Blog
Post-pandemic opportunities in property investment
Post-lockdown 2020, New Zealand’s housing market took an unexpected turn. Price falls of 15% were predicted nationwide but instead, houses saw a 25% price increase, with the median price rising more than $200,000 in one year. So, what’s the forecast for post-pandemic...
Is it cheaper to build or buy a house?
Historically low interest rates lured first home buyers in, but as house prices escalated daily, homeownership went out of reach for many. It’s made a lot of Kiwis turn to an alternative: building. But with the current materials shortage and land prices steadily...
Group Health Insurance VS Individual Insurance
Why group health Insurance policies are more beneficial than individual policies Group Insurance is essentially a package bought by a business or organisation for the benefit of its employees: a health insurance policy fully tailored to suit. Why you would consider...
The Shock of rising home loan rates
Interest rates are rising and that’s not good news for mortgage holders and first home buyers. The biggest shock will be to the homeowners who first bought between 2014 and mid-2021. They’ve been paying historically low interest rates and never experienced a rate...
Buying your first home with rising interest rates
How to make the most of current circumstances Pre-pandemic, buying your first home was a tough gig – but it was doable. When the pandemic hit, house prices skyrocketed. Every property sold put homeownership slightly further out of reach for first-timers. At the same...
Interest rates are rising – now’s the time to refinance your mortgage
In the chaos of COVID-19, there’s one thing many Kiwis have benefited from – record-low interest rates. It’s allowed thousands of people to keep their heads above water financially, as job losses and lockdowns have become the norm. But here’s the catch – interest...
House and land packages: Thinking outside the square
Building a new home sounds great, but it can be complicated. There are finances to shuffle, builders to manage and inevitable disappointments to navigate. Buying an existing home has its flaws too – they can often be old with maintenance and repair costs. A house and...
The pros and cons of a guarantor home loan
How they can help, and what you need to be aware of: Getting your foot onto the property ladder has never been easy. Now, it’s verging on impossible. In today’s property climate, it could take up to nine years to scrape a deposit together. House prices are higher than...
Why Trauma insurance is beneficial to you and your family
Trauma insurance could help support you and your family by alleviating some financial pressure during the worst of times. Trauma or critical illness insurance is a one-off lump sum if you are diagnosed with one of over 50 specified illnesses depending on insurance...
Get the most out of your revolving credit
Here’s how to make the most of revolving credit No one takes out a mortgage to have it for the rest of their life. The goal is to pay it back as soon as possible. So how do you do that? Fixed rate, floating rate, offset mortgage, revolving credit – it’s enough to give...
How to sell your house and buy a new one – at the same time
Your go-to guide on everything there is to know The average house price in New Zealand just hit close to $1 million. A lot of homeowners are making the most of the property boom to sell up, make the big bucks and see what their money can buy them elsewhere. But as...
Comparing income protection vs Mortgage protection
Knowing the ins and outs Put your mind at ease knowing that you have the right cover for your financial needs. It’s a question that doesn’t often get asked enough. Do I need this insurance policy or is there something better on offer? For us to be able to assess what...
Bridging finance – how does it work?
Moving house isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. On top of selling your current house, you need to find the perfect new home. And with the added pressure of trying to match settlement dates, it can be exhausting. Sometimes that doesn’t happen – and there’s a window where...
Home and Land Packages VS Turnkey
If you are on the path to buying your own place, or thinking about an investment property, you may be considering building rather than buying an existing home. When looking at building a home, you ’ll have come across ‘turnkey’, and ‘fixed price house and land...
The ‘buy now pay later mortgage’ effect
Turn on the news, flick on the radio, do a quick Google search on first home buyers and you’re bound to come across the term FOMO or the “fear of missing out”. This fear of not finding a home to buy is leading to some people to rush into mortgages they often can’t...
Owner occupied property VS investment property
How the new rules could affect your decision At the tail-end of COVID-19, home loan interest rates are historically low. Kiwis are desperate to get their foot on the property ladder – and the housing market has gone crazy. In that house-hunting hustle, thousands...
A guide to Property development finance
What is Development finance? Generally, it is financing for residential, commercial, and industrial property developments. This can include construction projects. Often there is a loan that contributes towards land purchases and a loan in staged payments for...
Life insurance: when should you review it?
Life insurance is a necessity for anyone who is buying a home, welcoming a child or has dependents, whether that’s children, a partner or a business. As your life changes, your insurance needs to as well. Here’s what you need to think about to make sure you, your...