For aspiring first-home buyers, it’s not enough to have your savings schedule for a down payment under control. You also need to show prospective lenders a record of managing your money and repaying debts. And that means your credit score is critical. It will not only influence a lender when they consider your loan application,…
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Choosing the right floor for your home is an important decision because it sets the tone for design and comfort. Most of us make this type of decision so few times in our lives, it’s difficult to be confident we’re making the right selection without lots of research and advice. Another challenge is that every…
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No buyer is the same – each one has their own priorities and preferences as they walk through the front door of your home or apartment. Their idea of perfect living will always align to their lifestyle. So, no matter how much effort you put into preparing your home for sale, the majority of buyers…
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As we enter 2026, New Zealanders can reflect on a property market that resisted a recovery despite nine interest rate cuts but saw values remain steady. As the latest OneRoof home survey points out, there were winners and losers in 2025, and we should not feel downcast about the immediate future. The latest cut of…
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If you’re an aspiring first-home buyer trying to save for a deposit while renting, this time of year is often an ideal opportunity to re-evaluate your accommodation. With many leases expiring, anecdotal evidence suggests a lot of renters are seeking arrangements that last longer than 12 months to give them stability and rent-cost predictability. It’s…
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As we look towards what promises to be another helter-skelter year for real estate, it’s worth looking back at the previous 12 months to give us context for what might be ahead of us as buyers and sellers of property. The “good and the great” of property forecasting have spent a fair amount of their…
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It’s the summer holidays and a time to relax, but if you’re a DIY enthusiast you know there’s only so much sitting in a deck chair you can do before the urge to break out the toolbox becomes overwhelming. There are countless small chores around the home to dive into with the sun on your…
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When preparing your home for sale, it can feel like there are a million tasks ahead of you, each vitally important to winning over the buyer and achieving your maximum possible price. One of the overlooked elements of a home is the quality of the flooring. It’s true that buyers don’t walk into a home…
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As we enter 2026, the real estate market continues to produce outstanding results for sellers and investors despite buyer disappointment at the Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision to not cut interest rates for a fourth time in less than 12 months. The average value of a home rose 1% in November, following a 1.1% rise…
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Just as Kiwis were getting used to the idea the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) might end its program of interest rate cuts, Westpac NZ shocked everyone by raising rates 0.3% on fixed term loans. The move prompted Finance Minister Nicola Willis to suggest owners and first-home buyers should “shop around”. After Westpac announced…
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