Get started on your mortgage
Buying your first home, investing in property or just keen to review your mortgage?
Fill out our online applicationInvest in Home Loans
Earn regular returns of 4.0%p.a. while providing a better home loan option for other Kiwis with our peer-to-peer platform.
Invest now
All Home Loans investments are secured
Our unique peer-to-peer home loan is for high-quality existing homeowners, and all loans are secured against the residential property so you can sit back and relax while your money works for you.
Having been in the business of mortgages for over a decade, we choose our borrowers carefully to help lower risk to our investors. There are plenty of other ways we manage investor risk too. In fact, since we launched our peer-to-peer platform we've not missed a single investor payment.
Current market interest rate for Home Loans
Good returns
Rather than letting your savings sit around earning a pittance, earn a better rate with regular repayments of principal and interest or interest.
Our Reserve Fund lowers risk for investors
Our Reserve Fund helps protect against missed borrower repayments and defaults, provided there are sufficient funds available. Find out more about our Reserve Fund here.
The power to get your money out early
The Secondary Market provides Investors the opportunity to sell an investment and get their money out early. Find out more here.
From Kiwis to other Kiwis
Investing in our peer-to-peer Home Loans means your money is staying on NZ shores and you're helping out other Kiwis. Win win.
No higher than 80% loan-to-value ratio lending
We don't lend more than 80% of the value of the property, and all lending is secured over first mortgages over residential property.
Manage your investment anywhere, any time
We have a fast, easy, online registration process and a mobile app to manage your ongoing investments.
100,265
Funds currently available to the Reserve Fund for Home Loans
1Our number one priority is looking after your invested money. One of the main ways we do this is through our Reserve Fund. Find out about how it works here.
2The Reserve Fund for Home Loans includes cash on hand and an overdraft facility of $100,000 provided by Squirrel Money Limited supported by a bank guarantee
The risk and return
It's important to remember that no investment comes without some risk. The interest you earn is also indicative of the potential risk for the type of investment you choose.
We do our best to limit risk in several ways. All Squirrel peer-to-peer home loans are secured by first registered mortgages over residential property primarily in metro locations, with a maximum LVR of 80%. This image shows each of our investment types relative to each other. To read up on all potential risks to do with investing, check out this page.
See what investors are saying about us
See for yourself what our clients think with over 90 5 star reviews on Shopper Approved.
Jiri C
Auckland, New Zealand
I've been with Harmoney for almost 3 years and your platform is far more superior, will move to you little by littleJC
PAK
Auckland, New Zealand
Very happy with my Squirrel investment. Platform works well and so easy to monitor using the app. Returns are good and much better than at the bank. Have been an investor since Jan 2016. Highly recommended.P
Rudi P
Auckland, New Zealand
I'm very excited about using the Squirrel platform to diversify my investment portfolio. Looking forward to many great returns.RP
Geoffrey S
Christchurch, New Zealand
Nice website (clean, easy to use). Reserve fund is a reassuring plus. As a newcomer, still feeling my way with bidding strategy. Overall, very good impression so far.GS
JAMES E
Naseby, New Zealand
I am a new investor, and while I cannot make any long term comments about Squirrel, so far my experience has been totally positive.JE
Susan H
Whangarei, New Zealand
Quick and easy to navigate your site. Easy to select what investment return to choose and you dont have to put all your funds into one loan.SH
Herman
Auckland, New Zealand
Initially I was a bit skeptical about the whole concept, so I invested a small amount to get a better understanding. Once I found out how to work the platform, I got more confident and have since invested a few more times.H
Michael S
Wellington, New Zealand
Customer service is excellent - very helpful and very quick with answers via email. I'd like to see some demo/ tutorial videos on the website :)MS
Where is your investment going?
As mortgage brokers, we regularly come across clients who are creditworthy, have excellent affordability, but don't fit within 'the bank box'.
That's why we decided to create a unique home loan products to support them. Your investment is helping us provide a better solution for other Kiwis, saving everyone a headache. Win win.
Standard Home Loan
This is for property owners who either occupy the property or use it as an investment. These are high credit quality niches in the market and generally have low loan-to-value ratios (LVR).
Borrowers are primarily within metro-locations (urban areas with a population over 150,000). There is a maximum exposure per borrower of $2,000,000.
- Maximum Loan size per security - $1,000,000 in Auckland; $700,000 outside Auckland
- Owner occupied or investment properties
- Maximum Loan term of 7 years
- Maximum LVR (loan-to-value ratio) of 80%
- All loans secured by first registered mortgages over residential property
Lifestyle Home Loan
This is a transition mortgage for those near or transitioning into retirement that recognises the borrower's property as an asset and as part of their wealth management/retirement plan. The product isn't designed as a long-term product beyond transition.
Borrowers are primarily within metro-locations (urban areas with a population over 150,000). There is a maximum exposure per borrower of $2,000,000.
