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If you’re bracing yourself for an upcoming mortgage rate increase, you’re not alone. Only two years ago, the average one-year fixed rate was 2.58%. Now, it’s more than double. For an average-size home loan in New Zealand, this means a significant increase in what...

Your new business idea is ready to go. You’ve seen the business you want to buy. You’ve done your research, crunched the numbers and you feel ready to move forward. But acquiring a business is a big decision. Taking out a loan to buy a new business can be a complex,...

Just gone unconditional? Here’s what you need to do Congratulations, you did it! You worked hard to get pre-approved for a mortgage, spent countless Sundays at open homes, negotiated a great home and finally went unconditional. It’s relief, excitement and nerves all...

As a first-home buyer or an existing mortgage holder, staying informed about your mortgage repayments, especially the factors that can impact interest rates, is important. You've probably heard various opinions on whether rates have peaked or if there's a possibility...

Learn how to prepare for success After years of hard savings, you’re ready to apply for a mortgage. Banks will require lots of personal information as they look for red flags about your ability to cover your mortgage each month. Many people find this the most daunting...

What kind of property would suit you best? It’s officially a buyer’s market. Existing homes look like bargains compared to peak prices last year, and building a brand new home could also be in the budget. If you’re looking to purchase a house, you will have a much...

Choosing the right mortgage structure is always tricky. But with interest rates high, a well-tailored home loan is the best way to save money. Whether you want the certainty of locking down your repayments or the flexibility of paying lump sums, there’s an option to...

Severe rain, storms and floods have battered parts of the Auckland, Northland and Coromandel in the last week making hundreds of homes uninhabitable and lot more requiring moderate to large repairs. If your house has been affected by the flood or have a new build or...

Good news – it may not be 20% As house prices continue to fall, many New Zealanders previously locked out of the market could now afford to buy. So why aren’t more people taking advantage? Short answer: bad information. With rising interest rates and stricter lending...

The pros and cons of re-structuring your mortgage Most of us need a financial safety net for emergencies or big-ticket items. Credit cards and hire purchases can be good options, but traditionally they come with high interest rates. On the other hand, if you own a...

When you apply for a loan, your prospective lender will weigh up your likelihood of repaying what they’re lending to you. They’ll run checks on your creditworthiness and spending patterns to gauge your financial character and thereby determine whether you’re likely to...

The impact of the latest official cash rate announcement by the Reserve Bank to increase the OCR by 75 basis points (0.75%) to 4.25% is starting to be felt in the market. Two major banks – ANZ and Westpac – have raised their fixed and floating home loan rates, along...

Four ways to save money in the face of crippling home loan rates With inflation at an all-time high, New Zealanders are starting to feel the pinch in every area of their lives. From groceries to Christmas presents, many items cost double (even triple) what they were a...

New Zealanders are fast becoming experts on the OCR – the official cash rate. While we may have previously paid some attention when the Reserve Bank did its review about every two months, it’s now in the news all the time. That’s because the OCR is the biggest factor...

Insurance is one of the key tasks on the life admin list. But, unlike booking a doctor’s appointment or mover, choosing insurance cover isn’t a simple box-ticking exercise. There are so many types of cover, providers and options that it can feel overwhelming. You...

Designing and building your dream home has huge upsides – with New Zealand’s building standards, you know it’ll be warm, dry, energy-efficient and easy to maintain. The top 10 ways to stay on schedule and within budget 1. Prioritise the land Compromising on location...

Buying a home doesn’t begin and end with just dreaming up the right property. There is a lot to think about. As with everything, you will need to research the market carefully before you dive in. Get it wrong and it could set you back years. The process of buying a...

For first-home buyers, saving a deposit needed to get on the homeownership ladder is not easy. 20% can seem like an insurmountable amount of money. But don’t despair. There are still ways that Kiwis can achieve their dream of home ownership even if they have a smaller...