Many young people turn to the “Bank of Mum and Dad” to help buy a first home. By using their own home as security to guarantee part of the deposit, parents are helping their children get into a first home much sooner. If you’ve been asked to step in and act as guarantor, it’s important you understand just what it is you’re guaranteeing, and how it could impact your own financial position.

For most first home buyers, the biggest hurdle is saving the 20 per cent deposit that many lenders require. Trying to keep up with rising house prices while saving a big enough deposit can feel impossible! If you’ve already started saving but you’re not quite there yet, there are other deposit options available to first home buyers that could make owning a first home a reality much sooner.

Home loan interest rates have fallen to historic lows in 2020 and economists are predicting even lower mortgage interest rates in the months ahead in response to the economic fall-out from COVID-19. Lower interest rates mean more opportunities for both homeowners and first home buyers looking to enter the market, with more affordable repayments and the potential to get debt-free faster. If you haven’t reviewed your mortgage in a while, now’s a good time to do that.

For the first time in several years, first home buyers have accounted for a sizeable chunk of new mortgages, according to data released in June 2020 by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand. With record low interest rates and the removal of loan to value restrictions, many more first home buyers are seizing the opportunity to enter the property market. If you are considering buying your first home, take a look at these 5 things your mortgage adviser wants you to know before you apply for a mortgage.

Despite economists predicting a “doom and gloom” slump for New Zealand’s property market, house prices continue to rise in some areas, defying the odds and reconfirming real estate’s strength as a solid investment. For first home buyers looking to enter the market, now may be the best time, with record low interest rates, no loan-to-value restrictions (LVR) and regional fluctuations in house prices. As always though, it’s important you place yourself in the best possible position to move quickly on a deal. Here’s how to do that.

When it comes to applying for a home loan, not everyone ticks the boxes with a lengthy permanent employment, more than 20 per cent deposit, and an impeccable credit history. But that doesn’t mean you have to miss out. Fortunately there are a range of lenders who will still consider applications even if you’re not the ideal borrower. Read on to find out what to do if the bank says no.

When buying your first home, it’s easy to get swept up in a whirlwind of excitement and make mistakes that could end up costing you later on. Even if you’ve done your research and have a good understanding of the property market, there’s a lot to take in and to think about. Here are 5 first home buyer mistakes to avoid.

When it comes to applying for a home loan, not everyone ticks the boxes with a lengthy permanent employment, more than 20 per cent deposit, and an impeccable credit history. But that doesn’t mean you have to miss out. Fortunately there are a range of lenders who will still consider applications even if you’re not the ideal borrower. Read on to find out what to do if the bank says no.

Many clients planning to utilise some of the investment in KiwiSaver to buy their first home have seen, over last few months, a drastic reduction in the KiwiSaver investment balances. This has created a lot of attention amongst first home buyers. The purpose of this communication is to quickly and briefly explain what is happening and what may be the best course of action in the current situation.

Buying a home is for many New Zealanders a rite of passage and a significant milestone. But it can also be an overwhelming process and incredibly challenging if you don’t know where to start. So that you can navigate the home buying process from start to finish, and make informed decisions along the way, we’ve compiled 3 useful tips for first home buyers.