Latest from Mortgages

House slump biggest risk to recovery
Sharp slowdowns in the Auckland housing market or in China are the main risks the NZIER sees to a recovery which is accelerating and broadening.

Support for capital gains tax
A capital gains tax would reduce the price it is rational for an investor to pay for a property by as much as 23 per cent, Westpac economists say.

Brian Fallow: Labour's plan looks good
The first impression of the Labour Party's "monetary policy upgrade" is that it looks good, writes Brian Fallow, managing to look both conservative and progressive.

Kiwis rush to fix their loans
Homeowners are rushing to fix their mortgage interest rates after the second cash rate increase in as many months.

Rates rise, but this time we're ready
Homeowners are bracing for another rise in mortgage interest rates but experts say most are prepared with better spending habits and contingency plans.

Brian Fallow: Four reasons not to panic about a property bubble
Here are some reasons not to embrace the view of economic analyst Jesse Colombo that NZ is hurtling towards crisis.

'Bubble about to burst'
Auckland's sizzling property market could bring New Zealand's economy crashing down, a global economic expert warns.

Damien Grant: Few certainties in the world of economics
Should you fix your mortgage? This is an important question and if I knew the answer I would tell you, writes Damien Grant.

Heat on mortgage holders
Homeowners are being warned to prepare for harder times as the days of low interest rates come to an end.

Loans plan impact low: economist
The impact of the Reserve Bank's curbs on mortgage lending at high loan-to-value ratios (LVRs) on the housing market has been pretty modest so far.

Mortgage poser looming
Interest rates are likely to rise - so what should you do with your home loan?

Buy a bach and bank on rent
Baches in some parts of the country can command enough rent in one month over summer to cover half the year's mortgage repayments.

Banks 'stress-testing' mortgagors
Major banks are "stress-testing" mortgage borrowers to ensure they will be able to meet repayments when higher interest rates hit.

Housing surge makes Aust rate cut unlikely
Rising home loan approvals are another sign that the Australian housing recovery is in full swing, making another cash rate cut unlikely.

Banks eye low-deposit loans
Banks are showing more interest in making low-deposit home loans after cutting back hard before Christmas, but it is mainly investors who are taking advantage.

Average house price hits $700k
Auckland's average house price rose to a record in December as property values benefited from a lack of supply heading into summer.

Kiwibank lifts rates
Kiwibank has become the third bank to lift its mortgage rates in a week.

National house prices up again
National house prices rose $17,475 last month to reach a $425k median. But are falling sales numbers a sign that new loan rules are starting to bite? (with new infographic)

Brian Fallow: Home buyers beware - rates are set to rise
Borrowers need to be aware that current market pricing implies a rise in interest rates of around 2 percentage points over the next two years, writes Brian Fallow.

Auckland house prices' hot November
Auckland house prices rose at the rate of $677 a day in November, based on the average price increase from October to November.

Low deposit lending halved
The share of new mortgage lending going to borrowers with low deposits halved in October, the first month in which the Reserve Bank's curbs on such loans applied.

LVR limits ease pressure
Lending restrictions are starting to ease the pressure on the property market but first-home buyers are still finding it tough as prices and interest rates creep up.

Housing affordability worsens
Despite the introduction of the Reserve Bank's lending restrictions, home affordability has continued to worsen according to a new report.

Mortgage woe looms
Homeowners who have stretched their budgets to get into the housing market in the past two years are likely to feel the squeeze as interest rates rise.