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.
October update | The forces behind mortgage rates, and other news
With elections approaching in NZ and the US, uncertainty is in the air. Here’s what’s happening and what it could mean for mortgage rates and property.
November wrap-up | An OCR cut and encouraging signs heading into summer
Last week brought the news many Kiwis were waiting for: The Reserve Bank dropped the OCR (Official Cash Rate) by 0.25% to 2.25 It was widely predicted, but still a very welcome shift heading into the end of the year, especially with the RBNZ now on holiday until late February.
OCR held at 3.25%. Is it time to revisit the Reserve Bank’s mandate?
Over the past 12 months, the Reserve Bank has gradually lowered the Official Cash Rate (OCR) from 5.50% to 3.25%. While that’s a solid drop, the pace of cuts has been cautious. With inflation falling and economic pressures mounting, many are asking: Why has the RBNZ been so cautious on rate cuts? Part of the answer may lie in a quiet but significant change made late last year. Here’s the full story.
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.