Hamilton couple Richard Lumsden and Anita Goodman are excited to find out what their new home loan rate will be. Photo/supplied
Hamilton couple Richard Lumsden and Anita Goodman are excited to find out what their new home loan rate will be. Photo/supplied
Twelve Kiwi families will be watching the Auckland Marathon next weekend with a little more excitement than might normally be expected.
That's because the winning time for the marathon will be converted into a new home loan rate for each of the families, which could save them thousands in interest.
The families have won the ASB Auckland Marathon's Run Down The Rate campaign, which gifts them with a market-leading home loan rate to match the winning time at the marathon.
For Anita Goodman and her partner Richard Lumsden, the new loan rate would allow them to get out and spend more time on their volunteer work, without so much financial pressure.
With their current rate sitting around 5.68 per cent, a drastic drop would be a "huge relief in pressure for us".
Last year's Auckland Marathon title is held by Aaron Pullford, who crossed the finish line in two hours, 27 minutes. If a runner repeats that effort this year, this would make the home loan rate 2.27 per cent.
On that rate, each of the 12 recipients could potentially look to save themselves up to $23,683 in home loan interest repayments.
The figure is based on a home loan of $600,000 and a 20-year loan term, with a minimum 20 per cent equity.
"If someone runs two and a half hours it's going to be quite a drop," Goodman said.
The Hamilton pair live in a "beautiful 1920s home in Hamilton East".
The fastest runner in this year's Auckland Marathon will be watched closely by the families set to benefit from his or her speed. Photo/supplied
Goodman volunteers at the Waikato Botanic Gardens and also does a bit of community gardening, teaching others how to grow their own food and be sustainable.
Lumsden volunteers for the Waikato Search and Rescue team.
Getting the reduced rate will be "an awesome opportunity" to dedicate more time to their volunteer work.
The other campaign winners are from Auckland, Christchurch, Hamilton, and Lower Hutt.
Two of the families have children in Starship Hospital.
One recipient, Jane Hossack, said the new rate will help as she and her partner continue to rebuild after the Christchurch earthquakes.
The winning time in this year's ASB Auckland Marathon will decide what the new home loan rate will be for 12 lucky recipients. Photo/supplied
Another recipient, Kevin Hardie from Auckland, said the new rate would help him and his family as they lived on "an essentials only budget".
He and his wife have four children, and his wife was sick for about a year a couple of years ago.
Other recipients said the rate would help them get onto the property ladder in an increasingly hostile market.
ASB executive general manager marketing and communications Roger Beaumont said he was "delighted" to be able to "extend the excitement off the course".
He encouraged people to enter the running events, including the full or half marathon, 12k or 5k events.
Recent international marathon race times include Eluid Kipchoge's two hours three minutes in London this year, Feisa Lilesa's two hours six minutes in Tokyo, and Stanley Biwott's two hours ten in New York last year.
People still interested in entering the marathon, which will be held on October 30, can head to www.aucklandmarathon.co.nz to check out the events.
