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
With a change in government comes a change in policy and the first of these is a ban on foreigners buying existing property in New Zealand. Just how much of an impact this will have on the New Zealand property market remains to be seen, with many experts believing only a small percentage of property buyers will be affected. Is the ban simply a political move or will it help curb rising house prices?
Topics: Buying, Mortgage, new zealand real estate, meth testing, meth contamination, labour government, foreign buyer ban
Your credit score is used by lenders to determine your lender-ability and in deciding what interest rate you’ll be charged. Having a good credit score could mean the difference in thousands of dollars spent or saved, so it’s understandably an important factor in your financial life. Here are some of the things that could impact your credit score.
Topics: Buying, new zealand real estate, mortgage adviser, credit score
Across Australia and New Zealand, auctions have become an increasingly popular means of selling property. One of the benefits of an auction is that it places a time limit on a sale, in turn generating a sense of urgency in buyers which often leads to a higher sale price. But auctions offer other benefits to sellers too. Take a look at what these are.
Topics: Auctions, Buying, new zealand real estate, mortgage adviser, property auction
There’s been much discussion in the media recently around methamphetamine contamination in New Zealand. Tenants are being evicted and landlords are spending thousands of dollars decontaminating properties that test positive for “P”. While some scientists have questioned the government’s standard for meth contamination, many believe it’s vital in helping safeguard the value of properties and its tenants. Either way, as a landlord in New Zealand, it’s important you understand meth contamination.
Topics: Buying, Mortgage, new zealand real estate, meth testing, meth contamination
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
Despite record low interest rates, more and more homeowners are struggling to meet their home loan repayments and are experiencing “mortgage stress”. Even the slightest increase in interest rates could leave these homeowners vulnerable and unable to repay their mortgage. Let’s take a look at what “mortgage stress” is and how you as a homeowner can deal with it.
Topics: Buying, Mortgage, new zealand real estate, First Home Buyer, Second Home, house sales, mortgage ready, property sales, mortgage stress
