Avsnitt
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That dream hill view can come with a quiet question: what’s actually holding the ground up? We sit down with Evan to unpack the real-world risks and realities of buying and building on a slope in New Zealand, with plenty of Wellington and Dunedin context where flat land is the exception, not the rule. If you’re looking at a house on a hill, this is the practical checklist conversation you want before you fall in love with the outlook.
We get into retaining walls and hillside sections, including what to look for with older crib walls, why drainage and wall geometry matter, and how surcharge loads can turn a “fine for now” wall into a future failure. Evan also shares what it’s like building on steep terrain, where the house is tied into the hillside and carried out on long piles. It’s a candid look at the on-site reality of drilling, including what happens when an auger hits hard greywacke rock and the engineer has to make a call.
From there we zoom in on the buyer’s red flags: subsidence and settlement clues such as uneven paths, cracking to foundations or cladding, and windows that have dropped out of level. We also talk about the messy part people forget, like limited access that makes repairs expensive or even borderline impossible, and how storm-driven slips can turn into insurance stress. If you’re doing property due diligence, organising a building inspection, or weighing up a hillside purchase, you’ll come away with clearer questions to ask and fewer surprises.
If this helped, subscribe for more straight-up property and building chats, share it with a mate who’s house hunting on a slope, and leave a review with the biggest hill-section question you want answered next.Send us Fan Mail
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PIR is one of those tiny settings that can quietly shape your after-tax returns for years, and most people only notice it as three letters on a KiwiSaver statement. We bring Dave in for a plain-English Tax Chat to explain what PIR (prescribed investor rate) actually is, how it works inside PIE funds and unit trusts, and why it’s different from your normal income tax rate.
We unpack the part that surprises most listeners: for many KiwiSaver and PIE investments, the top PIR is capped at 28%, even if your personal tax rate is 33% or 39%. That can make KiwiSaver tax more efficient for some people using it as a retirement savings vehicle. We also talk through the real-world risk: if your circumstances change and your PIR doesn’t, you can end up paying the wrong amount. Overpaying can be especially painful because you may not be able to claim it back, while underpaying can still lead to a bill later.
You’ll get the key PIR bands (10.5%, 17.5%, 28%) and a practical checklist for staying up to date, including where to find your PIR in your provider’s app or portal and how MyIR can help if it’s not clear. If you’ve ever changed jobs, had time off to look after kids, reduced hours, or simply set your KiwiSaver up years ago and never looked again, this is the nudge to check.
Subscribe for more straight-talking money chats, share this with someone who has KiwiSaver, and leave a review if it helped, then go check your PIR today and tell us what you found.Send us Fan Mail
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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A builder’s report can feel like a bunch of headlines until you know how to read the labels and what they imply for real risk, real money, and real next steps. We sit down with Evan to translate the common report terms into plain English, so you can stop guessing and start prioritising. If you’re buying a home, supporting a client, or simply trying to understand what you’re looking at before going unconditional, this is the practical guide we wish everyone had.
We unpack what a New Zealand pre-purchase building inspection report typically covers, from exterior claddings and roof spaces to subfloors, sites, and moisture readings. Evan explains the difference between cosmetic issues and minor maintenance, and why that distinction changes fast depending on the scale of the home, from an 80 square metre weatherboard to a 350 square metre two-storey property. We also dig into “action required”, the phrase banks and lawyers latch onto, and how it links to weathertightness risk and long-term deterioration if defects are left unattended.
We then get into judgement calls that matter: when something becomes a safety hazard, like a second-storey deck balustrade with timber decay, and when a report has to say “further investigation” because access or conditions prevent a complete view. Finally, we talk about the growing habit of throwing reports into AI, what it does well, and what it can miss without the right prompts, plus where electrical checks sit in a builder’s scope and why older wiring can trigger insurance requirements.
If you found this useful, subscribe, share it with a friend who’s house hunting, and leave a review so more Kiwis can buy with confidence. What part of a builder’s report do you find hardest to interpret?Send us Fan Mail
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Numbers don’t have to be boring, especially when they mess with your assumptions about money. We corner Dave from Booster for a rapid-fire run through KiwiSaver stats that hit right where it counts: first home buying, retirement savings, and the small choices that compound into massive outcomes over time. If you’ve ever thought “my balance isn’t big enough to matter”, this chat is the reality check.
