The Official Cash Rate (OCR), which influences the floating mortgage rate, and short term fixed-rates, dropped last week. Everyone has a view around what SHOULD happen, but no one's talking about what WILL happen. Most economists predict the Reserve Bank will deliver perhaps one more 0.25% cut, with Kiwibank being the outlier forecasting a 2.0%
It's Time Adjusted for inflation, New Zealand’s property prices have cratered over the last 3–4 years. For Kiwis with a lump of lead in the belly, take heart. This downturn isn’t just an omen of doom, it’s the sound of opportunity. For first home buyers and upgraders, the ladder has never been more visible, especially
Why Does It Feel Like We're Being Watched? If you’re a homeowner, or thinking about getting onto the property ladder, consider this theory: New Zealand is an experiment. The Reserve Bank of NZ hiked interest rates quicker/faster/farther than anyone thought possible, and now our economy is paying the price. It's too much. Yes, it was
Originally published in the Herald 29/06/25, by Darcy Ungaro If Not Property, Then What? Remember when a property was just a home? There was a time when a house wasn’t an “asset” but simply shelter for families. Fast forward, and now property is the investment of choice for most Kiwis, myself included, as a way
Where the New Zealand Property Market Is At: Straight Talk Property's always a hot topic, and for good reason. Ever since the '87 stock market crash, it's been the 'drug of choice' - not just for everyday investors, but for banks. At an economic level, the credit creation that occurs through the property segment is
Unlike some things, there's more than one path you can follow to build financial freedom. For my wife and I, residential property investment was our starting point, but it may not be our end point. Nearly 20 years ago, we bought our first rental property—a simpler time when a 5% deposit was enough, prices were
When market jitters hit, check that you’re not derailing your investment strategy. I generally avoid taking calls late on Friday’s, but I made an exception recently to talk with a client who was clearly distressed about the markets. She’d sat through a presentation at work where an economist warned about the impact President Trump would
I'm getting this question a lot lately, and it's understandable after a period of strong, rising prices, followed by a sharp pull back. For full disclosure, we've used property to build the majority of our net worth. Just because prices are down, there's no way I'm selling now. Why? Because there's no material change to what
Imagine being over 65, and spending up to $3,000 a month more than what the government superannuation scheme provides. Where does that come from in your world? In a recent discussion with Ben Brinkerhoff, Head of Advice at Consilium in New Zealand, I explored seven critical questions that we need to address to ensure a
As we stand at the threshold of 2025, the New Zealand property market finds itself at a critical juncture. After weathering a significant storm that saw values plummet by 15-20% from their peak just three years ago, many are wondering: Will the housing market finally find its floor? The property market has been buffeted by