- Maximum Loan size of $700,000
- Owner-Occupied properties only
- Maximum Loan term of 7 years
- Maximum LVR (loan-to-value ratio) of 60%
- All loans secured by first registered mortgages over residential property
FAQs
We've answered a few common questions below. If you're after more information, we recommend downloading our Investor Booklet or giving our friendly team a call on 0800 21 22 33.
Who can invest with Squirrel P2P?
We only allow NZ tax residents over 18 years of age to invest through our platform.
How much interest can I expect to receive on a Home Loan investment?
The Prevailing Interest Rate for Home Loan investments is shown above and this rate is variable (floating). The interest rate you are presented with when creating your investment order on the Platform is the gross interest rate you will receive on your investment (unless a lower interest rate is accepted by the Investor), after any fees are deducted but before Resident Withholding Tax (RWT) is deducted.
What is the Prevailing Interest Rate?
The Prevailing Interest Rate is the current Investor interest rate applicable to an Investment Class and Investment Term. It is set by us from time to time after consideration of the Housing Variable Rate (if applicable) or current market interest rates and Platform fees, levies and margins. The Prevailing Interest Rate will be displayed when an Investor places an Investment Order. Investors with open Investment Orders or live investments will receive at least five Business Days’ notice before a change to the Prevailing Interest Rate is applied.
What is the minimum investment?
The minimum amount you can specify when creating an Investment Order is $500. The maximum you can invest through our platform is $2 million. So, you’re free to invest any amount within that range.
How safe is my money?
Investor funds are held in an Independent Trust and do not form part of Squirrel’s business or assets. We rigorously check our Borrowers to ensure as best we can that they’re creditworthy. We have a reserve fund to help cover expected credit losses and insurance to protect against acts of cyber-crime and fraud. In a nutshell, although we work hard to look after your money, we cannot guarantee your investment will be entirely protected in event of one or more unforeseen events.
*Squirrel investment promotion details:
We are offering a one-off promotion payment of $500 for every $50,000 you have invested in Home Loans and/or Business Property Loans (in aggregate) on our peer-to-peer platform as at 30 June 2020. Before making any investment, you will need to read our investor documents, and ensure you understand the risks.
Terms and conditions
Eligibility: This promotion is open to retail investors on our peer-to-peer platform that have active investments totalling at least $50,000 in the Squirrel Home Loan and/or Business Property Loan investment classes (in aggregate) as at midnight on 30 June 2020 (Promotion End Date). Eligible investors will receive $500 for every $50,000 currently invested as at that date. For example: if an investor has $80,000 of active investments in the Home Loan investment class and $40,000 of active investments in the Business Property Loan investment class i.e. $120,000 invested in total, they will qualify for a promotional payment of $1,000 (2 x $500). This promotion is open to both new and existing Squirrel retail peer-to-peer investors. Only investments into the Home Loan and Business Property Loan investment classes will count towards the $50,000 investment threshold. Investments into the Personal Loan investment class do not count towards the investment threshold used for this promotion. Investments can be made throughout the promotion period and are not required to be in one lump sum – they must however be active investments as at midnight on the Promotion End Date. Un-matched investment orders are not eligible for inclusion in this promotion. Promotional payments will be deposited into the investors on-call account on Squirrel’s peer-to-peer platform on 31 July 2020 and may be invested or withdrawn at any point following payment. Squirrel’s normal Terms & Conditions apply to all investments made during the promotion period.
See why our clients love us
See for yourself what our clients think with over 90 5 star reviews on Shopper Approved.
Jiri C
Auckland, New Zealand
I've been with Harmoney for almost 3 years and your platform is far more superior, will move to you little by littleJC
PAK
Auckland, New Zealand
Very happy with my Squirrel investment. Platform works well and so easy to monitor using the app. Returns are good and much better than at the bank. Have been an investor since Jan 2016. Highly recommended.P
Rudi P
Auckland, New Zealand
I'm very excited about using the Squirrel platform to diversify my investment portfolio. Looking forward to many great returns.RP
Geoffrey S
Christchurch, New Zealand
Nice website (clean, easy to use). Reserve fund is a reassuring plus. As a newcomer, still feeling my way with bidding strategy. Overall, very good impression so far.GS
JAMES E
Naseby, New Zealand
I am a new investor, and while I cannot make any long term comments about Squirrel, so far my experience has been totally positive.JE
Susan H
Whangarei, New Zealand
Quick and easy to navigate your site. Easy to select what investment return to choose and you dont have to put all your funds into one loan.SH
Herman
Auckland, New Zealand
Initially I was a bit skeptical about the whole concept, so I invested a small amount to get a better understanding. Once I found out how to work the platform, I got more confident and have since invested a few more times.H
Michael S
Wellington, New Zealand
Customer service is excellent - very helpful and very quick with answers via email. I'd like to see some demo/ tutorial videos on the website :)MS