We start with first home buyers and the average KiwiSaver withdrawal of about $42,000. We unpack what that figure can mean for deposits, borrowing power, and why even a 1 to 2% higher contribution rate while saving can change your interest rate and your options. Then we get into fund choice after you buy, including the shift away from conservative funds and why a long-term growth approach can leave someone dramatically better off by retirement.
From there we tackle a stat that should stop anyone mid-scroll: around 1.6 million KiwiSaver members are not contributing. We talk through the common reasons, what contribution holidays can cost in missed employer contributions, and practical ways to build savings habits anyway, from putting $20 into a kid’s KiwiSaver to swapping flashy gifts for something that actually multiplies. We also touch on rising average balances, more members crossing $80k, the biggest generational wealth transfer in history, and why managed funds and diversification can matter alongside KiwiSaver.
If you want KiwiSaver advice that stays grounded in real New Zealand behaviour and real-world constraints like the cost of living, press play. Subscribe, share it with a mate who needs a nudge, and leave a review with your current contribution rate and what would help you lift it.Send us Fan Mail
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One small moisture reading can be the start of a very expensive story. We’re talking about the moment every buyer dreads: you’ve got a builder’s report, something looks “maybe fine”, and you have to decide whether to push forward, negotiate, or pull the pin before settlement.
We sit down with Evan from Czech Home Building Inspections to walk through a real pre-purchase building inspection in Lower Hutt. The house looked well cared for, but a fully tiled bathroom showed elevated moisture readings. Evan explains how moisture meters work, why tiled showers can produce confusing results, and why inspectors often recommend monitoring or further investigation instead of making absolute calls. Then the crucial part: the buyers got permission to lift tiles, and the studs inside the wall were rotten. Suddenly you’re not talking about a minor fix, you’re staring down a full waterproofing rebuild, consent questions, and a quote around $40,000 in today’s money.
We also get practical about what this means for first home buyers in New Zealand. Even if you’ve got the skills to renovate, bank lending decisions can hinge on the property’s condition and the size of the unknowns. If you’re relying on a builder’s report to guide your due diligence, this chat will help you understand risk language, when to dig deeper, and how to make a call you can live with.
If you found this useful, please subscribe, share it with a mate who’s house hunting, and leave a review so more Kiwi buyers can find it.Send us Fan Mail
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Admin doesn’t just steal hours, it steals creative energy. Heather Newstap from Time Journey joins us to unpack what “behind-the-scenes” support really looks like for artists, musicians, educators, and tiny teams who have a brilliant product but get stuck in the business side. We talk about everything from email overwhelm to building resources, creating lyric sheets and ukulele chords, and the practical problem every creative faces: getting the work in front of the right audience without burning out.
Heather’s story is also a masterclass in the career pivot. She moves from teaching to public health, then into self-employment on the Kāpiti Coast, learning the hard way that your first business version might be too broad. We get honest about early mistakes, why a good business coach can fast-track clarity, and the confidence shift that happens when you stop people-pleasing and start choosing clients who respect your expertise.
We also zoom out to women in business in New Zealand: the pressure of juggling family life, the confidence gap, and why safe networking spaces matter. Then we go practical on money and marketing, including why referrals beat cold leads, how to price “thinking work”, and what AI can and can’t replace when trust and authenticity are on the line. If you’re building a small business, supporting creatives, or looking for a smarter way to run your back office, you’ll take away ideas you can use today.
If this resonates, hit subscribe, share it with a friend who’s juggling too much, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show. What’s one task you’d love to hand off this week?Send us Fan Mail
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“Deposit” sounds like one simple word, until you realise it can mean two totally different things in a New Zealand home purchase. We keep hearing the same worry from buyers: how can the bank talk about 5% or 10% while the sale and purchase agreement seems to expect 10% as well? That mismatch creates panic, especially for first home buyers relying on KiwiSaver and tight savings.
We break down the difference between a bank deposit (your equity for lending) and the contract deposit paid after you go unconditional. From there, we get practical: why a contract deposit does not have to be a percentage, why a fixed dollar amount can be safer during negotiation, and how the deposit still counts as part of the purchase price at settlement. We also talk through real-world timing issues, including KiwiSaver withdrawal delays, the “grace” you may have to get the money paid, and why honest communication with the agent matters.
Then we zoom out to the tricky situations: when a vendor needs your deposit to secure their next home, how a domino effect can add pressure, and what options like temporary overdrafts or early release can look like when you have the right support. If you’ve ever felt embarrassed asking “basic” questions during the house buying process, this chat is your permission slip to keep asking until it makes sense.
