New Zealand's property market appears to be in a holding pattern as investors and home-buyers wait to see what will happen next following changes to the LVR. The property market is changing compared to how it was a year ago. And Property Institute of New Zealand chief executive Ashley Church says Reserve Bank LVR restrictions are a devastating failure for first home buyers. All this in our October property article.

Buying your first home can be stressful. Taking that first step onto the property ladder is probably one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever have to make. But if you do your homework and properly prepare yourself, it needn’t be as frightening as you expect. If you’re tired of renting and you think that buying a home is the right thing for you, take a look at our step-by-step guide for first home-buyers.

Last month, the Reserve Bank announced plans to introduce new LVRs targeting investors throughout New Zealand, who will now need a 40 per cent deposit when borrowing for mortgages. KiwiSaver’s HomeStart Grant has also had some changes, with both income and house price caps increasing in order to meet the scheme’s objective of helping middle income earners into their own homes. Read on to find out more in this month’s property article.

Although KiwiSaver is intended to help with retirement saving, a growing number of people are taking advantage of the option to withdraw some or all of their savings to help fund the purchase of a first home. And most are surprised at just how much they’ve accumulated in a relatively short space of time. While KiwiSaver can help buy a first home, there are a few conditions and some recent changes you need to know about. We’ve outlined all you need to know about KiwiSaver withdrawals, the HomeStart Grant and changes around “second-chance” homeowners.

Withdrawing savings from KiwiSaver for your first home

As the price of property continues to rise, many parents are stepping in to help their children buy their first home. For some first home buyers, without that help, securing a home would be simply impossible. Whether it’s through gifting the deposit, lending them the money, providing a guarantee, or being a joint borrower, there are a number of considerations to take into account. We take a closer look at just what you need to think about when deciding to help your kids buy a home.

According to state-owned valuer QV, New Zealand property value growth slowed down in March, although Auckland is seeing signs of a resurgence. As property prices continue to rise and first home buyers struggle to get onto the property ladder, it’s time to ditch the luxuries and put more cash into your savings. Read on to find out more in this month’s property article.