Articles tagged with 'interest rates'
Interest payments on mortgages soar
27 October 2023 - Record high interest bills are hitting mortgage borrowers as rising and high interest rates bite.
More mortgage pain on the horizon
23 August 2023 - Mortgage repayments continue to eat into almost half of borrowers’ income and could rise as banks raise interest rates, despite the OCR remaining at 5.5%.
Interest rates drop might be further away
26 June 2023 - Global short-end interest rates drifted higher last week as a handful of G10 central banks lifted policy rates, most notably Norges Bank and the Bank of England with 50bp hikes.
Kiwis getting used to high interest rates but warned not to fix for long
1 June 2023 - Home loan arrears dropped for the first time in eight months, the latest Centrix credit indicator report shows.
Prediction interest rates will remain higher longer
14 April 2023 - The average interest rate being paid across all mortgage debt could remain higher than existing levels throughout the next five years, says Infometrics.
Helping to scale the coming interest rate rate cliff
9 February 2023 - John Bolton, has come up with ways to make the coming loans crunch marginally less painful for borrowers, even if it will still hurt a lot.
US Interest rates jump
22 September 2022 - The US Federal Reserve has raised the base interest rate by 75 points, as was almost universally expected.
Lower unemployment forecast – with high interest rates to follow
1 August 2022 - A lot of investor eyes will be on the labour market figures for the June quarter when they come out from Stats NZ on Wednesday.
Interest rates biting investors as market correction kicks in
13 May 2022 - Rising interest rates are really starting to hurt the housing market.
[GRTV] Rising interest rates drive investors into value stocks
29 April 2022 - Devon Funds head of retail Greg Smith explains why value investing is suddenly back in favour.[+ AUDIO]
Unemployment figures could prompt higher interest rates
2 February 2022 - Further pressure is expected on interest rates after the unemployment figures come out today.
ANZ changes its call on OCR hikes
20 October 2021 - ANZ has changed its forecasts for the OCR adding in to additional hikes and expecting the cash rate to hit 2%.
October rate increases to follow recent moves
23 September 2021 - Banks are poised to raise interest rates further next month despite a wave of increases in recent weeks.
ANZ hikes rates ahead of RBNZ decision
17 August 2021 - ANZ has raised its fixed home loan rates by between 10 and 30 basis points ahead of the Reserve Bank's expected rate hike tomorrow.
Beating up investors with yet more regulations
10 August 2021 - Investors had best hope come the middle of 2022 that house prices have not gone up by another 10%, writes Sally Lindsay.
OCR reaction: higher interest rates expected
14 July 2021 - Economists predict the Reserve Bank will soon opt to lift the official cash rate as inflationary pressures grow.
ASB hikes rates across the board
14 July 2021 - ASB has become the first major bank to hike interest rates across the board as New Zealand's economic outlook improves.
Interest rates key to fighting house price boom
12 July 2021 - Westpac’s economists expect rising interest rates to play the biggest role in flattening house price increases.
Borrowers can handle higher interest rates: ASB
29 June 2021 - Kiwi households should be able to cope with rising interest rates but recent first home buyers could face a squeeze, according to ASB.
Interest rate hike expectations grow
21 June 2021 - The recent surge in economic growth has increased the odds of an official cash rate hike in February, according to Kiwibank economists.
RBNZ balance sheet almost triples in size
2 June 2021 - Efforts to help reduce interest rates and restore confidence in financial markets have seen the Reserve Bank of New Zealand's balance sheet almost triple in size.
Inflation about to hit Main Street
12 May 2021 - Markets will have one and half eyes on inflation prints over the rest of 2021 as investors try to ascertain how substantial and sticky inflation pressures are.
Interest rate rises scary for property investors
28 April 2021 - The possibility of rising interest rates will scare investors even more than the recent changes to the bright-line test and removal of mortgage interest tax deductibility, says the latest ANZ Property Focus report.
Short-term interest rates drop - long-term loans on the up
27 April 2021 - Major New Zealand mortgage lenders have dropped rates on short-term loans but have raised rates for longer-term lending as inflation pressure slowly starts to build in the local market.
