News

The old ideal of a three-bedroom house as perfect both for an investment property and for a place to rent is being shaken up.

Auckland’s leading real estate firm Barfoot & Thompson has undertaken some serious number crunching on the Auckland rental housing market and reached some interesting conclusions. Basically, the market, and tastes, have changed a lot.

For a long time, we have been writing (and talking) about the fact that it is getting harder to borrow from the banks, and indeed any lender. It is unfortunate that borrowing is getting harder and it would be much better if we could bring you good news once in a while, but that isn’t the truth of the market at the moment.

Banks are cracking down on customers who accept cash incentives when they take out a home loan – then switch their business to another bank. Our founder Glen McLeod says it’s fair for banks to ask for their sweeteners back if customers left.

Older New Zealanders are facing high debt pressure heading into retirement and are making up an increasing percentage of bankruptcies, research has revealed.