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…
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…
Previously, we’ve looked at the difference between First Home Grants and KiwiSaver. Another often confused, pairing is the First Home Loan (previously known as the Welcome Home Loan) facility and…
First home buyers can often get tangled up in the pile of new concepts to learn. In this article, we explore the basics of withdrawing your KiwiSaver and meeting the…
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…
If you’re lucky enough to have owned a house for at least a couple of years, you’ve almost certainly gotten richer through capital growth. With a hot property market nationwide,…
Applying for a mortgage is much like creating a Tinder profile. You want to make yourself as attractive as possible to get a bank to “swipe right”. Banks aren’t interested…
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…
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…
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…
Homeownership is the dream and goal of 99% of New Zealanders. Once achieved, homeowners often to turn to buying their first investment property. How much deposit do you need for…
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…
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…
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…
Owning rental properties is a common kiwi dream. Many of us envision going into retirement with a couple or more of freehold properties under our belts, bringing in a nice…
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…