Articles

Mortgage advisers can face conflicts of interest, from commission differences to referral relationships and clawbacks. This guide explains the most common conflicts, how they can influence recommendations, and the exact green flags and questions that help you spot an adviser who’s genuinely managing them in a client-first way.

A practical NZ guide to when going direct to the bank makes sense, and where even DIY borrowers and bank staff can still benefit from full market coverage and structure strategy.

Should you fix your mortgage, float it, or do a bit of both? In this guide for NZ homeowners and buyers, we break down fixed vs floating rates, explain how to structure your home loan, and help you plan smarter using real market insights and personal life goals. If you’re refixing, restructuring or choosing a lending strategy — start here.

New build or existing? This NZ guide compares deposits, pricing, locations, layouts, and the different due diligence needs, so you can choose with confidence.

Revolving credit can be a powerful tool, or a debt treadmill. Offsets can quietly shave years off your mortgage, but may cost you a cash-back. We unpack the real pros and cons of each, including tax and investment angles, so you can decide what’s right for your situation.

Not sure why you would use a mortgage adviser? This guide shows how advisers give real advice across several lenders, provide market insight, support you for the life of the loan, and are usually paid by the bank rather than charging you a fee.

Still think you need a strict 20% deposit? This article explains how much first home buyers really need today, how LVR and new DTI rules work, and how savings, KiwiSaver, Kāinga Ora and family help can all combine to get you in sooner.

Already own a home and thinking about your next move? This article explains how to use your equity as a deposit, how banks calculate usable equity, and what to watch out for with bridging, keeping your current home as a rental, and managing risk across your portfolio.

A home loan deposit is more than just a hurdle to clear. This guide shows how deposits work, how they protect you, what typical ranges look like for first home buyers, movers and investors, and the main ways people pull a deposit together.

If you are self-employed, a contractor or freelancer, getting a mortgage can feel harder. This guide shows what banks look for, which documents to prepare, how to present your numbers, and when a specialist lender can be a smart stepping stone into your next home.

Thinking about buying a home? This article breaks down the real costs beyond the listing price, from deposits and legal work to insurance, rates and maintenance. Use it as a checklist to plan your budget, avoid surprises and feel more confident when you start making offers.

Thinking about an investment property? This article explains how much deposit you really need, how LVR and new DTI rules work, why new builds can sometimes get by with 20 percent, and how to use equity in your home or rentals without stretching your portfolio too far.

What is the difference between a mortgage adviser and a broker? This article explains how 2021 law changes shifted the job from simply finding you a loan to giving proper advice, and what that means for your protection, options and long term strategy.