2017: Themes worth thinking about
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.
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Why interest rates won’t increase, much - June 2017
I love throwaway comments about interest rates. We even get them from Government Ministers...
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Insider insight into renovations
Like many people looking to renovate, Erika was faced with the bills for plans and a build...
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Auckland housing stalemate but not a ‘crash’
Confidence in the housing market is low and that’s not surprising given the amount of nega...
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Financial anxiety in 2017
We’ve recently run a small Facebook survey on what’s causing kiwis financial anxiety in 20...
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How much money do you need for retirement?
I’ve seen numbers like $1million floated around. If you accept that you’ll gradually run d...
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Auckland housing stalemate but not a ‘crash’
Confidence in the housing market is low and that’s not surprising given the amount of nega...
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Credit policy continues to tighten
Right now, being a bank customer without using an advisor must be a nightmare....
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What goes into choosing your mortgage broker?
Purchasing a home can be a lofty task, so most buyers will want a little help when it come...
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Is splitting your home loan a good idea?
When it comes to your home loan there's more than one way to skin a cat. There are differe...
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Strategies to take control of your mortgage
If you're an Auckland homeowner working on a mortgage, we probably don't need to tell you ...
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Budgeting your first home
It’s tough being a first home buyer. But with a bit of foresight and forward planning, we’...
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Should young home buyers be looking to the regions?
For many of us, living in Auckland can be challenging. Sure, there's plenty to enjoy about...
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Housing developments bring first homes closer to reality
First-home buyers across the country will be feeling a sense of relief as recent mortgage ...
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Common financial challenges faced by first-home buyers?
Buying a home is an important milestone in the lives of many people, across New Zealand an...
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Trying to save up for your first home? We can help
If you've been dreaming of buying a house for the first time, you're absolutely not alone....
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What to make of a softening Auckland housing market
January housing statistics were bleak, and Barfoot & Thompson’s results from February are ...
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Banking on margins
The reality is that the industry is looking to mortgage margins to restore profitability f...
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Tighter credit policy will drive the housing market in 2017
I am always frustrated by our media and how they report house prices. Tabloid rubbish boun...
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Inflation or deflation – the road ahead
Waiting for inflation is feeling increasingly like the quest for the Holy Grail, or as I a...
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An economic download: everything you need to know right now
Brexit. Trump. John Key resigning. The last few months have included some interesting surp...
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Why interest rates won’t increase, much - June 2017
I love throwaway comments about interest rates. We even get them from Government Ministers...
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Let's figure out your bank's break fees
When it comes to your mortgage it pays to know it inside and out. After all, when such a l...
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Cash rate cut, but are banks at their lower limit?
The cash rate has been cut once again by the Reserve Bank, but unlike previous cuts, this ...
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Why mortgage rates are set to increase
The Reserve Bank is still talking about low inflation and the potential for the OCR to dec...
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Mortgage rate forecast for 2016
The official cash rate (OCR) fell this week to 2.25% - it's lowest level since it's introd...
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Knowledge is power
It doesn’t matter which way you look at it, getting bank funding at the moment is harder t...
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What’s your next move?
It’s been a few years since I’ve spent my nights in the houses of clients who are genuinel...
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A view from abroad
On a recent trip to London, I took some time to look at property and speak with locals to ...
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How to lift yield on your rental property
With the Reserve Bank LVR changes (and generally below par rental yields) now is the time ...
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Debt to income ratios
There has been talk this week about debt-to-income ratios due to the Reserve Bank asking t...
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ACC uncovered – have you got the right protection in place?
ACC has become such an important tool in protecting New Zealanders since its inception in ...
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Is health insurance necessary before 30?
As an insurance adviser rapidly approaching 30, many of my friends are going through life ...
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Adviser insight: Why you shouldn't duck the cover
Let's get some insight into why tailored insurance is so important when you're getting a h...
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I hate life insurance
I have a love-hate relationship with life insurance. I hate paying for something I have no...
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Financial anxiety in 2017
We’ve recently run a small Facebook survey on what’s causing kiwis financial anxiety in 20...
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Making sense of the mortgage landscape
There’s no doubt about it – the mortgage landscape has changed. Credit markets are tighten...
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Take control of your retirement age
There are two significant decisions that you can make right now which will change the qual...
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The innovation age
As we’ve noted for some time there are some big forces in play that are increasingly chang...
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The cost of car ownership
When I lived in London I never owned a car. And when I worked in Sydney and Melbourne I si...
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Insider insight into renovations
Like many people looking to renovate, Erika was faced with the bills for plans and a build...
Read More ›
How much money do you need for retirement?
I’ve seen numbers like $1million floated around. If you accept that you’ll gradually run d...
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3 ways to transform your house in the new year
As we welcome 2017, many of us are looking at ways of improving or bettering ourselves. Pe...
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Adviser insight: Giving back to the community
Squirrel prides itself on being about more than just mortgages. Yes, we can help you get i...
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Should you stage your home for sale? Not everyone thinks so
Staging: It's something of a divisive subject in the property world. Namely, should you do...
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