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.
Home loans later in life: can you still get approved in NZ?
More Kiwis later in life are still working and making property decisions, but many worry they won’t qualify for a home loan, or have already been declined. If that’s you, don’t despair. In many cases, it’s still very possible, you just need the right approach.
February update | Banks hungry, OCR on hold
It’s been a rough few weeks weather-wise. Not ideal when you’re trying to get projects moving. The good news? Banks are keen to lend, credit criteria is quietly easing, and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand has taken a steady approach with the OCR.
Property covenants explained: what buyers and developers need to know
More formally called restrictive covenants, these are rules or conditions that apply to a property. Done well, they can protect value and enhance a neighbourhood. Done poorly, they can limit your options and create real headaches for both buyers and developers. Here’s everything you need to consider, whether you’re a buyer or developer.
Navigating non-bank lending for your development: what you need to know
Non-bank funding can be a great option, especially for deals that fall outside traditional bank policy. But there are a few important things to watch out for.
June 2025 Update | Why now might be the sweet spot for buyers – and a TurnKey Pro update
It’s been a pretty wet start to winter, but at least we’ve had some positive movement on the finance front. The Reserve Bank dropped the Official Cash Rate (OCR) by another 0.25%, cashback offers of up to 1% are still on the table, and conditions are good for buying property right now. Here’s the latest.
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.