Is the Auckland market changing gears?

December 21, 2015

During the month of October, several regions around the country reached new record median prices, while at the same time, Auckland stopped to take a breather. While the volume of property sales was up 4% from October last year, they fell 19% compared to September. While Auckland may look to have stopped in its tracks,…

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Hamilton suburbs have a strong capital growth profile

December 10, 2015

This recently purchased investment property is the perfect addition to our client’s property portfolio. Our client already owns one property in Auckland, and had plans to buy a second investment.  But recent changes to the LVR rules meant these plans were going to be put on hold. We suggested Hamilton. With a strong capital growth…

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FINANCIAL REVIEW Auckland house prices are up 20pc, or unchanged if you are Chinese

August 24, 2015

Auckland home prices are up more than 20 per cent in the past year. If you’re a buyer from China or the US, they’re not. The slump in New Zealand’s currency has made properties in the country’s largest city a bargain for foreigners, creating a headache for central bank Governor Graeme Wheeler, who has been…

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Same old same old… new Reserve Bank rules change nothing

July 6, 2015

The Reserve Bank (RBNZ) recently proposed a 70% LVR restriction for investors in the Auckland property market. While it was tempting to jump straight out of the gates with a comment, we thought it would be more useful to wait for the RBNZ’s discussion document and provide a deeper analysis of their announcement. In this…

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Financial Stability Report Nov 2014 – What was in it for Property Investors?

December 11, 2014

Update – New Rule: Interest Rate rise for 5 or more rentals Some of you will be aware that the RBNZ has been looking at introducing new capital requirements which would essentially make a new asset class and would mean banks would have to have more capital for lending to what it considers “professional property…

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4th Quarter Directors Market Commentary – where to from here for the market?

December 11, 2014

Despite what we might have called “pre-election jitters” dampening the market a tad, the housing market rebounded in October, and is lining up for a strong finish to the year. Increased mortgage lending that is recovering from 2 year lows, cuts to fixed mortgage rates, and net migration at record highs all provide strong support.…

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Robust auction strategy secures this property for our client

December 10, 2014

We recently purchased this property in West Auckland for our client at auction. This 1960’s weatherboard home is a classic example of the type of property that has proven over time to provide great capital growth for our clients – full site, great street appeal, elevated city views and north/ east facing – we knew…

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Trusts and property investments – What you should know

August 5, 2014

In New Zealand, commonly used legal structures for holding investment properties include personal name, trusts, and look-through companies. Each have their own benefits and drawbacks, and their usage will vary depending on the user’s circumstances. This article provides background information on the Look-through Company, and the benefits and drawbacks associated with using this legal structure…

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OCR Commentary – June 2014

June 20, 2014

On Thursday 12 June, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) lifted the Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 25 basis points to 3.25% as anticipated. What will be the impact of this increase? What will be the impact? Floating Mortgage Rate – Floating mortgage rates will increase, with lenders likely to follow ANZ’s lead and…

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What is Thin Capitalisation and does it affect me?

May 28, 2014

For both companies and private investors, debt is commonly used as a tool for tax management when operating in more than one tax jurisdiction. In the case of New Zealand, the Thin Capitalisation rule was introduced in 1996 as a part of the Income Tax Act, with the purpose of limiting the scope to which…

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