You’ve probably read all the usual stuff from other brokers like they listen, they give you lots of choice, they’ll save you save money and time and you’ll end up getting get a great home loan. It’s all true. But it’s all fluff too. Here’s what we think – Buying a property is stressful because [...]
Next Thursday the Reserve Bank decides on what to do with the Official Cash Rate which will in turn influence what the banks charge you and I. My pick is that the OCR won’t change right now because the economy still has quite a hangover. So don’t expect the banks to do much either. But [...]
We had started 2011 quite strongly, commodity prices (read Dairy) were surging, mortgage approvals were on an upward trend breathing life into the real estate market and confidence was improving overall, not that it had yet flowed through to retailers. However with the events of Christchurch & Japan hitting us all between the eyes our [...]
The Christchurch earthquake. Wow. The place looks like a wrecking ball has been through it. Like everyone else around the country our thoughts go out to the good folk of the garden city. I was glued to the TV on Tuesday and remember feeling much the same way as the 9/11 terror attacks in NYC [...]
Recent newspaper reports back up what we’ve been hearing anecdotally – that in some parts of the city the demand for rental housing is so high that landlords are able to extract premium rents. In fact I met with a young family last week who were recently arrived back from a few years working in Australia. [...]
During the last 6 years of mortgage broking this is one question we always get asked. Funny thing is that the reply is as varied as the people who ask it and its often a case of ‘well, it depends’. This post won’t give you a definitive answer but read on though, I think you’ll [...]
In real estate there are only a handful of rules; one of them is that ‘well located and appropriately priced property always moves quickly’. And is it any wonder? Although most buyers would welcome a screaming bargain in reality ‘well located and appropriately priced’ is exactly the kind of thing you’re looking for. Trouble is [...]
If the economic boffins around the traps are to be believed then the RBNZ is likely (nay, almost certain) to leave interest rates alone this side of Christmas. That’s a reasonable chrissy pressy for the country I’d say, especially since the last 12 months has been a bit flat, even miserable for some. But as [...]
“If something were to happen to me, would you raise my child?” As a single parent, you may have already considered who will care for your child/ren if anything should happen to you. You may have even asked someone to do that job if necessary. But the trust you place in another person results in [...]
1. A house that matches your entire wish list doesn’t exist. It will be a compromise, so go for one that meets 75% of what you want and get on with it. Ignore if you just won lotto. 2. There’s a good chance you won’t be in your first house forever. Knowing this fact influences [...]