News and Insights
Keep up with the property market, interest rates, lending rules and other useful updates for anyone who wants to make smarter property and financial decisions.
April 2025 update | OCR cut, lending shifts & fresh optimism in the market
Economists have responded positively to the recent OCR cut, with many now predicting deeper cuts ahead than originally forecast. Factors like easing inflation, a slowing global economy, and recent US trade tariff moves are all feeding into those expectations.
Test rates are below 7% - why that’s good news for home loan borrowers
The Reserve Bank cut the OCR this week, and while that’s good news for mortgage holders, here’s what we’re really watching: Most banks have already dropped their floating rates. More interestingly – we’ve just seen a bank drop its test rate to 6.75%. That’s a big shift.
Construction lingo explained: A simple guide for new build buyers
If you're building for the first time, the process can be full of jargon. And let’s be honest, it’s not always clear what people are talking about. So I’ve pulled together a quick cheat sheet to help you feel a bit more confident as you navigate the journey of building your first home.
What are PC Sums, and why do the banks care?
If you’ve never been through a new build purchase before, PC sums can be confusing. So I wanted to break down what they actually mean, why builders include them, and what banks think about them, especially if you’ve got less than a 20 percent deposit.
TurnKey vs House and Land Finance: what builders need to know
At Colab, we work closely with builders to provide clear, practical options for their buyers — whether that is through progress payment lending or TurnKey solutions.
Introducing Colab
Sam and Dan are mortgage advisers, property nerds, and now co-founders of Colab Mortgages. Between them, they’ve clocked up decades in banking, lending, and property development so it’s fair to say they know what they’re talking about.
