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!
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.
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.
If you would like this important information as an A4 PDF, click here.
Our services include:
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:
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
Non Bank Lenders
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:
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:
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:
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
Click here to find the latest NZ Interest Rates for major banks. Info for current home owners and new buyers.
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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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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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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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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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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。
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。
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 。
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。
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…
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。
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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。
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.…
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…
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…
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…
Click here to find the latest NZ Interest Rates for major banks. Info for current home owners and new buyers.
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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. …
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
So you’ve decided to purchase an investment property, here are first 3 things you can do to get the ball rolling.
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。
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…
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…
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…
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…
Click here to find the latest NZ Interest Rates for major banks. Info for current home owners and new buyers.
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.…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.…
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…
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%…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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)…
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…
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 –…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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. …
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…
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. …
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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. …
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…
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…
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…
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.…
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…
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.…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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。
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.…
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…
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…
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.…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…