How housing reforms could impact interest rates
29 March 2021 - The Government's radical housing market reforms could mean lower interest rates for longer, according to Westpac economists.
Are long-term rates the best bet?
19 March 2021 - Mortgage borrowers need to start hedging against the risk that interest rates will rise and move in "unpredictable" ways, according to economist Tony Alexander.
RBNZ governor wants lower loan rates
24 February 2021 - Reserve Bank governor Adrian Orr has called on banks to pass on lower interest rates to borrowers, and has a message for lenders: "We are watching."
Why we won't get negative rates
19 January 2021 - ASB has become the latest bank to reverse its forecast for a negative official cash rate.
Lending predictions for 2021
15 January 2021 - Interest rates will remain at historic lows for the next two years and banks will become more receptive to new customers this year, predicts economist Tony Alexander.
What is the Reserve Bank's new plan to cut interest rates?
11 November 2020 - The Reserve Bank is expected to outline plans for its Funding for Lending Programme today, the latest tool to help push down borrowing costs. How will it work?
Strong market attracting investors
4 November 2020 - There has been a jump in investor demand and activity over the last month, according to the latest REINZ/Tony Alexander survey of real estate agents.
Auckland’s average price now $1million plus
4 November 2020 - New Zealand’s biggest market is booming with Barfoot & Thompson’s latest data revealing that Auckland’s average residential property price is over the $1 million mark for the first time.
Market influencers going forward...
2 November 2020 - Value growth is accelerating and one property expert is picking that Government construction plans and the role of LVRs will dominate market discussion of the trend going forward.
Dunedin in demand
29 October 2020 - A supply and demand imbalance together with improved housing stock mean Dunedin’s values are on the rise, writes Joanna Jefferies.
COMMENT: Dunedin’s slowdown might last
22 October 2020 - Dunedin’s loss of value growth momentum in recent months could be a longer lasting trend, writes CoreLogic senior property economist Kelvin Davidson.
COMMENT: Is a post-election market surge likely?
20 October 2020 - Will the 2020 post-election period see the usual effect on housing, or will it be another anomaly, asks REINZ chief executive Bindi Norwell.
Negative OCR still needed - Westpac
20 October 2020 - Despite fears of an overheated housing market, Westpac economists believe the Reserve Bank will still need to lower the official cash rate next year.
Something’s gotta give on prices
16 October 2020 - House prices are on a relentless march upwards and BNZ is warning that “over-zealous investors” could push them to non-sustainable levels.
COMMENT: Property investment tax advantages
15 October 2020 - Public opinion has it that there’s lots of tax advantages with property investment. But property accountant Anthony Appleton-Tattersall* is asking people to let him know if they see any, as he hasn’t found them yet.
Market correction? Don’t hold your breath.
14 October 2020 - The economic fallout from Covid-19 was supposed to lead to a housing market correction. It hasn’t – and now ASB says prices are only going to keep climbing.
Sales, prices skyrocket in defiant market
13 October 2020 - It’s official: New Zealand’s housing market is going crazy – and the skyrocketing prices have left economists revising their forecasts and worried it heralds a new bubble.
COMMENT: Accessing commercial property assets
9 October 2020 - Small investors can access big commercial property assets, Craigs Investment Partners head of private wealth research Mark Lister explains how.
No sign of investor exodus
8 October 2020 - It looks as though residential landlords are not exiting the market in droves as a result of the Government’s tenancy law reforms and other investor-focused policy changes.
Booming sales in the Super City
2 October 2020 - Market activity is not letting up in Auckland with the city’s biggest real estate agency announcing that September saw the highest number of sales in a month since 2017.
Values on the rise again - CoreLogic
1 October 2020 - Growth in property values stalled after the first lockdown – but that’s changing with signs of growth emerging in markets nationwide once again.
Resilient consent numbers surprise
30 September 2020 - High numbers of residential dwelling consents are still being issued with Stats NZ’s latest data leaving economists surprised at the ongoing resilience of construction.
