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Guides & insights for Kiwi buyers
Practical advice on mortgages, deposits, and getting financially ready to buy a home in New Zealand.
Spring selling season, softer prices: NZ median dwelling values fall for a sixth straight month
Cotality's September 2026 national median dwelling value is $797,078 — a sixth consecutive monthly fall (−1.33% YoY). What buyer power means for FHBs and brokers while Big-5 fixed specials stay tight.
1 October 2026
ANZ matches BNZ on 18-month and 2-year specials — NZ's largest lender cuts into a rising-swap spring market
ANZ cut its 18-month special to 5.29% (−16 bps) and 2-year to 5.35% (−14 bps), matching BNZ on those terms. Westpac still leads the Big-5 2-year at 5.29%. Here's the spring competitive map while swaps rise.
30 September 2026
First-home activity looks flat — until you see how many FHBs are borrowing with under 20% deposit
RBNZ August data: FHB approvals almost flat YoY, but low-equity mortgages (<20% deposit) hit 50.5% of FHB lending. What that means for deposit, First Home Loan, and Ready Pack conversations this spring.
26 September 2026
Kiwibank joins the spring fixed-rate lift — what FHBs and brokers should do while 2yr specials still matter
Kiwibank raised most carded fixed rates from 24 Sep 2026 but held the 2-year at 5.39%. How that sits next to Westpac's 2yr 5.29% and BNZ's 18m/2yr spring offers — and what to do while short-end specials still differentiate.
25 September 2026
Cheaper houses, dearer repayments — why FHB weekly costs are still rising as spring rate-shop heats up
REINZ lower-quartile prices fell while average main-bank 2yr fixed rates rose — lifting estimated FHB weekly repayments. Here's the maths, the regional split, and what to stress-test before you lock.
24 September 2026
After Westpac's 2yr special, BNZ answers with spring pricing — sharp 18-month, 2yr cut, most other fixeds up
BNZ's 22 Sep spring card: 18-month held at 5.29%, 2-year cut to 5.35%, most other fixeds up. How that sits next to Westpac's 2yr 5.29% special — and what brokers should check before clients lock.
23 September 2026
Big-bank economists diverge on the OCR path — what that means for fix decisions this spring
ANZ now sees three more OCR hikes to 3.50% (Oct, Feb, Mar; pause Dec). BNZ was more front-loaded; Kiwibank still calls an October hike premature. Here's how brokers and FHBs can decide fixes without waiting for one consensus.
22 September 2026
After Westpac's 2yr special, BNZ says the OCR path is Oct *and* December — what that means for fixes and house prices
BNZ now expects two further OCR hikes this year (October and December). Here's what that means for fixed rates and house prices — without treating a bank forecast as RBNZ policy.
20 September 2026
Westpac just moved the goalposts: cheaper 2-year, dearer almost everything else — what that means before you lock in
From Monday 21 Sep 2026 Westpac cuts its 2-year fixed special and lifts most other fixed terms. Here's what brokers and FHBs should check before locking — without treating one bank as the whole market.
19 September 2026
Cheap fixed specials are on borrowed time — what wholesale funding costs mean for lock conversations
Bank wholesale funding costs have jumped and margins on short fixed specials look thin. Tony Alexander flags possible 2-year lifts soon — here's how brokers and FHBs can prepare without panicking.
18 September 2026
If National wins: who suddenly qualifies for a 5% First Home Loan — and what still doesn't change
National pledged to lift First Home Loan income caps to $300,000 if re-elected. Here's what's live today, who might qualify later, and what still won't change for Kiwi FHBs.
17 September 2026
RBNZ Debt-to-Income Limits in NZ: What First-Home Buyers Need to Know
How the Reserve Bank DTI rules cap what you can borrow — and why your mortgage ceiling might be 6× gross income before the bank even looks at your spending.
3 April 2026
Mortgage Stress Test in NZ: Why Banks Use ~7% (and What It Means for You)
Banks do not assess your loan at the headline interest rate. Here is how the stress test works, why it exists, and how to plan around it.
3 April 2026
First-Home Buyer Deposit in NZ: A Practical Checklist
Cash, KiwiSaver, gifts, grants — how to add up your real deposit, understand LVR, and avoid surprises at application time.
3 April 2026
Mortgage Pre-Approval in NZ: What First-Home Buyers Should Expect
Pre-approval is not a guarantee — but it is essential. Here is how it works, what can change, and how to prepare so you are not caught out at offer time.
3 April 2026
Kāinga Ora First Home Loan: Who Qualifies and How It Changes Your Deposit
Income caps, price caps, and first-home status — how the government-backed First Home Loan can unlock a 5% deposit path for eligible NZ buyers.
3 April 2026
Where to Start When Buying Your First Home in NZ
Broker, bank, or real estate agent — who do you call first? A practical guide for Kiwi first-home buyers on the steps, the people, and the real numbers.
12 March 2026
The Real Cost of Getting Mortgage-Ready in New Zealand
From endless paperwork to surprise rejections, here's what Kiwis actually go through when applying for a home loan — and how to skip the worst of it.
11 March 2026
KiwiSaver First Home Withdrawal: What You Actually Get
Most Kiwis overestimate how much KiwiSaver they can withdraw for a first home. Here's how the rules actually work — and the gotchas nobody mentions.
9 March 2026
How Credit Cards and BNPL Quietly Kill Your Borrowing Power
That credit card you never use and the Afterpay account you forgot about could be costing you tens of thousands in borrowing power. Here's how.
7 March 2026
What Happens When Interest Rates Move — and Why You Should Care Now
Interest rates are the single biggest variable in your mortgage. A 1% shift can change your borrowing power by $50k+ and your monthly payments by hundreds. Here's how to plan for it.
5 March 2026
The 20% Deposit Myth: What NZ First-Home Buyers Actually Need
Everyone says you need 20% — but is that true? Here's how LVR rules, low-equity margins, and the First Home Loan scheme actually work in New Zealand.
3 March 2026
Why Your Borrowing Power Is Lower Than You Think
Most Kiwis overestimate how much the bank will lend them by 15–25%. Here's why the gap exists — and how to close it before it costs you.
1 March 2026
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