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Rate Watch: What To Do Now - Part 1

For the last year or so, rates did what everyone wanted, they came down. That run is over. The Reserve Bank has started lifting the OCR again, and mortgage rates are following....

The three things people apologise to me for

I find it wild how many apologies I get from new clients.“I’m not good with money, I don’t understand this”.No worries, I am. And I can teach you.“My bank statements look bad, because I went on holiday last month”Me too, how exciting is that? I hope you had fun!“Sorry, we don’t have much of a deposit”I bought my first home with $3K in my KiwiSaver.Believe me, mortgage advisers are not the fun police. Or the judgement police either.We all took years to learn money, finance and l...

Selling & Buying Part 3 - Finding Our Backup

If you read part one and two, you’ll know our house sold before we had anywhere to go. So part three picks up where the pressure really kicks in, the house hunt itself, and the slightly wild way we ended up in our new home....

Selling & Buying Part 2 - Getting Pre-Approval

If you read the last post, you'll know our house sold a lot faster than the 20 months leading up to it suggested it might. Offer on Monday, unconditional by Friday. Which meant something else moved fast too: getting our own pre-approval sorted, because suddenly we needed to know exactly what we could work with....

Homeownership isn't just a game for couples

When my husband and I split in 2019, I brought him out of our jointly owned home.I was absolutely terrified.Low equity, a large loan, one income, a business that was still growing, and an uncertain property market.I remember the conversation with one of my trusted advisers at the time who encouraged me to take the leap.And when I ran the numbers I realised it was possible. Tough, but doable.That decision has changed the course of my life, and set me up for absolutely everything I now have.And if...

Selling & Buying Part 1 - It's been a long time coming, but we sold our house

Twenty months. That's how long our house has been for sale in one form or another, and then it all happened in five days flat. If you're in the middle of your own slow-burn sale, or wondering whether "quietly listed" is even a real thing, this one's for you....

Using Home Equity to Buy a Business

If you've built up equity in your home and you've got your eye on a business, you're actually in a pretty strong position. A lot of people don't realise that home equity can be a legitimate path into business ownership - and for the right situation, it works really well.Here's how it works and what to think about:...

Nobody told you this, but 2026 might actually be your year

If you’ve been putting off buying your first home, or not sure whether the time is right, there have never been such great options for buyers.While most of the headlines have been dominated with interest rate rises and endless talk of house prices rising and falling across the country, there’s another positive story in the wings and it’s all coming up trumps for first home buyers.A few interesting shifts have happened across the lending landscape across the last few years to build a meltin...

Student Loans and Mortgage Serviceability

A student loan doesn't stop you from buying a home. For most people, it's just one more thing to factor into the plan - and there's usually a good path forward.Here's what you need to know....

What to do when your building report flags some issues

So you've made an offer, got a building report done, and it's come back with a few things flagged.Before you panic, it's worth knowing this happens all the time. Very few properties, even beautifully presented ones, come back completely clean. It doesn't automatically mean your finance is in trouble, and it definitely doesn't mean the deal is over.What the bank actually wants to know is how much risk they're taking on by lending against this particular property.So let’s cover off the best ways...

How to Switch Your AIA GO Home Loan to ASB (and Get a Cashback)

If your home loan is with AIA GO Home Loans, or it started life as a Sovereign loan years ago, this one’s for you. ASB has launched a cash offer for AIA GO Home Loan customers who move their lending across. It’s a genuine opportunity, and the switch is simpler than you’d expect....

What Actually Happens After Your Offer Is Accepted

Getting your offer accepted is a massive moment. Then about 48 hours later, the questions start. What do I need to do? When does the bank need to confirm? What's unconditional mean again? This is the part of the process where clients feel the most uncertain and we’re here to hold your hand and answer the questions!Here's a clear run-through of what happens between "offer accepted" and "keys in hand"....

Co-buying - a new fad or a genuine way into the market?

More and more Kiwis are finding a creative solution to one of the biggest barriers to homeownership - and the great news is that it doesn't involve waiting years to save a bigger deposit on your own. Co-buying is growing in popularity, and for good reason. But like most things in property, the details matter....

Sell First or Buy First? Here's how to do both

Most people think selling and buying at the same time is stressful. It doesn't have to be. With the right prep, you can move from your current home into your next one feeling confident the whole way through....