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RV says a lot about how rates get calculated, but it can say very little about what you should actually offer on a home. We sit down with Megan Love from Harcourts Real Estate to pull apart one of the biggest pricing myths we see with buyers: the belief that the rateable value is “what it’s worth”, or that everything must be selling below it. The reality is messier and far more local, especially across the Kāpiti Coast market.
We get practical about what to look at instead: recent suburb statistics, comparable sales, and the underrated metric that changes your negotiating stance fast, average days to sell. We talk through what those numbers can look like across areas like Waikanae and Paraparaumu, why beach locations can command a premium even when they take longer to move, and how to sense when a property is priced for attention versus priced to sell.
Then we zoom out to the real cost of ownership. Coastal and river-adjacent homes can come with higher insurance questions and extra maintenance, from salt spray to paint wear, and buyers are asking sharper questions about water and resilience than ever. We finish with a simple, field-tested way to make better decisions: define your non-negotiables, go to plenty of open homes, and book a private viewing when you need quiet time to picture your life in the space. If you’ve ever felt awkward asking an agent for privacy, we cover the straightforward wording that works.
If you found this helpful, subscribe for more New Zealand property buying guidance, share it with a first-home buyer, and leave a review so more locals can find the show. What’s the biggest thing you’re unsure about when making an offer?Send us Fan Mail
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RV says one thing, Homes.co.nz says another, and the latest stats look convincing until you realise there were only two sales in the whole suburb. We get into the messy middle of making an offer on a New Zealand home: what the numbers can’t tell you, why “under RV” can be a trap, and how a single low sale (like a property that needs serious work) can skew an entire street’s story.
We talk through how we actually price a home using comparable sales, why we usually focus on the last three months in active areas, and what we adjust for when the details don’t match. Bedrooms and floor area matter, but so do the things websites don’t reliably know: cross lease versus freehold, unconsented changes, cladding issues, subsidence, and whether the place is freshly renovated or still waiting for love. If you’re buying on the Kapiti Coast or anywhere in NZ, you’ll hear what to ask for so you’re not negotiating in the dark.
Then we zoom in on the offer itself. We share why we push for offers in writing, how to use a “dream price” without wasting everyone’s time, and what usually happens when the vendor counters. We also cover negotiation levers beyond the headline number, including settlement dates and tightening conditions by getting your finance work done early with your adviser.
We finish with a reality check: stick to your maximum purchase price, make sure insurance and lending are truly workable, and give KiwiSaver withdrawals enough time so your offer doesn’t collapse. Subscribe for more straight-talking NZ property guidance, share this with a mate who’s house hunting, and leave a review with the one thing you wish you’d known before making your first offer.Send us Fan Mail
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Money stress, burnout, and constant noise are not personality flaws, they’re often just untrained habits and inherited beliefs. We’re joined by Christchurch-based high performance coach and author James Laughlin, whose work spans everyone from elite athletes to CEOs and public leaders, to pull apart what “high performance” really looks like in everyday life.
We start with James’s journey from Ireland to New Zealand, where a world champion drumming background turns into a broader mission: teach repeatable habits that help people perform under pressure. From there we dig into money mindset and the “BS” we all carry, meaning belief systems. If you grew up hearing “money doesn’t grow on trees”, you may be running a scarcity script without realising it. James offers a more useful model: the money tree is your mind, and when you keep learning and adding value, opportunities show up.
We also talk financial literacy through a Kiwi lens: why mortgage structure can matter more than the headline interest rate, why “Uncle Bob at the barbecue” isn’t a strategy, and why dropping your ego is often the fastest path to better outcomes. James shares his MEDS check-in (Mental training, Exercise, Diet, Sleep) as a simple monthly snapshot to spot what’s dragging your energy down, plus three coaching questions that cut through shiny object syndrome and frustration: what do you want, why do you want it, and how much are you willing to suffer for it.
If you’re trying to build wealth, improve your health, or get clear on purpose and direction, this chat gives you a practical roadmap and a push to act. Subscribe for more conversations like this, share it with a mate who needs a reset, and leave us a review with the one habit you’re committing to this month.https://www.jjlaughlin.com/
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You can fall in love with a house in five minutes, then spend five years paying for what you didn’t see. That’s why we brought in Evan Cardwell from Checkhome Building Inspections to talk straight about builders' reports, building inspections, and what “due diligence” actually looks like when you’re buying in New Zealand. Evan walks us through the reality of a comprehensive written report: getting under floors, into roof spaces, checking the site, running moisture testing, and using tools like drones and thermal cameras when access is tricky.
