The long reads
Reading before you borrow
NZ-specific writing on mortgage decisions — without the bank-marketing gloss or the property-investment-influencer hype.
Long read · 9 min · 26 April 2026
First-home buyer's guide to NZ mortgages, 2026 edition
What you actually need: deposit thresholds, KiwiSaver withdrawal, First Home Grant eligibility, Kāinga Ora First Home Loan, and how brokers structure marginal applications.
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Long read · 6 min · 26 April 2026
Refinancing in NZ — when it actually saves you money
How to tell whether changing lenders is worth it once cashback, break costs and rate differentials are properly counted.
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Long read · 7 min · 26 April 2026
Construction loans in NZ — how progress payments work
What progress draws actually mean, how cost overruns are funded, and the questions to ask a builder before signing fixed-price.
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