Southland is tops for investors
25 September 2020 - It seems you can’t just beat Southland for high performing investment properties, with the region coming up trumps yet again in a new REINZ report.
What the Reserve Bank's latest move means for housing
24 September 2020 - The Reserve Bank’s programme to lend directly to retail banks could be ready soon. If it is, that’s likely to mean lower interest rates on loans – and more support for the housing market.
High demand keeps pushing prices up
18 September 2020 - Treasury might be expecting house prices to fall - but market data suggests otherwise, with Trade Me Property’s August data the latest to show rising prices and high demand.
COMMENT: Never a right time to invest – why buyers need to act now
16 September 2020 - New Zealanders who are apprehensive about buying property should be spurred on to take the jump as record low mortgage rates and a lesson from the current world backdrop settle in, argues iConsult’s Satyan Mehra*.
Expect house prices to keep rising - Westpac
14 September 2020 - House prices are set to keep going up rather than down, one of the big banks now says – after reversing its earlier predictions of price declines.
Covid be damned – the market is booming
11 September 2020 - Those who were anticipating a Covid-prompted housing market collapse got it wrong with the latest REINZ data revealing strong growth in prices and sales.
Interest rates not bargains driving investors
9 September 2020 - Investors’ hopes of picking up a property bargain in the post-Covid market are fading, the latest joint survey from REINZ and economist Tony Alexander reveals.
High consent issuance not expected to continue
1 September 2020 - Over 10,000 new dwelling consents were issued in the three months to July, a rolling total not seen since the 1970s. But economists don’t expect the trend to continue.
Buyer sentiment at eight year high
28 August 2020 - More people now believe that it is a good time to buy a house than at any other time since 2012, ASB’s latest Housing Confidence Survey reveals.
Covid-19 return could derail market boom
14 August 2020 - The housing market was booming in July with price and sales up nationwide, new REINZ data shows, but the return of Covid-19 raises questions of how the market will fare going forward.
Why mortgage rates are likely to fall even lower
13 August 2020 - Home loan rates are already at record lows, but economists at ASB predict interest rates will plummet even further in the coming months.
Mortgage deferral programme to be extended
12 August 2020 - Reserve Bank governor Adrian Orr says the mortgage deferral programme will be extended beyond September, as the Covid-19 pandemic regains a grip on New Zealand.
Covid crisis will impact on market - in time
21 July 2020 - ASB continues to expect a 6% decline in nationwide house prices – even though the Covid-19 prompted economic adjustment to date been less severe than most expected.
Servicing tests hinder home loan market
17 July 2020 - Tough servicing tests continue to hinder the home loan market, leaving borrowers unable to tap into attractive headline interest rates.
Mortgage demand picked to decline
16 July 2020 - Banks are expecting a fall in demand for mortgage lending in the second half of 2020, according to a new Reserve Bank Credit Conditions Survey.
Sales, prices surge up - defying expectations
14 July 2020 - The housing market’s post-Covid rebound continued in June with house prices rising further and sales volumes hitting a four year high – but economists are asking if it will last.
Investors not rushing to sell
9 July 2020 - There is no rush of investors looking to sell their properties in the post-Covid-19 market, according to the second joint survey from REINZ and economist Tony Alexander.
Why the future is not bleak for the housing market
3 July 2020 - Uncertainty continues to cast its shadow over the housing market but economist Tony Alexander has put together a list of reasons which offset the negatives and mean the market remains well-supported.
Mortgage borrowing rebounds in May
25 June 2020 - New mortgage borrowing rose by roughly $1.6 billion in May as the property market showed signs of recovery from the Covid-19 lockdown.
SuperCity yields improving
25 June 2020 - Investors take note - record low mortgage rates mean the yields on Auckland rental properties are starting to look more attractive.
$75m on offer for new developments
9 June 2020 - Auckland ’s long-term future is sound as well situated residential developments will always sell and demand for affordable housing remains strong, a leading non-bank property financier says.
