The goal of any seller should be to make their home as luxurious, spacious and appealing as possible for buyers. That’s the best way to maximise the value of your biggest financial asset. And if you put yourself in the buyer’s shoes, you’ll appreciate that many of them are tired of walking around homes where…
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The rising cost of building materials is slowing, which is great news for owners planning to renovate and buyers looking to find fixer-uppers at a bargain price. The pace of inflation and scarcity of building materials has seen many renovators and property bargain hunters back off for fear they could get caught up in a…
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New data showing a sharp increase in building approvals for apartments is an early indication that market confidence is returning. And it also suggests apartment owners planning to upgrade may want to make their move in the medium term. A jump of 56.6% in building approvals for units was registered by the Australian Bureau of…
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A feature of any wet and warm summer is the emergence of ants, digging their way through the mortar of bricks and pavers and often invading your kitchen. While there are more than 12,000 species in the ant family, the two most common pests across the Southern Hemisphere are the sugar ant (also known as…
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With real estate values recalibrating after two years of double-digit growth, now may offer an opportunity to purchase property using your superannuation fund. You’ll need to have a Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF), which allows you to make your own investment choices. If you’re in an industry-based super fund or similar, this is not viable. If…
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Easter is one of the last opportunities of the year to entertain friends and families before winter sets in. While the nights are closing in and the days become cooler, we are lucky enough to have a climate that encourages outdoor entertaining. Hosting a gathering at your home is a special moment – it’s how…
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Higher tariffs for household gas, plus publicity highlighting how methane emissions from gas cooktops risk your health and contribute to global warming, have many owners considering switching to induction cooking. Gas cooktops are being targeted by organisations such as the Global Cooksafe Coalition. Its goal is to stop gas cooking because of the methane issue.…
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For only the third time in the country’s history, a National State of Emergency was recently declared, to help in the response to Cyclone Gabrielle. The declaration applies to Northland, Auckland, Tairāwhiti, Bay of Plenty, Waikato and Hawke’s Bay CDEM Group areas, and the Tararua District. “A National State of Emergency gives the National Controller…
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The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) raised the official cash rate (OCR) from 4.25% to 4.75% earlier this month, and implied that at least one more rate rise is coming. In a statement explaining the decision, the Monetary Policy Committee of the RBNZ gave two main reasons for the rate rise. Inflation is too…
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National property prices declined further in January, meaning prices have contracted more than 8% since peaking in March last year, according to CoreLogic. CoreLogic chief property economist Kelvin Davidson said that after 10 consecutive months of price falls, a case could be made that we’re close to the bottom. But it could also be argued…
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