First Home Buyers

To buy or to build – it's a simple question, for sure. But, unfortunately, the answer is a little more complicated. So Canstar decided to delve a little deeper into the question and crunch the …

Whether detached homes in greenfield subdivisions on the edge of town, or medium-density houses bunched on urban sections, new houses are popular choices for home buyers. However, if you're financing a new build, you need a …

What does buying off the plan mean? Buying a property off the plan means buying a property that has yet to be constructed, such as an apartment in a complex that’s yet to be built or …

1. Build to your section The key to good home design is to build to the section, not the other way around. You should design or choose a house plan that is going to make the …

What is a mortgagee sale? A mortgage is a home loan secured against a property. If the borrower fails to make their mortgage repayments, the lender can sell the property to recover the money they are …

Over the past three years, economic conditions have conspired against first home buyers. A weak economy, job insecurity and high interest rates have put many Kiwis’ home ownership plans on ice. However, throughout this period, …

Canstar explores the current mortgage cashbacks on offer from the banks, and checks to see how the deals stack up. Mortgage Cashbacks While some banks make a big show of their first home buyer deals, it's worth …

Loan-t0-value ratios (LVRs) were first introduced in 2013 in an attempt to cool the overheated property market. Over the years, they've been amended a few times. They were removed entirely in response to the economic impact …