That Home Loan Hub

Want lenders to take you seriously as a first-home buyer? We break down the three levers that turn a shaky maybe into a confident yes: stable income, a targeted deposit plan, and clean account conduct. James joins me to unpack exactly what banks look for, how to structure your money, and what to fix first so your application lands on top of the pile.We start with income because predictability wins. If you’re employed, being out of probation and three-plus months in your role often removes the biggest hurdle. Self-employed? A solid year of financial statements can get you across the line. We talk through what counts as income, why salaried roles carry more weight than benefits, and how lenders shade variable pay so you know what “borrowing power” really means.Then we get practical about deposits. You can often begin from 5 percent, especially in regions with more accessible price points. KiwiSaver is your engine here—employer top-ups add momentum you can’t match on your own. Still, we draw a hard line for a separate cash buffer, ideally $5,000, to cover valuation, building inspection, solicitor fees, and those unplanned costs that pop up right before settlement. We also flag where bank cashbacks help and when second-tier lenders won’t offer them.Finally, we read your statements like a credit assessor would. Defaults, old utility bills, random cash withdrawals, and gambling spend can derail a good file fast. We outline how to clean your credit report, clear small debts that make big waves, and build patterns that signal reliability. Think of us like a mortgage personal trainer: we set the plan, keep you accountable, and help you hit each milestone—so when the right home shows up, your finance stands up.Ready to get mortgage-ready? Follow the show, share this with a friend saving for their first place, and leave a review telling us which step you’ll tackle first.Send us a text Support the showBuy your first home in NZ Weekly Webinars You thought it's not possible or the dream is too far away? Come to my webinar and I will show you, you are much closer to your dream, than you think you are! Join Here - https://bit.ly/4m9SL72

Ever felt the sting of being asset rich and cash poor while your best years for adventure are right now? We share the candid truth about turning home equity into a tool for a fuller life, and we don’t gloss over the trade-offs. From the emotional weight of “we must leave the house to the kids” to the practical difference between an active 70s and a slower 80s, we walk through the choices that matter and the safeguards that keep you protected.James, our in-house expert on reverse mortgages, breaks down how these loans actually work in New Zealand, what protections exist, and why purpose-driven drawdowns beat vague spending every time. We talk through real-life use cases that resonate: funding a surgery that restores mobility, making ageing-in-place upgrades like better insulation and safer bathrooms, or finally taking that bucket-list trip with family. Along the way, we address the big fears—going “back into debt,” compounding interest, and inheritance expectations—and replace them with a clear framework: strong why, specific plan, independent legal advice, reputable provider.If you’re living on a pension in a beautiful home and wondering how to unlock life without selling, this conversation lays out the path with plain language and practical steps. You’ll learn how to map your budget, set staged drawdowns, stress test scenarios, and talk openly with your kids about legacy versus living well now. The goal isn’t to push a product; it’s to give you confidence and options at the exact time they matter most.If this resonated, follow the show, share it with someone who’s asset rich and cash poor, and leave a review so more Kiwis can find practical guidance. And if you want tailored advice, reach out—James is happy to talk through whether a reverse mortgage is right for you.Send us a text Support the showBuy your first home in NZ Weekly Webinars You thought it's not possible or the dream is too far away? Come to my webinar and I will show you, you are much closer to your dream, than you think you are! Join Here - https://bit.ly/4m9SL72

