If you are looking to divide your property and sort out the mortgage after a separation, it’s essential to know your rights and get expert advice. In fact, even if your breakup ...
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When you are starting to review your finances you may find that having multiple different debts becomes difficult to manage and could cause issues when applying for a ...
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Earlier this week the country’s largest bank, ANZ, announced they now require a 40% deposit to purchase an investment property. This is an increase from the usual 30% deposit ...
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The home buying world is an overload of information and often buyers get confused, fed-up or make rash decisions. The biggest tragedy would be for you to get to this point and ...
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Owning your first home is a lofty goal for anyone these days, taking into account the increase in house prices compared to the past decades and the increased costs of living it ...
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For some New Zealanders buying a first home feels like climbing Everest, you're not sure if you will reach the top and anything can happen out there if you're not ...
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From time to time, and more often in the current climate, you will find yourself in a multi-offer situation. Something most people like to avoid and not for the faint ...
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I've Just come back from the most incredible journey in "Johnny" my Cessna 172.
It was a 5 day journey that went like this.....
Day 1
We departed Hamilton and were stopped ...
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2020 is a year like no other and just like when the GFC came and went people recovered, the economy recovered, and investing in property was still the safest place to put your ...
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It's no secret that new property listings and total stock numbers are down nationally but even on a basic level both the property sector and financial market have recovered ...
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Back in our ma and pa’s days such was the personal relationship with your bank that they knew everything about you, your loans , maybe even what you liked on your toast, and ...
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This is a confusing question for some but here is the simple answer:
Good debt is generally any debt that belongs to an asset which increases in value or makes you an income. ...
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We all know that the biggest purchase you are likely to make in your lifetime is a home. To make this path a little easier I have put together some handy tips that we know work, ...
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Have you been looking at the current low-interest rates and wondering how to apply that to your current lending?
How do you know if you should break your existing fixed ...
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The most important thing that many people do not fully appreciate is that true wealth as a property investor comes from building up and holding a profitable portfolio, not from ...
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If you have a crystal ball or a money tree now would be the time to get it out. You would also become pretty popular as analysts, economists and face book investor groups all lay ...
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With the dust settling and the ink drying on the hardship applications it is time to take a breath and answer some questions about the mortgage holidays. The lenders have made it ...
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We should have all heard by now that the Reserve Bank has dropped the official cash rate (OCR) to 0.25%. This isn’t something unique to New Zealand, the US and Australia have ...
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Most of us have not been through an event or uncertain times like this before so how do we know what to do.
Don’t panic, seek help early is the main message. The problem with ...
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New Zealand’s top 10 mortgage advisers of 2017 have been named in the inaugural Top Advisers Rankings.
The report is based on the total value of loans settled in past 12 ...
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The non-banking sector is a good stepping stone for those who can’t secure loans from a bank, according to broker Jeff Kerwin.
Kerwin from Nest Home Loans specialises in ...
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Jeff Kerwin of Nest Home Loans in Hamilton helps clients that don’t conform to traditional mainstream lending requirements – he helps the people that banks don’t want ...
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The Reserve Bank has grave concerns for the outlook of the NZ housing market. So much so, they are making it clear that investors are on the radar.
As of the 1st September, ...
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Congratulations!! I've just added you to my "coffee break" newsletters. In these newsletters I pass on a tonne of useful tips and tricks to help you with home ownership. You can ...
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I realize I'm running the risk of having this come across as a blatant, shameless plug - which it is - but since I'm your trusted mortgage advisor, I'd be remiss not educate you ...
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I know this isn't a very "FUN' topic but it's something that you need to be aware of...
You've probably noticed identity theft is becoming more and more prevalent out there. As ...
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I just came across this controversial list showing I thought you might find it interesting...
1. Rich People believe "I create my life". Poor people believe "Life is what ...
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Did you know you can use your own equity to buy rental properties?
You may not even need to put any of your own cash into the deal!
Here's the scoop on how it ...
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Question for you...
How many years from now do you want to own your home free and clear?
As you may already know, paying your mortgage off the traditional way takes 25 to 40 ...
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If you've read Robert Kiyosaki's book, "Rich Dad Poor Dad", this will make a lot of sense to you...
One of the secrets of the rich is that they habitually look for ways to ...
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Have you ever wondered what your credit score is or how it's calculated?
Here's the skinny..
Your credit score is a three-digit number that lenders use to predict your ...
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Contrary to popular opinion, a recession is actually the BEST time to invest in revenue properties. Why? Regardless of market conditions people always need a place to live, and ...
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Some lenders suggest increasing payment frequency from monthly to bi-weekly to help pay off your mortgage faster. But as your local mortgage expert, I have a better suggestion. ...
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Chances are you already have enough equity in your home to pay for renovations. But before you increase your debt, consider whether it's good debt or bad debt. While bad debt is ...
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Even today, both investment funds and real estate still offer investment potential. Here's a comparison:
* In the last market downturn, real estate values haven't dropped as ...
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To continue the "renovation" theme we've been on for the past few weeks, we might as well talk about how to choose the right renovation contractor.
We've all heard renovation ...
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Last week we talked about strategic renovations to maximize the value of your home, this week we're going to talk about strategic landscaping...
When planning renovations, ...
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I'm not an expert in managed funds, but in these turbulent economic times it's more important than ever to discuss this important and controversial topic...
