How To Choose The Best Bank For Your Home Loan
There’s no single best bank for home loans in NZ. The best one for you is the lender whose rates stay competitive across the fixed terms, whose loans let you pay extra and ease back when you need to, and whose lending policy fits your income and deposit. Getting approved only tells you one bank […]
Buying Your First Home?
Are you thinking about buying your First Home? Do you know there are ways you can buy a suitable home? When we started the Kiwi First Home Buyers Group over 10-years ago, house prices were a lot lower and the group was relatively smaller. Over the years we have grown this group to about 60,000 […]
Revolving credit mortgage NZ: how it works, and when an offset is better
How a revolving credit mortgage works in New Zealand, how it compares with an offset home loan, and how to pick a limit that saves interest without turning into a second credit card.
Why Do People Refinance Home Loans?
You might think there are plenty of reasons to refinance your home loan, but as a mortgage adviser I have learned that there are really just a few. Some people have personal reasons they’d rather not discuss. Most, though, fit one of the common reasons below. Reasons To Refinance Home Loans Here are my five […]
Stop Renting and Buy Your First Home
Stop renting and buy your first home this year. It’s not always easy to buy your first home. But renting isn’t much fun either, especially if you fear you’ll rent forever. As a mortgage adviser in Auckland I know that it’s not always easy to buy a home. House prices are high and that means […]
My Top FIVE Tips For First Home Buyers
As a mortgage adviser, I see many people who want to buy their first home. So I’ve put together a list of tips for first home buyers. These are my 5 top tips for first home buyers. Let’s have a look at these and see if they can help you. These might seem obvious to […]
Does a student loan affect getting a mortgage in NZ?
Yes. A student loan reduces how much a bank will lend you. Not because of what you owe, but because of the repayment that comes out of every pay. First home buyers ask me this more than almost anything else, so here’s exactly how it works and what you can do about it. Banks look […]
Getting Help Dealing With Mortgage Arrears
Kiwis often don’t know where to get help dealing with mortgage arrears. They’re told to speak to their bank. But many don’t feel comfortable with a credit team hidden behind an email address or 0800 number. It’s difficult to know what the banks credit people or hardship teams will do. Understanding Mortgage Arrears As non […]
Non-bank lenders: a reliable alternative for your mortgage?
Short answer: a non-bank lender offers home loans but doesn’t hold a New Zealand banking licence. Credit unions, building societies and specialist mortgage companies all fall into this group. They can often lend when a bank won’t, for example when your income is hard to prove, you’ve had credit problems, or your investment plans don’t […]
The Kāinga Ora Maintenance Clause (for First Home Loans)
Are you buying your first home with the Kāinga Ora low deposit First Home Loan scheme? If so, you need to know about the eligibility rules and the maintenance clause. Kāinga Ora requires that any maintenance on the property costs less than $10,000 to repair. You must also be able to afford those repairs, and […]