From 01 July 2019, ceiling and underfloor insulation is compulsory in all New Zealand rental properties, where suitable. In addition to this, landlords have just over two years to ensure rental properties meet the Government's healthy homes standards, the minimum requirements for heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture and drainage, and draught stopping in rental properties. Here’s what you need to know about insulation requirements and healthy homes standards.
Topics: Kiwisaver, Rental Property, Rental Market, Home Loan, nz mortgage, NZ Mortgage Adviser, NZ Property Manager, Harcourts Property Manager
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
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
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
Whether you’re a first home buyer or a seasoned investor, making a bad decision on your mortgage could end up costing you in both time and money. When it comes to a mortgage, what you don’t know CAN in fact hurt you! Knowing what pitfalls to avoid will help you make better decisions. Here are 5 mortgage mistakes to avoid.
Topics: nz mortgage, first home buyer, lending options, NZ Mortgage Adviser, Home Loan Advice, Mortgage Advice
No doubt about it: buying your first home is exciting. But it can also be incredibly stressful, which is why it’s so important to prepare yourself for the journey ahead, by doing your homework and getting advice from the right people. So that you understand all you need to know about buying your first home, we’re sharing our first home buyer tips.
Topics: First Home, nz mortgage, first home buyer, lending options, NZ Mortgage Adviser, Home Loan Advice, Mortgage Advice
Following the Reserve Bank’s decision to lower the official cash rate to 1.5 per cent early last month, banks have been quick to follow with lower mortgage rates, representing not only an opportunity for new buyers to enter the market, but also a chance for existing home owners to pay off their mortgage much faster. If you haven’t reviewed your mortgage recently, you could be missing out.
Topics: nz mortgage, lending options, NZ Mortgage Adviser, Home Loan Advice, Mortgage Advice, mortgage review
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
The Reserve Bank has cut the Official Cash Rate (OCR) for the first time in two years; down 25 basis points to 1.5 per cent, the lowest it’s ever been. Retail banks have been quick to pass on the rate cut: Good news for home owners and first home buyers.
Topics: Interest Rates, Lenders, nz mortgage, NZ Mortgage Adviser, Home Loan Advice, Mortgage Advice, Borrowing Advice, Borrowing Capacity, OCR
Before going house hunting, it makes good sense to know how much you can actually borrow from your lender. Your borrowing capacity is the amount that a lender will lend you to buy a property. Sounds simple but it’s not: there are all kinds of factors involved that determine the amount a lender comes up with, and your loan amount can vary from lender to lender. Read on to find out more about borrowing capacity.
Topics: Lenders, nz mortgage, NZ Mortgage Adviser, Home Loan Advice, Mortgage Advice, Borrowing Advice, Borrowing Capacity