What's actually happening with interest rates right now

There's a lot of noise out there at the moment.Global tension, rising fuel prices, economists talking about inflation, and attention-grabbing headlines that can make everything feel a bit uncertain.So let's have a look at what's going on here, and what it means for your mortgage....

When faced with uncertainty, what do you do?

I’ve been pondering lately what we should do when the world is uncertain.Right now there is global conflict, price increases, businesses struggling, people confused about what they should do and when.Plenty of my client conversations have elements of confusion, fear and worry about risk.But as always, I look to the people and businesses who shine in these scenarios, and I wonder why they thrive when others contract.It’s almost always about collective mindset, positive action, risk mitigation...

Case Study - Why a "No" from the Bank isn’t Always the Final Word: The $200k Equity Oversight

Some new clients approached us wanting to take advantage of a low interest ‘Green Loan’ to purchase an EV. They had strong income and a solid repayment history. However, when they went direct to the bank before coming to see us, the bank declined the application based on an LVR (Loan to Value Ratio) restriction. The clients were ready to give up on the dream - until we took a look....

A guide to break fees: How they are calculated and when to pay them

The New Zealand mortgage market has been on bit of a rollercoaster lately.After a period of reasonably aggressive easing throughout 2025 that saw the Official Cash Rate (OCR) drop to 2.25%, some would suggest the tide appears to be turning.For many homeowners, the big question is no longer "How low will they go?" but rather "Have we hit the bottom?".Most major bank economists, including ANZ and Westpac, are now signaling that the rate-cutting cycle is over, and after April's OCR h...

ANZ’s new 2.50% Renovation Loan: Everything you need to know

If you’ve been scrolling through kitchen designs or dreaming of updating your bathroom to something a little more modern, you aren’t alone.According to recent data, more Kiwis are choosing to renovate an existing home over selling and buying in the current market.ANZ, as New Zealand's largest bank, has just launched a dedicated Reno Loan. It’s a low-interest top-up designed specifically to kickstart home improvements.But is it the right move for you? Let’s break down the detail...

How will the war in the Middle East affect my interest rates?

It’s mid-March 2026, and if you’ve been keeping half an eye on the news, you’ll know there’s a fair bit going on both globally and locally.We’ve had talk of oil shortages, ongoing conflict in the Middle East, and a whole lot of economic uncertainty floating around.And naturally, it’s starting to make borrowers a little bit uneasy. So let's dive into what some of these driving factors are, and what we can do about it....

Fear of Taking Action

We’ve all heard of FOMO.The fear of missing out.It’s what gets people moving quickly, sometimes too quickly.Buying when everyone else is buying. Jumping in when the market feels hot.It was the catch-cry of the COVID-19 days, where property was treated like diamonds and everyone wanted to get in before the price went up.But interestingly I’m seeing something different right now, perhaps in the face of global uncertainty, interest rates possibly starting to turn, and an upcoming election thi...

Rates and OCR update - March 2026

The final OCR announcement of 2025 dropped to 2.25% and most recently on 18 February 2026 has been held. Most economists agree we’ve reached the bottom of the rates cycle and there will be a period of relative stability, especially in the short term rates where the outlook is fairly clear.The Reserve Bank has commented that rates are likely to rise towards the end of 2026, which is a view mirrored by the major banks and is a review of the original position which was 2027 being the start of the...

What does a mortgage adviser do?

Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions many of us make, and figuring out how to finance it can be overwhelming. That’s where a mortgage advisor comes in. Simply put, a mortgage advisor works on your behalf to arrange and give advice on the best home loan options available, helping make the process easier, clearer and more successful.Your Mortgage Adviser: Your Advocate in the Loan ProcessA mortgage adviser isn’t just someone who fills out paperwork. They’re a pro...

Over 50 and buying property? Here's what you need to know about home loans

For many, the dream of owning a home doesn't retire at 50. In fact, entering the later stages of life can be an ideal time to reassess financial portfolios, consider investing in property, or even buy your first home. However, securing a mortgage after 50 comes with its own set of challenges and considerations. At My Mortgage, we regularly assist clients across a broad age spectrum, from enthusiastic first-time buyers in their 20s to seasoned investors who are well into retirement....

Five signs it might be time to review your Mortgage and Interest Rates

Life moves fast - and so do interest rates, property values and your own financial goals.A loan structure that was perfect two years ago may not be serving you today.Here’s how to know it’s time to check in and see if a refinance or restructure could save you money or open new opportunities....