Smart Thoughts
In this blog I share my opinion on the state of the market, trends and tips you can use to improve your property investing.
Want to live a debt free lifestyle?
Imagine the possibilities of living debt free. Travel overseas, start a business, work part time, spend more time with the family, purchase investment...
Income protection claims stats
Interesting facts on income protection claims paid.
Can I buy a rental property as my first home?
Clever young people can and do buy rental properties as their first home. Many stay living at home with their mum and dad, while building up capital in their...
Cancer Rate Up, Deaths Down
The number of people with cancer continues to rise, while the rate at which people die from the disease continues to fall, new data shows. Statistics...
Why you need life insurance
Not me! I'm never going to die. We all like to think that we are invincible! Well the reality is we all die eventually and some of us will leave our loved...
Why everyone should write a Will
You're broke. You have no children. You hate the rellies. Trust me. Even you need to write a Will. There are lots of reasons to have a Will. You may own...
Review your home loan interest rate TODAY!
Recently you may heard in the press that the banks are having a price war. This is a great opportunity for bank customers with home loans to obtain better...
Mortgage wars: Banks paying fees
The low growth residential mortgage market has created a new phenomenon with banks now prepared to cough up break fees to help win business from customers on...
Business Interruption Policies
Christchurch business owners unlucky enough to be caught in the cordoned-off red zone will know their Business Interruption (BI) insurance policies like the...
How to kill your credit rating — in six simple steps
Having a squeaky clean credit rating is very useful in life. It'll help you next time you really need to borrow some money. Every time you want credit, your...
Housing affordability down despite falling mortgage rates
Housing affordability declined over past two years. Housing affordability has declined over the past two years despite mortgage rates falling to their lowest...
Competition hot in first-home property market
A shortage of houses in the first-home buyers' market over winter has caused a rise in multi-offer agreements, confusing those new to the real estate game....
First-timers drive housing market
Young professionals who stayed at home with their parents during the recession were now driving competition in the market for first homes. Chief economist...
Banks pressured to reduce fixed-mortgage rates
New Zealand's banks are set to face increased pressure to slash interest rates after ASB Bank became the latest lender to drop the costs across its...
Bankruptcy, What is it?
WHAT IS BANKRUPTCY? An official assignee from government agency the New Zealand Insolvency and Trustee Service administers your debts. You are still...