Whether you’re buying or selling, determining the value of a property is an important step in the process. A property valuation – an assessment of a property’s market worth – can help you set a realistic sale price when you’re selling and be a valuable tool when it comes to negotiating a purchase price when you’re buying. Here is a guideline to understanding property valuations.
Topics: NZ Finance, property value, Home Loan Advice, Property Valuation
If you’re feeling weighed down by the amount of debt you have and the number of repayments you’re trying to manage each month, debt consolidation could be the answer. Debt consolidation rolls multiple high-interest debts into a single payment which could help reduce your total debt over time and ensure you pay it off faster. Not convinced? Here are 5 ways consolidating your debt makes financial sense.
Topics: Credit Card Debt, Debt Consolidation, Finance Update, NZ Finance, Credit Check, Home Loan Advice, Debt-free
Buying a first home is a big decision; quite possibly, the biggest one you’ll ever make. Which is why it pays to understand exactly what you’re getting yourself into. To ensure you’re armed with the right information so you can make good decisions about your financial future, here is a step by step guide to buying your first home.
Topics: NZ Finance, NZ Mortgage Adviser, Home Loan Advice
It’s tempting to question the value of insurance because it’s an intangible thing – it’s not like buying a car or a new pair of shoes. Instead, when you buy insurance you’re buying a promise. A promise that when something catastrophic happens to you or your livelihood, your insurance will help you get through by providing the financial security you need. Here are 5 reasons why we think insurance matters.
Topics: Insuring your property, Home Loan Advice, Mortgage Protection Insurance, Home Loan Insurance, Life Insurance
Understanding how lenders assess lending criteria could help improve your chances of success when it comes to a home loan application. Your borrowing power and borrowing capacity will depend on your income, family size, current debts and the type of loan you’re applying for. But did you know that there are a few simple steps you can take to improve your borrowing power? Take a look at what these are.
Topics: Credit Card Debt, Debt Consolidation, Finance Update, NZ Finance, Credit Check, Home Loan Advice, Debt-free
Over the past few years, we’ve seen some significant changes to the way we pay for things. As well as using our phones for payment, tapping our cards instead of swiping them, and having the ability to transfer money instantly online, the arrival of part-payment systems like Afterpay are changing how we shop. Here’s what you need to know about Afterpay.
Topics: Finance Update, Financial Decision, NZ Finance, Home Loan Advice, AfterPay, Part Payment, Payment
New Zealand is one of the least insured nations in the developed world according to research by the Financial Services Council, with many Kiwis relying on a “she’ll be right” attitude when things do go wrong. The reality is that tragedy can affect anyone at any time and being unable to work for a period of time has a significant financial impact on you and your family. If you’ve been putting off getting insured, now’s a good time to remedy that.
Topics: Home Loan, nz mortgage, NZ Mortgage Adviser, Home Loan Advice, Mortgage Advice, Mortgage Protection Insurance, Home Loan Insurance, Life Insurance
There are some changes being made to KiwiSaver in 2019 and 2020, most of which have already come into effect. The proposed changes to the structure of KiwiSaver could see a greater number of New Zealander’s saving for retirement and the risk of a retirement savings shortfall decreasing over time. These changes will allow more people to join the scheme and also allow members to better tailor their KiwiSaver account to fit their needs.
Topics: Kiwisaver, Home Loan, nz mortgage, NZ Mortgage Adviser, Home Loan Advice, Mortgage Advice, Kiwisaver withdrawal
If you’re an owner-occupier looking to invest in property, you may be able to leverage your existing home to buy an investment property without dipping into your savings. Using the equity in your home is a smart way to build your property portfolio without feeling the pinch. Here’s what you need to know about using the equity in your home to buy an investment property.
Topics: nz mortgage, Investing in Property, NZ Mortgage Adviser, Home Loan Advice, Investment Finance, Investment Tips, Mortgage Advice, Property and Investments
Stricter lending conditions across New Zealand and Australia have led to a rise in the number of borrowers turning to second tier lenders for finance. Second tier lenders – or non-bank lenders - while tightly regulated, are privately owned and often have more flexibility in the rates and fees they can offer. As a borrower who doesn’t quite meet bank lending criteria, a second tier or non-bank lender may be the answer.
Topics: Lenders, nz mortgage, non-bank lender, lending options, NZ Mortgage Adviser, Home Loan Advice, Mortgage Advice
