In late October 2018, the Overseas Investment Amendment Bill came into effect. While the changes to the bill restrict certain overseas people from buying residential land and existing properties in New Zealand, there are still opportunities for overseas investors who want to buy residential land to build on, as well as for residence-class visa holders who don’t currently live in New Zealand but want to buy a home here.
Topics: Buying, NZ Finance, NZ Mortgage Adviser, Home Loan Advice, Non-resident buyers, Non-resident lending
It’s not uncommon for couples to contribute different amounts when buying their first family home. Under New Zealand law, once a couple has been living together for three years or more, they are subject to the Property (Relationships) Act, which states that assets are shared equally regardless of how much each person initially contributed. A “pre-nup”– or a Contracting Out Agreement – is a way to preserve respective contributions in the event of a separation or divorce.
Topics: Buying, NZ Finance, NZ Mortgage Adviser, Home Loan Advice, Contracting Out Agreement, Pre-nuptial
Recent changes to KiwiBuild could help more first home buyers into the property market. Early in September 2019, Government announced a reset of the affordable housing policy including a drop in the deposit requirements for Welcome Home Loans, progressive home ownership schemes, and the removal of the earnings limit so multiple buyers could be eligible for combined HomeStart Grants.
Topics: First Home, NZ Finance, First Home Buyer, NZ Mortgage Adviser, Low Deposit, Home Loan Advice
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
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
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: Property Management, Kiwisaver, Rental Market, Home Loan, nz mortgage, NZ Mortgage Adviser, NZ 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
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
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
