Annabelle Conaghan

What is a credit report?

Co-author: TJ Ryan Your credit report is a vital part of understanding your credit health. A credit history report summarises your payment history including payments for credit cards, mortgages, car finance, hire purchases and more. A credit history …

Home Loans - March 18th

Common causes of mortgage default

Co-author: TJ Ryan Kiwis are taking on more debt than ever before. According to the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, in 1988, the average household had around $16,000 in debt and an income of around $35,000 – …

Home Loans - March 12th

Is it safe to get a mortgage with a small lender?

Co-author: TJ Ryan Last time you went to open a new savings account, or had to visit a branch in person, did you wonder what other financial institutions are out there? Turns out, the big banks aren't …

Be upfront with the real estate agent if you are factoring repairs into your offer

Home Loans - March 7th

What does ‘subject to finance’ mean?

Co-authors: TJ Ryan and Regina Collins Before entering into a contract to purchase real estate, the buyer must get their finances approved by a lender. If the buyer hasn't obtained home loan pre-approval, this involves applying for …

Home Loans - March 5th

Foreign investment in New Zealand

Co-author: James Hurwood The rules on foreign property investment in New Zealand are based on whether you're a part-time resident or not and what type of real estate you're planning on buying. New Zealand's foreign investment regulations were tightened …

Car sales person handing over key to new owner

Home Loans - February 27th

Home loans from non-bank lenders

Co-author: William Jolly With the cost of living creeping up and the property market ready to burst, it is more important than ever to spend the time to find the best home loan for your situation. Many …

Happy couple reading something on their computer

Home Loans - February 25th

What are the best house hunting websites on the market?

Co-author: Regina Collins We've rounded up some of the most popular New Zealand real estate sites to help you through this process. Major real estate websites These sites are some of the most well-known and widely-used New Zealand …

Home Loans - February 19th

How does a reverse mortgage work?

Co-authors: TJ Ryan and Shay Waraker A reverse mortgage is a type of equity release product (ERP). Equity release products come in two forms - credit products and debt-free products. A reverse mortgage is a credit …

Home Loans - January 9th

How much will your mortgage really cost?

Co-author: Ellie McLachlan One of the main determining factors of the cost of your mortgage is the interest rate. Even though home loan interest rates are comparatively low at the moment, a mortgage can end up …

Home Loans - December 14th

How long does it take to find and buy a house?

Co-author: Justine Davies Some house hunters might believe that they will walk into their dream home weeks after they start looking. But the truth is, it might take a bit longer than that. While the house hunting …

Annabelle Conaghan

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