For the first time in more than three years, more people are picking interest rates will fall, rather than rise, but they are unsure whether it is a good time to buy a house.

Mortgage advisers and property investors who engage with AI early stand to command the largest slice of gains, says Ian McGuinness in Knight Frank’s latest Wealth Report.

It was a pivotal week for monetary policy with two major central banks cutting interest rates for the first time in more than four years.

A lift in interest amongst first home buyers (FHB) remains a feature of housing activity.

The Reserve Bank could be weeks away from introducing debt-to-income restrictions.

Large numbers of property investors have not come back into the market despite  the reintroduction of 80% interest deductibility for landlords and the lowering in July of the Brightline test from 10 years to two years, QV says in its latest update.

The increasing number of low deposit mortgages being lent to first home buyers has been borne out by the latest CoreLogic research.

Insurance affordability is being highlighted by the Reserve Bank in its latest Financial Stability Report to be published on Wednesday.

A pyramid scheme promoter who says she was going to “make history as one of the biggest scammers in New Zealand” has been convicted on five charges laid by the Commerce Commission under the Fair Trading Act.

As the cost of living crisis bites, disputes have risen by 36% and complaints to Financial Services Complaints Ltd (FSCL), a free financial ombudsman service, have risen by 17% .

People Group has sold its Mortgage People trail book to Mortgage Lab.

Although the country is in a technical recession, credit data trends show a mixed bag.

The vexed issue of clawbacks might form part of the industry meeting with the Commerce Commission over remarks that have rubbed mortgage advisers up the wrong way.

Existing economic pain will ultimately be good news for mortgage borrowers, says Squirrel Mortgages founder John Bolton.

Despite the Finance & Mortgage Advisers Association NZ (FAMNZ) setting up in Auckland in early February, it won’t be taking membership applications until next month.

Mortgage adviser Jeff Royle’s sounding-off about the Commerce Commission dropping a “bombshell” on the industry has got its attention.