We get specific about the issues that show up again and again in pre-purchase building reports, especially roofing. Think cracked tiles, surface rust, and the hidden gutter designs that looked sleek in the 90s but can be a maintenance nightmare today. Then we tackle the myth that a new build doesn’t need an inspection. Evan shares what he’s seeing on the ground: moisture trapped in walls, details like missing eaves increasing risk, and big townhouse developments where workmanship swings wildly from one block to the next.
We also dig into the limits and responsibilities of a visual inspection, why access matters, and how hidden products can slip through. The Dux Quest plumbing story is a must-hear if you’re buying an older home, and we talk subfloor surprises like borer-damaged timber and structural elements that aren’t doing their job. Zooming out, we touch on LIM reports, flood zone mapping, and why insurance companies are asking for more inspections as premiums rise.
If you’re buying, selling, or planning renovations, you’ll come away with clearer questions to ask and a better sense of where the real risks live. Subscribe, share this with a mate who’s house hunting, and leave a review, what’s one thing you’d want checked before you sign a sale and purchase agreement?Website - https://www.checkhome.co.nz/locations/kapiti-building-inspection/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23682922764&gbraid=0AAAABDM5XIghQw11cLiXsGtgvN_wG-3R_&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_vnQBhCxARIsADcZyxKQRzxnEjRIGK9G8xcCgRESs0cx3ux-g0loOPdbHNHRm5Jrie6_fmkaApC7EALw_wcB
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AI can write your emails, hype you up, and tell you you’re right. The problem is that real leadership and real relationships are built in the moments that don’t feel good. I’m joined by Kyla Colbin, founder and CEO of Boma, TEDx Christchurch pioneer, Singularity University advocate in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia, and a certified Dare to Lead facilitator, to unpack what courageous leadership looks like when the world is noisy and the stakes feel personal.
We talk about resilience as practice, not personality, and why the biggest shift is stopping the habit of “fixing” other people first. Kyla shares how values-based leadership shows up in daily life, from guiding stressed clients through major decisions to building cultures of trust and accountability. We also dig into the Crusaders Leadership Programme and why elite sport is such a clear mirror for teamwork, standards, and belonging, even if you’ve never watched a match.
Then we go straight into the hard stuff: money stories, asking for a pay rise, and the real cost of avoiding tough conversations. Kyla’s Courageous Communication framework makes hard conversations less mysterious and less scary, and we explore how AI “sycophancy” can quietly rob us of the interpersonal friction we actually need to grow. We finish with a powerful reframe on success, purpose, mortality, and the simplest advice Kyla is willing to give: forgive yourself everything.
If this resonated, subscribe, share it with someone who’s avoiding a hard conversation, and leave a review so more New Zealanders can find the show.https://www.kailacolbin.com/
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One income can feel like a clean, simple setup until the day it suddenly isn’t. Redundancy, a heart scare, an unexpected diagnosis, or an accident can flip a household from “we’re fine” to “how do we keep the lights on and the kids cared for” in a week. We’re talking frankly about single-income families in New Zealand, including what’s happening in Wellington right now with job losses, and why hoping it never happens is not a strategy.
We dig into the tricky middle bit people avoid: if you’ve been a stay-at-home parent for years, going back to work fast is harder than most couples admit. Skills get rusty, confidence takes a hit, and AI is quietly removing a bunch of entry-level admin work that used to be a common re-entry point. Then you stack on after school care, transport, and the day-to-day logistics that the at-home parent usually absorbs, and you start to see why “we’ll just adjust” can turn into financial freefall.
From there, we get practical about insurance planning for families: life insurance, income protection, and why the stay-at-home parent should not be left out of the cover conversation. We also talk about lighter-weight options like family assistance support, designed to help pay for the real-world costs of childcare and home help so the working partner can keep earning. And yes, we say the quiet part out loud: Givealittle can be generous, but it should not be your backup plan.
If you’ve got kids and a mortgage, this is your prompt to get organised. Subscribe, share this with a mate in a one-income household, and leave a review if it helps, what part of your family life would be hardest to replace overnight?Send us Fan Mail
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If the idea of an insurance company scanning your face makes you pause, you are not alone. We sit down with Rebecca to unpack a “never before seen in New Zealand” move in the insurance industry: facial scanning software that claims it can detect susceptibility to things like high blood pressure, cholesterol issues, and diabetes, then uses that result to shape your underwriting questions.
