KiwiSaver hardship withdrawals and your mortgage: what you need to know
When a KiwiSaver hardship withdrawal can help with mortgage arrears, what providers want to see, and the options to try first.
How much does a bridging loan cost in NZ? A 4-month worked example
A worked NZ example of a bridging loan: peak debt, end debt, four months of capitalised interest, closed vs open bridging, and the risk if your home sells for less.
How to refinance a mortgage in NZ: 6 steps
A six-step process for switching your home loan, from checking your break fee to settlement day.
How to pay off your mortgage faster in NZ: 6 ways that actually work
Your bank’s repayment is a floor, not a recommendation. Six ways to pay your mortgage off sooner, from rounding up your repayment to offset, lump sums at refix and splitting the loan.
Fortnightly mortgage repayments: the small change that can take years off your loan
Paying half your monthly repayment every fortnight can take about 5 years and $100k of interest off a $600k loan. Here’s how, and why switching to your bank’s “fortnightly” option doesn’t do it.
Refixing before the 28 October OCR? How I’d think about it
The OCR is 2.75% after two hikes and the next decision is 28 October. When to refix your mortgage, how to pick a 1, 2 or 3 year term, and why you should ask about cashback.
Mortgage break fees in NZ: how banks work them out, and why many are small right now
A break fee is the bank’s lost interest, not a penalty. How NZ banks calculate it, why many break fees are small while wholesale rates are rising, and how to tell whether breaking to refinance saves you money.
Fixed or floating? How to choose when your mortgage rate comes off in NZ
Your fixed rate is ending and the OCR has gone up twice since July. How to choose between fixed and floating, which term to pick, and why splitting the loan usually beats trying to call the market.
Unlocking Home Equity: A Guide to Reverse Mortgages
Many retirees find themselves in a common situation: owning a valuable, mortgage-free home but needing extra funds to supplement their retirement income or achieve a change in lifestyle. Reverse mortgages, also known as retirement equity release loans, are a financial product designed specifically for older homeowners to convert a portion of their equity into cash […]
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 […]
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 […]