Blog

Thanks to La Nina, the recent weather patterns have made it hard to believe spring has actually sprung, and that we’re at the start of the peak real estate selling season. One of the most common questions asked of a real estate agent is why spring is the best time of year to sell? [...]

It’s a wonderful feeling to be the buyer of a new home; walking through the door as an owner for the first time signals a new and exciting chapter in your life. And, let’s face it, those moments don’t come along too often. With home ownership comes responsibility, of course. It’s important you create a […]

Any owner who’s sold a home before will know the low-budget, high-quality improvement that can be achieved by repainting the property before it goes on the market. When preparing for sale, it’s good to adopt the light and bright strategy that makes rooms feel bigger. Dark and bold colours can give buyers a shrinking feeling, […]

Attending open homes can be a lost opportunity if you’re not focused on giving each property a thorough inspection and being open to the possibility that you could live there. You’re wasting your time if you stroll in and out without asking the agent a question to ascertain the potential value of the property and […]

If you’re in the mood for a renovation that improves your work-life balance, there are few better options than creating a home office. Since the pandemic, there has been an increase in buyer interest in a dedicated work area for homes and apartments.  This desire is especially strong among professional couples and young families whose […]

It’s exciting yet testing times if you’re in the market and seeking your first home. Your radar will be finely tuned for price reductions while watching the interest rate picture. The old cliché about swings and roundabouts comes to mind in this situation. What you may lose in higher mortgage payments, you’ll likely gain in […]

If you want to improve your home but have put the idea on hold because of the increasing cost of living, we have a few ideas to help you; and you don’t have to go crazy at Bunnings or on Gumtree or eBay to make great changes that will lift your spirits. Sometimes, owners become […]

The role that is done by a mortgage broker is very similar to the role a mortgage salesperson does at a bank or other financial institution. The main difference is that in a bank the mortgage manager can only sell the products from one provider (their own bank). Whereas a mortgage broker is able to […]

The main factors which will affect your mortgage repayment amounts are: The amount of deposit you have Your loan repayment term The frequency of your mortgage repayments Fixed or floating (variable) interest rates Deposit amount If you have a higher deposit and resultingly have to borrow less in a mortgage you can pay less interest […]

Buying a first home is one of the goals that KiwiSaver was made for. Part of the purpose of KiwiSaver is to help us grow assets, and one way is by using it for a first-home withdrawal when you’ve built up some money in it. The second way is through a KiwiSaver First Home Grant, […]

You will have to save a considerable deposit in order to be considered for a mortgage. You may view the substantial deposit required in order to buy your first home as a big hurdle, but it’s worth remembering that the bigger your deposit the less you’ll pay in interest in the long-term.

Unless you were a teen golf prodigy or are the offspring of uber rich and very generous parents, you’re likely to need to take out a mortgage in order to buy your first home. A mortgage lender can lend you much of the money to purchase a property, retaining a claim over it enabling them […]

When you decide to sell your home, the amount of advice you’ll find on the internet and from family and friends can be bewildering. Most of it you should receive with a polite smile. The process isn’t complicated but it can feel a bit overwhelming. However, as your agents, we are with you every step […]

The continuing boom in property prices is tempting many homeowners to put their property on the market and invest to maximise the value of their existing home. There’s no doubt you stand a better chance of enjoying a great return on your investment by undertaking improvements, especially if you modernise your home with features currently […]

Selling your property during this latest lockdown is not “mission impossible”. There are many technologies and techniques to help you maximise the value of your home despite the pandemic. Buyer demand is still at record highs even though restrictions have been placed on inspections, limiting it to one person at a time. If we’ve learned […]