Home & Contents Insurance - February 25th Investment Property: House vs Apartment Author: Todd Roberts When purchasing an investment property, houses and apartments each have their pros and cons. So, what are they and what do you need to consider before investing in a house or an apartment? Investment …
Home Loans - February 19th Home Insurance Questions to Ask Before You Do Renovations Home renovations and DIY programs have inspired a generation of Kiwi home owners to carry out their own renovations. But before you get out the sledgehammer, there are a few things you need to know …
Home Loans - January 28th When is the Best Time of Year to Buy a Home? Quite often, there is a misconception that warmer months provide more opportunities for house hunters and sellers, but it may in fact be the opposite. As each season has its own unique characteristics, so too …
First Home Buyers - January 18th What to Look Out For When Buying Off the Plan Building consents in New Zealand are booming and an increasing number of people are buying off the plan. But while there are definite upsides to buying off the plan, it comes with many hidden risks. …
Home Loans - January 14th Cheap Home Renovations Under $1000 to do This Year Co-author: Amanda Horswill Embarking on a major home renovation can be a time-consuming, daunting and often expensive exercise. But, if you’ve got a handy $1000, it could still be possible to stage a mini-makeover on …
Credit Cards - January 13th What is a Product Disclosure Statement? What’s the point of a PDS? A product disclosure statement (PDS) tells you all the key information you need to know about a financial product. Financial services firms, such as insurance companies, banks, Kiwisaver providers and …
First Home Buyers - December 23rd Canstar’s Top Stories of 2020 To use a term popularised by the Queen nearly three decades ago, 2020 certainly was an annus horribilis! Fortunately, here in NZ, we were spared the worst ravages of the pandemic. But it has still negatively …
Home Loans - December 14th Easy Guide: How to Apply For a Home Loan Unless you're Richie Rich, if you want to buy a home, you'll need to apply for a home loan. And if you're new to the property-buying game, it can seem overwhelming. However, if you know …
Home Loans - December 7th Can You Get a Mortgage For a Tiny Home in NZ? Embracing simple living in a smaller house, often built on wheels so it’s moveable, has been dubbed the tiny house movement. This type of home is quicker to build and comes with lower maintenance costs, …
Home Loans - November 27th Mortgage Offset Accounts: How Do They Work? Co-author: Nicole Barratt What is an offset account? An offset account is a transaction account that is linked to your home loan. The account’s balance (or a proportion of that balance) is offset daily against your home …