John Bolton, better known as JB, founded Squirrel in the midst of the GFC (bold move, we know) and all these years later, he’s still on the tools doing what he loves best: being a mortgage adviser. He also still finds the time to share his expertise and insights on the housing market, economy and interest rate movement, with regular articles and monthly market update videos — so you can easily stay up to date with what’s going on.
There’s no doubt that there will be some good buying opportunities over the next twelve months. To make the most of them you will need to be cashed up and ready to pounce. It’s about having the confidence, knowing you can land the deal, but also not misreading your lenders and their lack of appetite for risk.
More than ever, the current economic crisis has highlighted the importance of (1) having a clear investment strategy and (2) managing your risks. What does your risk management strategy look like? What happens if your tenants cannot pay the rent? What happens if you sell a property and the bank keeps all of the sales proceeds?
I’ve been in a few crises. The first was launching Squirrel at the height of the GFC, with a crashing housing market. Then my head contractor went bankrupt part way through my big property development. Now? We're faced with Coronavirus. But this one is different. We're all in it together and it's out of our control.
Among all of the current madness you may have heard about the banks offering mortgage holidays, or repayment deferrals. Here's how the process works with each of the main banks.
The adage 'cash is king' is never truer than in a crisis. Cash gives you the flexibility and freedom to respond to changes. Now is a good time to have a small cash buffer in your mortgage. The thing to remember is banks don’t want you to default on your mortgage, and they have temporary options in place which are designed to support those who find themselves in financial hardship.
In our evolving interconnected world, coronavirus has become the perfect tabloid media clickbait. It plays straight into our anxieties and fears. We are lemmings with an inherent magnetism towards mass hysteria. Let's get some perspective.
Are you ready to jump into commercial property? I wasn’t for a long time, but given I own a business and rent premises it makes sense. If you are a business owner and new to commercial property, here's how you could make it work for you.
Credit bureaus in NZ are now looking at monthly account behaviour for all lending products as well as account behaviour for a number of utility bills. Basically, if you miss a payment, everyone will know about it. Here's everything you need to know.
This article is written for prospective homebuyers, but it is also an important reference point for leaky owners trying to sell. Plaster houses are harder to sell and will sell for 10%-15% below what an equivalent weatherboard house would sell for.
I’ve recently written a blog post on how to buy in a soft market. This one is the opposite, for those of you selling. Let's talk agents, strategy and tactics to get you the best outcome.
A mortgage isn't something you set and forget. It should be reviewed regularly with the ups, downs, plot twists of life and interest rate fluctuation. Especially if you want to pay it off as fast as possible and save money on interest. If you haven't had yours reviewed in a while, here are 5 simple things to consider.
Looking to finally upgrade the kitchen or add a touch of class to your bathroom? It might be easier to do than you realise, potentially without adding anything extra to your monthly financial commitments.