Weak sales, resilient prices
3 June 2020 - Auckland’s housing market saw another slump in sales volumes in May but prices are holding steady, according to the city’s largest real estate agency.
Price expectations spiral down
27 May 2020 - Housing confidence has been dealt a hefty blow by the Covid-19 crisis with house price expectations plummeting to new lows.
OCR reaction: Reserve Bank open to lower, negative rates
13 May 2020 - Economists say that the Reserve Bank has left the door open to lower or even negative rates, as it kept the official cash rate on hold in its Monetary Policy Statement (MPS) today.
Reserve Bank ends LVR restrictions
30 April 2020 - The Reserve Bank has decided to remove loan to value ratio restrictions for 12 months in response to the Covid-19 crisis.
Private property viewings allowed under level three
23 April 2020 - The property market has received a boost after Housing Minister Megan Woods confirmed that private viewings will be allowed under alert level three.
Life remains in real estate industry
7 April 2020 - Open homes are forbidden and real estate transactions are in hiatus during the lockdown, but that doesn’t mean it’s not possible for investors to find a deal.
Lockdown market sentiment
6 April 2020 - Caution might dominate property sector participants’ takes on the market, but independent economist Tony Alexander’s latest polling reveals that not all investors are taking a step back.
COMMENT: Making sense of it all: COVID-19, the economy & property
2 April 2020 - The Covid-19 crisis means everything is changing fast, so CoreLogic’s Kelvin Davidson* has put together his 10 key points on what to be aware of when it comes to the property market.
Bank margins under pressure: KPMG
1 April 2020 - Bank margins are under pressure amid record low interest rates and lenders may not be able to cut mortgage rates much further, according to a new report from KPMG.
What lies ahead for the housing market
31 March 2020 - As New Zealand begins to settle into the “new normal” of the Covid-19 lockdown, commentators have started releasing their (tentative) outlooks for the housing market. Here’s a summary of some of them...
Banks roll out mortgage holiday
30 March 2020 - Major lenders have launched mortgage holidays for borrowers affected by the Covid-19 outbreak, using online application forms to process customer requests.
ASB slashes house price forecasts
17 March 2020 - House price growth will drop away to zero over the coming year, according to ASB who have cut their forecasts in response to the coronavirus crisis.
What coronavirus means for property investors
16 March 2020 - Welcome to Fortress New Zealand. The coronavirus crisis means that strict travel bans are now in force and a recession is expected. So what does that mean for property investors going forward?
Syndicates take big share of commercial purchases
13 March 2020 - Investors thinking about joining up with a property syndicate can rest assured that New Zealand syndicates have been keeping busy of late.
Housing market powers on – for now
12 March 2020 - New Zealand’s housing market resurgence is showcased in new REINZ data which has the national median price at a new record and sales at a four-year high.
Affordability under pressure - ASB
12 March 2020 - Expectations that house prices will rise are at a three-year high but that means less people think now is a good time to buy a house.
Will mortgage rates fall much further?
9 March 2020 - An official cash rate cut looks increasing likely amid the Covid-19 outbreak, but economists doubt mortgage rates will drop much further than current levels.
[GRTV] Investing's difficult at the moment top manager says
9 March 2020 - Magellan chief investment officer Hamish Douglass speaks to Good Returns TV about how to invest in markets complicated by coronavirus, low interest rates and upcoming elections.
Will mortgage rates fall much further?
6 March 2020 - An official cash rate cut looks increasing likely amid the Covid-19 outbreak, but economists doubt mortgage rates will drop much further than current levels.
Values escape coronavirus contagion
4 March 2020 - There’s no escaping the spectre of coronavirus right now but it hasn’t had an impact on the property market with new QV data showing it continues to strengthen.
RTA reforms pile pressure on landlords
24 February 2020 - Less rental properties and higher rents could result from the reforms contained in the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill, both Opposition MPs and government officials are warning.
Heartland launches reverse mortgages for investors
19 February 2020 - Heartland has expanded its reverse mortgage business and will now lend against investment properties and second homes, as the product becomes more popular in New Zealand.