Even today, both ...
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Before you consider refinancing your existing mortgage, it's important for you to determine the break-even point, which represents how soon the cost of the refinance will be ...
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I don't know if you're planning on painting your home any time soon but if you are, this info will come in handy...
Before you hire the first "student painter" who comes along, ...
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If this doesn't apply to you, perhaps you know someone over 60 who might find it helpful...
A reverse mortgage lets you turn your home's equity into cash without having to move ...
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Are you ready to discover the unsung hero of wealth creation?
One of the most powerful strategies for building wealth is to pay yourself first. What this means is taking your ...
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Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote that each person is compensated in like manner for that which he or she has contributed. This is often referred to as the Law of Compensation or the Law ...
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Here's one of the many lessons we should be taught in school but aren't...
If you want to get rich, break the law - Parkinson's Law!
Fifty years ago, British writer C. ...
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To ensure your long-term financial security, it's essential to develop an effective financial plan, retirement strategy and investment portfolio. Since most people don't have the ...
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If you're thinking of selling your home any time soon, here's a little secret to help you sell it faster and for top dollar...
"Staging" is the latest buzzword in real estate, ...
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Have you had any pest problems in your home yet?
If so, here's how to prevent their visits - and spook 'em out of house 'n home if they've already started to creep in.
The ...
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According to studies, fewer than half of all adults have a will. Let's face it, nobody wants to think about death - let alone spend money preparing a will, when it's something you ...
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Your financial goals and social conscience don't have to be mutually exclusive. With ethical investing, it's possible to earn healthy returns without having a negative impact on ...
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In 2006, CMHC reported that 71% of all mortgage consumers refinanced before their mortgage term was up. Of those who refinanced, 29% did so to consolidate debt. It's easy to see ...
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If you have one or more credit cards, this is a MUST read article...
Seems there's hardly a day goes by that your mail box is not stuffed with some new bank offering some new ...
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With the recent drop in real estate prices, it's the perfect time to buy investment properties. Like any other endeavor, though, there's a right way and a wrong way to go about ...
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Are you considering buying a new home or investment property in the near future?
Buying a home is a major investment no matter how you look at it. But for many home buyers ...
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The King of Pop made the best-selling album of all time, Thriller, with sales of 100 -108 million copies. Yet in spite of the huge revenues he continued to receive from such ...
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Perhaps you have a friend or family member who has been dreaming about this moment throughout their working life - BEING RETIRED and having the time and money to: Travel, fix up ...
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A divorce doesn't only result in emotional pain, it can often lead to financial turmoil. Deciding on how to deal with the break-up of the family home can be the most intimidating ...
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Are you tired of throwing your money away on interest charges? Are you frustrated with how long it's taking to pay off your debts? Do you wish you had less financial stress in ...
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Many Canadians find themselves bogged down with a bad credit rating for the wrong reason - illness, losing a job, or simply not understanding consumer credit. Sometimes bad ...
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It can be a real challenge to spend our money wisely, especially tax refunds, which may seem like free money! With the average Canadian tax refund at $750 it's tempting to blow it ...
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Before you take the plunge on refinancing your mortgage, think about how long you plan to stay in your home and how much the refinance is going to cost. If you're not careful, ...
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I can't believe it! Seems like just yesterday we were signing all your mortgage papers...
...and now, according to my calendar, it's already that time again!
It's time for ...
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Trivia question for you...
What form of investing has created more millionaires than all the others?
Answer: Real Estate Investing!
Yes, investing in real estate is the ...
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In late October 2010, the Canadian Real Estate Association approved an agreement with the federal Competition Bureau that lets home sellers pay for only the services they want ...
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Here are a couple important questions you may not have considered lately...
Are you certain that you're on track to reach your retirement goals? Do you have a plan in ...
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If you're anything like me, keeping records of income and expenses - and convincing your spouse to do the same - can be a real challenge.
Here are some easy alternatives to ...
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Regardless of how much you may have enjoyed school as a kid, chances are you were happy to leave the books behind when you finally graduated. However, recent scientific research ...
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Almost everyone wants to become rich, but most of us never do. Maybe it's because our impression of how to become wealthy doesn't bear much resemblance to reality. Here's what ...
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This week I've decided to cover something a little different than the usual wealth/financial topic because I believe it's THAT important...
Answer this question: Are you ...
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Instead of just working harder to make more money, why not make the money you have work harder for you.
Here are some strategies:
* Pay another monthly bill - to yourself. ...
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When a corporation earns a profit, that money can either be re-invested in the business or paid to shareholders as a dividend. Many corporations keep a portion of their earnings ...
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If money's a bit tight right now, here's how you can empower yourself to create a breakthrough...
1. As Barack Obama says, take personal responsibility. While external forces ...
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Achieving your goals of health, fitness and personal fulfillment can be difficult--which is why most self-improvement programs fail. But here's an easy, proven way to help you ...
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Your credit score is the single biggest factor that lenders use in determining your interest rate when you apply for a mortgage. Yet most people don't even know what a credit ...
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Sure, real estate is a big investment. But remember it IS an investment. If you purchase a property strategically, it can help you generate income, tax savings and capital ...
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Remember the old saying, "A penny saved is a penny earned"? If it was ever true, it certainly isn't true anymore. Today, simply saving your money in a bank account is one of the ...
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