Economy expert Tony Alexander discusses the latest results from his surveys of mortgage advisers and real estate agents, plus how a change in LVR restrictions will affect New Zealand's housing market.
In March the Reserve Bank will reimplement LVR (loan-to-value ratio) restrictions on property investors. This will mean lending for investment properties will be required to have a 70% or possibly 60% loan-to-value ratio.
The new year is almost upon us and with it comes the usual new year’s resolutions which may or may not end up becoming reality.
Auckland sales volumes are down 30% year-on-year and Barfoot & Thompson is saying that house prices have fallen back to the same level as a year ago.
There’s no doubt about it – the mortgage landscape has changed. Credit markets are tightening and rates have started to go up. So here’s the low down to help you make better decisions, whether that’s to borrow more or pay the mortgage off faster.
Banks offering you cash for signing up a mortgage is a relatively new phenomenon, and one that won’t last much longer.
It’s that time of the year. Media commentators are lining up to provide a “guess” (aka forecast) as to what might happen this year. Our turn.
The cash rate has been cut once again by the Reserve Bank, but unlike previous cuts, this one has had a somewhat unexpected result: Many major banks aren't cutting their rates to match.
Squirrel ran a seminar recently called Managing Risk in an Uncertain Market, where JB and Christina Leung (Senior Economist at NZIER) tried to make sense of where we’re at and where we might be heading in this crazy market.
With the Reserve Bank LVR changes (and generally below par rental yields) now is the time for investors to be looking at ways to maximise their existing portfolio and increasing its return where buying more properties is not an option.
According to interest.co.nz's report for September, first home buyers in Auckland are starting to have an easier time in terms of affordability, though not by much.
Commentators continue to talk up the property market and increasing prices almost at the chagrin of the RBNZ.