Guides
Plain-English guides to mortgages, debt and saving in New Zealand, with the calculators to work out your own numbers.
What is an offset mortgage, and who does it suit?
An offset mortgage charges interest on your loan less your savings. How it works, what it costs, who gets the most from it, and a calculator that compares it with a fixed loan.
Should I refinance? Cashback, break fees and offset explained
What a lower rate is really worth, what a cashback costs you, when a break fee applies, and how an offset account changes the answer. With a calculator that compares all three.
First home buyers: deposit, KiwiSaver and the First Home Loan
How much deposit you need, what KiwiSaver can put towards it, how the 5% First Home Loan works, and the income your first mortgage would need.
How much can I borrow in New Zealand?
A lender applies three limits: what you can repay at a test rate, six times your income, and what your deposit covers. Here is how each one works, and a calculator that runs all three.