As property prices continue to rise, buyers are finding smarter ways to get onto the property ladder. Sharing a mortgage with friends or family is a viable option for many buyers, and it’s gaining popularity amongst first-home buyers who may be struggling to enter the property market. Could it be the right option for you?

Houses prices across the country remained flat in February, with weaker prices in Auckland offsetting a rise in house prices across Otago and in Northland. We take a closer look at housing market data from February 2017, to determine whether this is the start of a much-needed correction in the housing market.

While New Zealand’s interest rate is as low as it’s ever been, many home buyers have been tempted into spending more. But, as Finance Minister Steven Joyce warns, it’s vital that buyers think ahead when buying property, and take into consideration whether their mortgage debt will still be affordable in three or four years’ time if rates were to rise. Read on to find out more.

When it comes to buying off-plan, many buyers are not aware of just how different the sale and purchase rules are. Clauses in pre-sales contracts for new apartments or subdivisions actually provide developers with the option to make changes to the contract, which could impact on the price you pay. To help you understand the different set of sale and purchase rules that apply when buying off-plan, read on.

If you’re looking to buy a new home but you still need to sell your existing home, you may need bridging finance. Bridging finance helps fund the purchase of your new home before your existing home has been sold, which means you don’t miss out on buying your dream home by having to wait until you’ve sold your existing home. Read on to find out more about the benefits and risks of bridging finance.

As a first-time home buyer, you’ve probably already spent a considerable amount of time researching the property market, visiting open homes, and exploring every aspect of the home buying process. Now that you’ve found your dream home, it’s a good time to take a closer look at what you’re about to buy. Before you rush in, here are some helpful tips to help you make a good buying decision.

Home ownership for many is an important goal to strive towards. For others, renting makes more sense. Choosing whether to buy or rent largely comes down to what you can afford. There are pros and cons to both options, and it’s really up to you to decide whether buying or renting is best for you. To help you make an informed decision, we’ve outlined some of the pros and cons to buying versus renting.

Buying your first home can be stressful. Taking that first step onto the property ladder is probably one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever have to make. But if you do your homework and properly prepare yourself, it needn’t be as frightening as you expect. If you’re tired of renting and you think that buying a home is the right thing for you, take a look at our step-by-step guide for first home-buyers.

As a first home buyer, trying to get a foot onto the property ladder in a heated property market may seem impossible. Despite the challenges though, real estate figures show that first home buyers still make up a sizeable portion of buyers in the current property market. While you may need to change your expectations when buying your first home, patience and perseverance do pay off. We’ve outlined some of the things you need to think about when buying your first home.

As the price of property continues to rise, many parents are stepping in to help their children buy their first home. For some first home buyers, without that help, securing a home would be simply impossible. Whether it’s through gifting the deposit, lending them the money, providing a guarantee, or being a joint borrower, there are a number of considerations to take into account. We take a closer look at just what you need to think about when deciding to help your kids buy a home.