Strong start for market in 2020
18 February 2020 - Auckland’s housing market has surged back into the game with its busiest January in four years, new REINZ data reveals.
Low rates until 2022
17 February 2020 - ASB economists predict the next OCR tightening cycle will start in early 2022, with interest rates on hold throughout this year and next year.
Rising house prices glossed over in MPS
13 February 2020 - New Zealand’s housing market is rebounding strongly but the Reserve Bank barely mentioned it in Wednesday’s Monetary Policy Statement (MPS). That’s left one economist asking why.
Mortgage lending strong in December
29 January 2020 - December mortgage lending increased by more than $1 billion year-on-year, according to the latest figures from the Reserve Bank.
Confidence in rental returns at new low
29 January 2020 - Belief that rental property will provide the best investment returns has fallen to a 15 plus year low, the latest ASB Investor Confidence Survey reveals.
Why house price growth will continue
28 January 2020 - House price inflation is unlikely to radically slow this year after a strong end to 2019, according to leading economist Tony Alexander.
Upping the ante on price growth
22 January 2020 - ANZ economists have become the latest commentators to revise up their house price inflation predictions and are now picking 8% growth by mid-2020.
Highest sales in December for three years
16 January 2020 - New Zealand’s property market ended the decade on a high with new REINZ data putting sales at their highest volume in years and median prices up around the country.
COMMENT: What lies ahead in 2020?
3 January 2020 - It’s that time of year when we are all contemplating what the year ahead has in store… So here’s GRA managing director Matthew Gilligan’s property market predictions for 2020.
Commercial confidence at three year high
19 December 2019 - Booming regional centres are driving positivity in the market and that’s left commercial property investors more confident than they have been in three years.
Record prices see upturn gathering pace
13 December 2019 - New Zealand’s housing market resurgence continues to gain momentum with the latest REINZ data showing record prices around the country.
Buyer sentiment at seven year high
9 December 2019 - Housing market expectations have improved significantly in ASB’s latest Housing Confidence Survey – and record low interest rates are playing a major part in that.
LVRs kept on hold
27 November 2019 - The Reserve Bank has kept its LVR speed limits on hold amid fears low interest rates "could lead to a resurgence in higher-risk lending".
LVR restrictions to stay put: Westpac
25 November 2019 - Westpac economists believe the Reserve Bank will keep LVR speed limits at their current levels, amid fears over house price stability.
Mortgage rates may be at cycle low: ASB
20 November 2019 - Take note, investors: It is "quite possible" fixed rate mortgages have hit their lowest point in this cycle, according to economists at ASB.
Mortgage rates may be at cycle low: ASB
18 November 2019 - It is "quite possible" fixed rate mortgages have hit their lowest point in this cycle, according to economists at ASB.
Record prices round NZ
14 November 2019 - It looks like the sleeping giant of New Zealand’s housing market could be stirring, with new REINZ data showing that both sales and prices in Auckland are up.
Southland “standout” region for investors
11 November 2019 - Investors looking for both strong capital gains and good rental yields should head to Southland – if they heed the results of new REINZ research.
Record low rates fuel market resurgence
6 November 2019 - A widespread resurgence in value growth of late means that all eyes are now on the Reserve Bank’s next OCR call which could give the market another push.
Markets price 50% chance of OCR cut: BNZ
5 November 2019 - Financial markets are pricing in a 50% chance of an official cash rate cut next week, down from 90% odds just a week ago.
Strong growth in multi-unit dwelling consents
31 October 2019 - The number of dwelling consents being issued just keeps going up, with September seeing the highest number in any 12-month period since the year to October 1974.
Demand challenges for commercial sector
31 October 2019 - Vacancy rates in the commercial property sector are set to increase as changing economic conditions dampen demand.
Mortgage rates fall by 1.2% in 18 months: ASB
29 October 2019 - Mortgage rates have fallen from 0.6%-1.2% over the past 18 months, but borrowers should plan to deal with higher interest in the long run, according to ASB.
