Market7 min read
Market Update AUG 26: Rates are going up. House prices aren't.
The OCR rose for the first time in three years, every main bank repriced, and unemployment hit a twelve-year high. Where the numbers sit, and what is driving them.
Market Commentary & Guides
Insights.
Property market commentary, financial education and straight answers — so the numbers behind your decisions are visible before you make them.
Latest
Explained6 min read
What a mortgage adviser actually does, and whether you need one
The paperwork is the smallest part of it. What comparison, lending policy and loan structure actually change, plus the two questions almost nobody asks.
First Home6 min read
Using your KiwiSaver for a first home deposit
What KiwiSaver is, how the first-home withdrawal works, the rules that catch people out, and the one thing worth checking well before you buy.
First Home Buyers Hub
Everything you need before your first offer.
The First Home Buyer Guide walks through deposits, KiwiSaver, borrowing power and the buying process — free, and in the order you actually need it.
Get the First Home Buyer GuideCommon questions
Asked most often
As early as possible. Many clients speak with us months or even years before they buy. Early planning helps you understand your borrowing capacity, deposit requirements, and possible lending options.
A mortgage adviser can help you understand your likely borrowing range, prepare documents, identify suitable lenders, and avoid unnecessary delays when you find a property.
A decline from one lender does not necessarily mean home ownership is not possible. Different lenders have different lending criteria and alternative options may be available.
No. Tax considerations may be discussed at a high level, but we recommend seeking advice from a qualified accountant or tax adviser for tax-specific matters.
We talk about what you are trying to do — what you want to buy, and where you want to end up. We walk through how the lending process works, and you can ask general questions about how financing actually happens.
This first conversation is not regulated financial advice. Nothing is signed and no recommendation is made at this stage — it is a general discussion about the market and the process.
It also works both ways. You find out whether we are the right fit and whether you want to take it further. Often the meeting simply gives you direction: what to do next, and what to come back with. Some people move straight ahead, others come back months later. Either is fine — the point is that you leave with a starting point rather than a guess.
Many buyers assume they need a 20% deposit, but this is not always the case. Depending on your situation and lender criteria, smaller deposits may be possible.
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Market commentary and practical lending guidance — when there's something worth saying, not on a schedule.
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