We get practical about what this means for real people applying for life insurance and trauma cover, and why insurers are motivated to push insurtech that reduces long forms and frees up underwriters. We also dig into the part nobody can ignore: privacy, biometric data, and trust. The insurer line is that they do not keep your face scan, only the health indicators it generates, but we talk through why that still raises fair questions about data security, consent, and how comfortable you feel putting your face into an underwriting pipeline.
There is nuance too. The scan is optional, and there is even a free month of premium on offer for those who choose it. We explore where this could genuinely make applications easier, where it may not replace the full question set (especially for mortgage protection), and the unexpected upside that a scan could act like an early warning sign that prompts a proper check with your GP.
If you care about the future of New Zealand insurance, digital underwriting, and what comes next for customer experience, press play. Subscribe, share this with a mate who hates paperwork, and leave a review with your take on facial scanning in insurance.Send us Fan Mail
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Separation has a way of making “set and forget” insurance decisions suddenly urgent. We’ve seen how joint policy ownership, outdated beneficiaries, and a rushed cancellation can leave people exposed at the exact moment they need protection most. So we’re getting practical about what changes after a breakup and why your life insurance, health insurance, trauma cover, and income protection need a proper review when your household splits in two.
We unpack the biggest risk we see with vulnerable clients: joint policies that can’t be changed unless both owners agree. If one person won’t sign, the other may keep paying premiums while an ex-partner still holds control or receives the benefit. We also talk through the hidden cost of starting again from scratch. If a policy lapses and you reapply later, new medical history, age, and underwriting can mean exclusions, higher premiums, or even a decline, which can be life-changing if your health has shifted since you first took cover.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, especially when kids are involved. Sometimes keeping a structure that pays to an ex can still be the most realistic way to protect children financially, but only if the ownership and intent are clear. We also challenge the habit of asking Facebook for insurer recommendations, because insurance advice should be personal and based on your actual situation.
If you’ve recently separated, are thinking about it, or know someone who is, listen now, then subscribe, share, and leave a review. What’s the one thing you want to make sure is protected if life changes again?Send us Fan Mail
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Your bank tells you to take the cheap option on insurance. The part they don’t spell out is what happens when that “cheap” premium keeps climbing every year until it becomes the bill you can’t justify, so you cancel it right when you’re most likely to need it.
Rebecca joins us to break down stepped premiums versus level premiums in plain, practical terms for New Zealand life insurance. We talk through why stepped cover is so common with new home buyers, how age rated pricing and CPI increases can push costs up fast, and why the jump around your 40s and 50s can be brutal. Then we flip to level premiums, where you pay more upfront but lock in pricing based on the age you start, creating long term certainty for your budget.
We also get specific about how this plays out in real families: blending stepped cover that reduces as your mortgage drops with level cover that stays in place for future you, plus why taking out life and trauma cover early (even for teenagers when eligible) can be a powerful way to future proof affordability. If you’ve been tempted to cancel insurance because everything else is going up, this chat will help you pressure test that decision and rebuild a plan you can actually keep.
Subscribe for more straight talking money and protection conversations, share this with someone staring down rising bills, and leave a review with your question: are you on stepped premiums, level premiums, or a mix?Send us Fan Mail
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ACC feels like the great Kiwi backstop, but one word changes everything: accident. We’re calling out the most common money myth we hear, that ACC will “cover you if something happens”, then we show why that assumption can fall apart the moment the problem is illness rather than injury.
We talk through the uncomfortable stats behind time off work in New Zealand, including how much long-term absence is driven by illness, and what a serious diagnosis like cancer can do to a household timeline and budget. Sick leave runs out fast, mortgage holidays still rack up cost, and everyday expenses keep moving. From there we shift into practical options that can actually protect a family’s cashflow, including trauma cover (critical illness cover), income protection, and mortgage protection, plus the fine print that matters like stand-down periods and how ACC offsets can affect certain policies.
You’ll also hear a real client story where trauma cover paid out a life-changing lump sum after a cancer diagnosis, creating space to recover without panic and helping pay down debt. If you’ve ever thought “I’ll just rely on ACC” or “the benefit will sort it”, this conversation will help you pressure-test that plan and decide what protection could look like for your life stage.
