Contracts

    For some time now the Reserve Bank has tried to encourage mortgage lending on newly constructed properties. In other words, getting finance is slightly easier if you are purchasing a…

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  • A glossary of common mortgage terms

    Below is a list of standard mortgage terms to help buyers and investors understand the finance journey.  This list is taken from “The Successful First Home Buyer” book. Asking price…

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  • City Focus – Tauranga

    This month our Mortgage Advisers take a good look at the property sector in the beautiful city of Tauranga. Tauranga Property Prices It would be fair to say that property…

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