Both the number of housing sales and the median house price dipped significantly in September but the Real Estate Institute believes this is temporary.

A major slump in expectations for the outlook of New Zealand’s major trading partners, coupled with benign domestic inflation figures, has convinced both economists and the market that the Reserve Bank will cut its official cash rate (OCR) by at least 25 basis points next month.

The inaugural Mortgage Broker of the Year, Wayne Oliver, is strongly in favour of his industry becoming regulated.

A device for getting people into their own homes with very little deposit or a get-rich-quick scheme? What are known as 'wrap' mortgages are starting to catch the eyes of the authorities here.

Economists agree there is little chance the Reserve Bank will cut the OCR this Wednesday. But they all seem to think a cut is on the cards for later this year.

There are more signs the housing market is strengthening.

Rebel non-lawyer conveyancer Lester Dempster has struck trouble at the other end of the mortgage process.

The real reason ANZ Bank pulled the plug on its cut-rate conveyancing joint venture Key Law was because 54 law firms switched their trust accounts from the bank and it wanted to stop the haemorrhaging, legal sources say.

In a surprise move, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand has cut its official cash rate (OCR) two weeks ahead of its next scheduled review date in response to the terrorist attacks in the US.

After showing winter weakness in June and July, the latest Real Estate Institute housing sales figures and prices unambiguously portray a stronger market, with both prices and sales activity rising.

Internet-based BankDirect has beefed up its emphasis on being a home loan specialist by introducing a team of mobile lending managers and launching a simplified service for refinancing a home loan or moving banks called SWITCH.

The annual meeting of property group Urbus (formerly Waltus)ends with an unexpected outcome.

The objectors to last year’s merger of 27 Waltus property syndicates lost the last part of their court battle this week, although they did win the right to reasonable costs against the wishes of Waltus’ management.

One certain consequence of the US terrorist attacks is that interest rates globally are coming down, New Zealand’s included, and mortgage rates will be tumbling soon, economists say.