If this helped, subscribe, share it with a mate who thinks ACC covers everything, and leave us a review with the question you want answered next.Send us Fan Mail
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Your KiwiSaver balance drops and suddenly everyone becomes an “expert” with hot takes, doom posts, and miracle fixes. We wanted a calmer, more useful chat, so we sat down with Dave Cobson from Booster Financial Services to talk about what KiwiSaver is actually for, how fund choice really works, and what to do when the market feels rough. Dave also explains what it means to be a government default provider and why decent customer service is not a nice-to-have when it’s your retirement savings on the line.
We dig into the biggest behaviour trap in investing: panic switching. Dave breaks down why jumping out during market falls can mean missing the bounce, and why the right question is whether your KiwiSaver fund matches your timeline. Saving for a first home deposit needs a different approach from saving for retirement, and we talk about realistic goal-setting, where you plan to buy, and how your contribution rate affects the plan. We also touch on the shift in compulsory employer contributions and why it’s worth asking yourself if you can lift your own percentage over time.
Retirement planning gets a proper reality check too. KiwiSaver doesn’t have to be withdrawn at 65, and you don’t have to go conservative just because you hit a birthday. Dave shares a simple “buckets approach” for structuring money you’ll need soon versus money you can leave invested longer, plus why relying on government superannuation alone is a risky bet in New Zealand.
We also talk about who tends to miss out most: women (because of the pay gap and time out of the workforce), self-employed people (because there’s no PAYE auto habit), and families who never get taught financial literacy. If this helps, subscribe, share it with someone who’s avoiding their KiwiSaver login, and leave a review. What’s one KiwiSaver question you want us to tackle next?Send us Fan Mail
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A single belief keeps coming up with new clients: “I’ve owned a home before, so I’m done.” If you have separated, used KiwiSaver years ago, or taken a knock to your confidence, this conversation is for you. We unpack the quick wins we’ve had lately and why the right structure, the right story, and the right bank can change the outcome.
We walk through the second-chance KiwiSaver withdrawal process in New Zealand, including how Kāinga Ora assesses eligibility and the exact steps from approval letter to your KiwiSaver provider to the bank. We also get real about credit checks: the defaults that appear out of nowhere, the family loan situations where you tried to help and got burned, and the odd cases like accounts that kept charging fees even after you thought they were closed. The key point is simple: one bank might say no, another might say yes, and our job is to do the running and protect your momentum.
We also clear up two common stress points that hit right after pre-approval: seeing a high interest rate on a letter of offer and worrying you’ll miss out on cashback. We explain why pre-approval terms are not always your final fixed rate, why cashback depends on having a property, and why Facebook advice rarely fits your exact situation. If you want calmer decisions and fewer surprises, subscribe, share the episode with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more Kiwis can find practical mortgage help.Send us Fan Mail
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A 20% deposit has become the “default” story of buying a home in New Zealand, but it is not the only path. We get straight to the question landing in our inbox: do 5% deposit home loans still happen, and can you realistically use low deposit lending to buy your first home without waiting years? We explain what “low deposit” actually means, why the goalposts shift when house prices move, and how a 5% deposit changes the maths for buyers who are sick of paying rent and watching the market.
We dig into the Kāinga Ora First Home Loan, including the income caps (single up to $95,000, couples and single parents up to $150,000) and the detail many people miss: Kāinga Ora looks at the most recent rolling 12 months, not the last financial year. That one point can create a real window of opportunity for buyers whose earnings have changed due to parental leave or time away from work, while their current income going forward still supports the loan. We also clear up a stubborn KiwiSaver myth: you do not always need three years in KiwiSaver to access a 5% deposit option, including for some new residents.
Then we talk alternatives, including a bank option outside Kāinga Ora, and the trade-off that comes with it: lenders may add an interest rate margin (often around 1.2% to 1.3%) for low equity loans. We finish with what we are seeing on the ground, like Wellington’s strong first home buyer share and why “rent vs mortgage” comparisons can be eye-opening when weekly rent is $750 to $820. If you want help figuring out your deposit options, message us, then subscribe, share the episode with a mate, and leave a review so more Kiwis can find it.Send us Fan Mail
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Buy your first home in NZ Weekly Webinars
You thought it's not possible or the dream is too far away? Come to my webinar and I will show you, you are much closer to your dream, than you think you are!
Join Here - https://bit.ly/4m9SL72
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