http://www.keamortgages.co.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.keamortgages.co.nz en-us Mon, 09 Mar 2026 06:14:43 +1300 Rocketspark http://www.keamortgages.co.nz/blog/post/160374/ Thinking about building this year? Here’s what’s happening across the Canterbury region and why 2026 is shaping up to be a strong window for new builds.🔣𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀: 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱With the Official Cash Rate holding at 2.25%, we’re sitting at the bottom of the interest rate cycle — offering a stable borrowing environment before incremental increases expec... Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:38:01 +1300 http://www.keamortgages.co.nz/blog/#post160374 http://www.keamortgages.co.nz/blog/post/157029/ 🔣 RBNZ cut OCR to 2.25% on 26 November 2025, a modest but cautious -0.25% move. 📉The OCR has dropped from a peak of 5.50% in July 2024, marking a -3.25% decline over the past 17-months. 💵Annual CPI inflation was +3% in Sept 2025, at top of the 1–3% RBNZ target band.💼Mild recovery signs seen in late-2025; labour market stabilising.💽Policy direction will be data-driven going forward, though easing cycle may be complete. ... Mon, 01 Dec 2025 09:06:32 +1300 http://www.keamortgages.co.nz/blog/#post157029 http://www.keamortgages.co.nz/blog/post/156465/ Increase repayments on a $600,000 5% average 30-year mortgage just once by 5% in your first year and you could:🔹 Pay off your mortgage 3 years faster🔹 Save $66,315 in interestEven one small increase adds up.💪 Increase repayments +5% 𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧 and pay-off your mortgage nearly 14 years faster and save $321,026 interest.... Mon, 24 Nov 2025 11:10:47 +1300 http://www.keamortgages.co.nz/blog/#post156465 http://www.keamortgages.co.nz/blog/post/153805/how-id-borrow-today-and-why-you-might-too/ 📉 With the Reserve Bank accelerating their rate cut yesterday, fixed mortgage rates may be near this cycle's low.📊 To manage inflationary risk and smooth out exposure to future rate hikes, I’d look to split lending equally across multiple fixed terms — say 1️⃣, 3️⃣, and 5️⃣ years.📈 This strategy helps average out rates over time and cushions against market volatility.🔒 Personally, I’d lean toward fixing a portion for 5 years at 4.99% for long-term certainty, while s... Thu, 09 Oct 2025 14:05:07 +1300 http://www.keamortgages.co.nz/blog/#post153805 http://www.keamortgages.co.nz/blog/post/149184/june-2025-market-update-/ 🦜𝗡𝗭 𝗠𝗶𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀• Net migration to NZ dropped to +𝟭𝟱,𝟬𝟬𝟬 in the year to May 2025, down from +80,300 a year earlier and +135,000 in Oct 2023.• NZ 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝟯𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮 in 2024.• Stats NZ data long-term average for May years (2002–2019) shows +𝟭𝟭𝟵,𝟮𝟬𝟬 𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟵𝟭,𝟱𝟬... Fri, 18 Jul 2025 09:54:47 +1200 http://www.keamortgages.co.nz/blog/#post149184 http://www.keamortgages.co.nz/blog/post/143997/ 〽️ In times of heightened uncertainty, it's crucial to adapt. Here are some key takeaways following the 9 April OCR announcement:⏭️ Fixed Mortgage Rates: Opting for medium to long-term fixed mortgage rates can provide stability by eliminating volatility in cash flows, allowing you to focus on other financial impacts.⏭️ Market Instability: The election of Trump introduced significant risk, affecting equities and causing market adjustments. This heightened risk is expected to persist t... Thu, 10 Apr 2025 12:49:07 +1200 http://www.keamortgages.co.nz/blog/#post143997 http://www.keamortgages.co.nz/blog/post/143954/ 🏦 The RBNZ Monetary Policy Committee has cut the OCR by 25 basis points to 3.5% as of 9 April 2025.💱 Inflation is stable, but weak household spending and global trade barriers pose risks.👥 The Committee is ready to adjust further if needed.Get in touch with Kea Mortgages for your next mortgage re-fix.... Wed, 09 Apr 2025 16:16:21 +1200 http://www.keamortgages.co.nz/blog/#post143954 http://www.keamortgages.co.nz/blog/post/143331/march-2025-market-update/ 🚦 The NZ Valocity House Price Index rose 1.5% since its 2024 trough with a national average house price of $969,939 as at March.💡 Lower mortgage rates have shifted the market's volume and direction, fostering optimism in Q1 2025. Lower rates being directly correlated to OCR declines from 5.5% in August 2024 to 3.75% today.🏔️ South Island: lower volume and lower price regions e.g. West Coast saw the strongest growth, while Queenstown & Canterbury also performed well compared to the... Tue, 25 Mar 2025 15:57:00 +1300 http://www.keamortgages.co.nz/blog/#post143331 http://www.keamortgages.co.nz/blog/post/139787/january-2025-market-update/ Interest Rate TrendThe Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) in November 24 reduced the Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 0.50%, bringing it down to 4.25%. This reduction is part of a series of cuts aimed at stabilizing the economy. As a result, mortgage rates have also decreased, with Banks offering a competitive 6-month fixed rate at 5.99% and a 12-month fixed rate at 5.75%. These lower rates are expected to boost borrowing and stimulate the property market.CoreLogic NZ Property InsightsProperty values... Mon, 06 Jan 2025 08:09:18 +1300 http://www.keamortgages.co.nz/blog/#post139787 http://www.keamortgages.co.nz/blog/post/139476/merry-christmas/ ... Fri, 20 Dec 2024 16:38:01 +1300 http://www.keamortgages.co.nz/blog/#post139476