Tracking your KiwiSaver’s performance is an important part of managing your investment. With a range of providers and funds to choose from, even the smallest difference in annual earnings can quickly add up to a significant amount. To get the most out of your fund, it’s important you review your KiwiSaver at least every year.
Topics: Kiwisaver, LVR, new zealand real estate, First Home Buyer, mortgage adviser
From January 2018, the Reserve Bank is easing lending restrictions for home buyers and property investors. In place since 2013, LVRs were introduced to help slow rapid house price inflation and rising household debt. While only an incremental change has been confirmed, it’s likely to have a positive impact on first home buyers.
Topics: LVR, new zealand real estate, First Home Buyer, mortgage adviser
When it comes to choosing a home loan, interest rate is not the only thing to consider. Loan features – like the ability to make extra repayments, a line of credit, an off-set account, or repayment holidays – are just as important. To help you understand what features you could be offered by your lender, we’ve outlined some of the more popular options.
Topics: Buying, LVR, Mortgage, new zealand real estate, First Home Buyer, Second Home, house sales, mortgage ready, property sales, mortgage stress, low equity margin, LEM, loan to value ratio
The 2017 New Zealand election may be out of the way but its impact is still being felt in the NZ property market. Uncertainty continues to weigh in with spring sales noticeably lower than previous years. Nationwide residential property values rose for September, although a much smaller increase was recorded in the Auckland region. Read on to find out how New Zealand’s property market is expected to perform, post-election.
Topics: Buying, LVR, Mortgage, new zealand real estate, First Home Buyer, Second Home, house sales, mortgage ready, property sales, mortgage stress, low equity margin, LEM, loan to value ratio
Changes to the Loan to Value Ratio (LVR) and an overall tightening up on low deposit lending has seen banks and lenders charge a number of additional fees to borrowers with less than a 20% deposit. One of these fees is a Low Equity Margin (LEM); a percentage added to your interest rate that remains there until your loan reduces to the 80% threshold. As a borrower, it’s important you’re clear on exactly how this fee is charged.
Topics: Buying, LVR, Mortgage, new zealand real estate, First Home Buyer, Second Home, house sales, mortgage ready, property sales, mortgage stress, low equity margin, LEM, loan to value ratio
Across the country, house prices dipped in December 2016, while in Auckland prices remain “seriously unaffordable”. It’s not surprising then, that more and more buyers are considering their options for housing investments to gain a foothold on the property ladder. We ask the question, are there any options left for first home buyers?
Topics: Investment Property, First Home, LVR, Home Buyers
Following two years of double-digit house price increases, lending restrictions and rising mortgage rates look set to slow house prices in 2017. In this month’s finance article, we take a closer look at the influences that could affect the housing sector in 2017, following Westpac’s latest Home Truths report which outlines predictions of a more subdued housing market outlook for the year ahead.
Topics: Mortgages, LVR, Property, Housing Market, REINZ
New Zealand's property market appears to be in a holding pattern as investors and home-buyers wait to see what will happen next following changes to the LVR. The property market is changing compared to how it was a year ago. And Property Institute of New Zealand chief executive Ashley Church says Reserve Bank LVR restrictions are a devastating failure for first home buyers. All this in our October property article.
Topics: Property Investment, First Home, Property Article, LVR, Investors, Home Buyers
Last month, the Reserve Bank announced plans to introduce new LVRs targeting investors throughout New Zealand, who will now need a 40 per cent deposit when borrowing for mortgages. KiwiSaver’s HomeStart Grant has also had some changes, with both income and house price caps increasing in order to meet the scheme’s objective of helping middle income earners into their own homes. Read on to find out more in this month’s property article.
Topics: Property Article, LVR, HomeStart
