The new coalition government comprising National, Act and New Zealand First – formed at the end of 2023 – has brought with it significant changes for property investors and an increase in optimism throughout the sector is already becoming apparent as a sliding housing market shows signs of stabilisation and prices are beginning to rise again, albeit modestly. So, what’s changed? Put simply, the bright line property rule, which had increased to encompassing 10 years, meaning that owners who sold their properties sooner than that were required to pay tax, has gone back to two years, which is a s ..read more

The market’s up, the market’s down, the market’s shaking it all around; every day, it seems, the headlines tell a different story and it’s hard to know how to find out exactly where things are at right now with property investment in apartments. What’s the history here? Apartment living in New Zealand actually began over 100 years ago but the idea of a quarter-acre-paradise with a stand-alone home proved much more appealing to Kiwis and only in the 1990s did inner city living – essentially exchanging a house and garden for an apartment and balcony – really take off in the country’s larger citi ..read more

Here at Money Empire our services are based on our extensive training – and also on our personal experiences, because we believe it’s vital to have talked the talk and walked the walk ourselves in order to offer the very best-informed advice to you, the client. This month our regular blog writer sat down with two key team members and found out a little about their own property investment journeys. Meet Sanjeewa (Sanj) Silva, Money Empire Head of Growth and Strategic Relations. He has an extensive background in the finance industry, having worked at a high level with banks and sporting organisa ..read more

2023 proved beyond doubt that house and contents insurance is absolutely vital, when the climate-change- charged weather events of almost a year ago shocked the country and made us realise how vulnerable we really are. These disasters came at a time of historically high inflation and while that number may be improving, New Zealanders in most walks of life are truly doing it tough. Rising prices are blowing budgets Price rises have impacted practically all sectors of the economy – and especially at the supermarket, which tends to cause the most pain to our pockets and it’s tempting to skimp on ..read more

Now’s the ideal time to get your financial house in order! It’s been a tough year but it’s almost over and it’s perfectly reasonable to feel confident that 2024 will be a fair bit better. We finally have a new government, so the political uncertainty of the past few months is over and – for better or for worse, they’ve clearly marked out where they stand on most issues that can affect finances. With that in mind, the great Kiwi summer shutdown is a good time for sitting back and taking stock of where you’re at – moneywise, and getting some plans into place that will help you feel more comforta ..read more

Life has a funny habit of speeding up once you get through your forties and fifties and before you know it, 65 and retirement can be staring you in the face – with all the exciting possibilities it represents, once you’re freed from the shackles of work. However, if you haven’t done some pretty thorough planning beforehand, those golden years might not be all beer and skittles. Bear in mind that the new government might conceivably raise the age of retirement to 67, which will undoubtedly move the goalposts for many Kiwis. What can go wrong? The retired people who experience difficulties are g ..read more

Now, more than ever, we need to be on the same page as each other in a relationship – especially if it’s a relatively new one. Times are turbulent and there’s a great deal of uncertainty in the air. Interest rates have been heading up and so is the cost of food and utilities – which can bring extreme stress to households if the amount coming in doesn’t match the amount going out. Finance issues cause some of the biggest pressures in a relationship, so open, honest, messaging is crucial. Here, we’ve assembled some basic starting points for improving communication and reducing anxiety around mon ..read more

Mortgage interest rates are in the news when they’re low – and even more so when they’re high. However, what feels high – at the moment – might not be as dramatic as you think. Yes, it does feel as though rates have recently moved significantly from one extreme to another and the return of any kind of settled, ‘in between’ period feels a long way off, but such highs and lows have always been part and parcel of borrowing. So, this seems a good time to take a quick look at some history over the years, providing a bit of context – and hopefully, signalling reasons for optimism. How has this curre ..read more

For many years it’s been a common complaint that banks in New Zealand, wield far too much power over their customers, and actively stand in the way of authentic competition. At a time when inflation is rearing its ugly head to a degree not seen in decades, household budgets are being stretched further than ever. This has forced the government to look at the surrounding issues in greater detail – and with more urgency, developing a new approach that will level the playing field significantly. Officially announced in November 2022 by then Commerce Minister, David Clark, the establishment of a co ..read more

Buying a home is a significant investment, and for most people, it requires taking out a home loan. Home loans in New Zealand can be a confusing process, especially for first-time home buyers. In this article, we will guide you through the process of getting your first home loan, getting an investment property home loan, refinancing, and refixing. Getting Your First Home Loan Buying your first home is an exciting but daunting experience, and is often the biggest debt most people will ever take on. Getting a home loan for the first time can be a complex process, but it doesn’t have to be overwh ..read more