Ready for a take you won’t hear on every finance show? Banks actually want to lend—but they need a clear story and consistent habits to say yes. James walks us through a year of hard-won lessons helping clients move from “not yet” to “approved,” and the practical steps that turn shaky applications into confident ones. The surprise isn’t a secret hack; it’s patience, clean data, and a plan you can stick to for ninety days and beyond.We dig into KiwiSaver as a powerful engine for first-home deposits, showing how automated contributions protect you from lifestyle creep and keep long-term goals on track. Alongside that bright spot, we expose the traps that quietly wreck serviceability: predatory car finance with eye-watering rates and exit fees, one-tap gambling that normalises daily losses, and buy-now-pay-later limits that grow even when you’re not looking. James shares real client stories—overstretched by car loans the size of house deposits, surprised by credit dings, and stuck until they reset spending and structure.The conversation is practical and human. We outline a simple weekly routine to regain control: automate savings and KiwiSaver, cap BNPL or ditch it, review statements, and right-size the car before you sign anything. We talk about the value of relationship-first advising—picking up the phone, asking “obvious” questions, and collaborating early with lenders, lawyers, and inspectors so you aren’t scrambling at the finish line. If you’ve felt like your money is noisy and your goals are distant, this is your nudge to simplify, build momentum, and make approvals a matter of process, not luck.If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review so more Kiwis can make smarter money moves. Got a question or a money win to share? Message us—we’d love to hear it.Send us a text Support the showBuy your first home in NZ Weekly Webinars You thought it's not possible or the dream is too far away? Come to my webinar and I will show you, you are much closer to your dream, than you think you are! Join Here - https://bit.ly/4m9SL72

Ever been told by a stranger on the internet that you don’t need life cover because KiwiSaver will sort it? We’ve seen that advice, and we’ve seen what gets left out: mortgages, kids, cashflow shocks, and the messy reality of how families and businesses actually run. Today we pull apart the risks of trusting comment-section confidence and show a smarter path to building protection that fits the life you live.We start with the problem: social media rewards quick takes, not full context. A thread might sound persuasive until the poster adds a crucial detail that flips the recommendation on its head. From there we dig into why licensed advisers ask so many questions—income, debt, dependants, waiting periods, benefit periods, and how self-employed folks keep the lights on when they can’t work. Those answers shape the blend of life cover, trauma insurance, and income or mortgage protection, and whether split structures or level premiums make sense in New Zealand’s market.We also talk about AI. Tools like ChatGPT can be a great primer if you ask precise, local questions, but they tend to default to general insurance and overseas definitions. They can miss new product features and often mirror your bias. That’s why the best workflow is simple: use AI and social posts to learn the language and draft questions, then bring them to a licensed adviser who can translate your situation into the right structure and sustainable premiums. The win isn’t the biggest policy—it’s the protection you can keep paying for, so it’s there at claim time.If your life has changed—new role, kids, bigger mortgage, or a new business—it’s time to review. Subscribe for more practical takes on cover that actually works, share this with someone who’s crowdsourcing their protection, and leave a review to tell us the biggest insurance myth you’ve seen online.Send us a text Support the showBuy your first home in NZ Weekly Webinars You thought it's not possible or the dream is too far away? Come to my webinar and I will show you, you are much closer to your dream, than you think you are! Join Here - https://bit.ly/4m9SL72

Fires and crashes dominate headlines, so we rush to insure our homes and cars. Serious illness and income loss rarely make the news, so we push those decisions to “later.” We unpack visibility bias—the mental shortcut that tricks smart people into overinsuring stuff and underinsuring themselves—and show a clearer way to build protection that actually holds when life turns.Together with Rebecca, we break down why salience and emotion drive insurance choices, how the “she’ll be right” mindset feeds optimism bias, and what really happens to a household when the paycheque stops. You’ll hear practical examples—from buying laptop cover without blinking to hesitating on trauma or income protection—and the real-world stakes: treatment options, recovery time, and keeping a roof over your family. We also explore the quiet role of avoidance, like skipping a will out of fear, and how that choice can complicate grief with legal and financial mess.You’ll come away with a simple framework to rebalance your safety net: protect income first, add trauma for immediate costs and treatment flexibility, and use health cover to speed access to care, with life cover to secure loved ones if the worst happens. We share prompts to review policies at predictable times, gut-check media noise against actual risk, and right-size premiums to match what you stand to lose. It’s a candid, practical conversation designed to help you insure the person before the possessions—and trade reaction for readiness.If this helped you see your blind spots, follow the show, share it with someone you care about, and leave a quick review so others can find it. Your future self will thank you.Send us a text Support the showBuy your first home in NZ Weekly Webinars You thought it's not possible or the dream is too far away? Come to my webinar and I will show you, you are much closer to your dream, than you think you are! Join Here - https://bit.ly/4m9SL72