LVR loosening likely - ANZ
23 October 2019 - LVR restrictions were never meant to be a permanent feature of New Zealand’s housing market and ANZ economists argue that some further relaxing of them could soon be on the cards.
Return to market form
15 October 2019 - There’s been a rallying of the market with the latest REINZ data showing both sales volumes and median house prices noticeably up with the onset of Spring.
Three themes a top fund manager is watching closely
13 October 2019 - Markets are full of conflicting message at the moment. In this feature the Harbour Asset Management team explain what's happening and how the are positioning their portfolios.
Green light for property investment crowdfunding
9 October 2019 - The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) has approved a secondary market for The Property Crowd and that enables the residential property crowd funder to relaunch its trading platform.
Low rates prompting shift: FMA
2 October 2019 - Low interest rates may be prompting people to switch from term deposits to investing with an adviser, research suggests.
Resimac cuts rates and lowers servicing test
1 October 2019 - Non-bank lender Resimac has cut floating and fixed mortgage rates as well as easing its servicing test for borrowers.
Experts support capital review: RBNZ
1 October 2019 - The Reserve Bank says independent international experts support its plan to introduce strict new capital rules for banks.
New listings remain limited
1 October 2019 - There was no uptick in market activity in the first full month after the Reserve Bank’s big OCR cut, with listings still at low levels, realestate.co.nz’s latest data shows.
What really makes a diversified income fund run?
1 October 2019 - It's time to take a proper look under the bonnet and find out what makes a diversified income fund run. Who else better to ask than Mint’s diversified income fund mechanic (ok Portfolio Manager) Marek Krzeczkowski to explain the components that impact the running, and ultimately the performance of these types of funds.
LVR limits slow down investors
26 September 2019 - LVR speed limits continue to have a "strong effect" on investors, according to CoreLogic, after the latest Reserve Bank data showed a drop in investor borrowing.
COMMENT: Prospects strong for yielding assets
16 September 2019 - Commercial property can offer investors better options as the search for yields intensifies so NZ Mortgages & Securities director James Kellow provides his rundown on the outlook for the commercial market.
Sales fall highlights sluggish market
13 September 2019 - The Reserve Bank’s dramatic OCR cut in August was meant to prompt a pick-up in the housing market but new REINZ data shows sales have slumped again.
Reset policies will prompt price rises - Westpac
10 September 2019 - KiwiBuild “reset” policies will boost demand, rather than supply, and that will lead to house price rises, Westpac’s economists are predicting.
Expect three more OCR cuts – ANZ
6 September 2019 - Ongoing deterioration of the growth and inflation outlook means that ANZ is predicting that the Reserve Bank will cut the Official Cash Rate (OCR) to 0.25% by May next year.
Negative bank rates – yeah right!
4 September 2019 - It’s official: the world has gone mad. In Denmark a bank is paying people to take out a home loan with them.
Decline in value growth slows
4 September 2019 - Property value growth nationwide has been waning for months. But now QV’s latest data suggests the rate of decline is starting to ease up.
Hints of market resurgence
3 September 2019 - Lower interest rates are prompting renewed interest in the property market with Realestate.co.nz reporting a surge of activity in August.
Mortgage servicing rate cuts
2 September 2019 - Several banks have cut their servicing rates recently, with more expected to follow, and advisers believe such changes will mean more for borrowers than low rates do.
Slashing OCR has worked, economist says
28 August 2019 - The OCR is low and poised to get lower but Westpac’s chief economist doesn’t believe that means concerns about a negative OCR are warranted.
Are property investors returning to the market?
26 August 2019 - Property investors are said to be returning to the housing market, CoreLogic says but, if they are, it’s not evident in the Reserve Bank’s latest mortgage lending data.
Housing market confidence growing
26 August 2019 - The housing market could be turning a corner as a new ASB survey shows that price expectations and buyer confidence are both on the rise.
Low rates boost NZ’s housing affordability
21 August 2019 - Declining house prices and low interest rates have improved housing affordability across New Zealand over the first half of 2019, a new report from Moody’s Investors Service shows.
A tale of two cities prices
20 August 2019 - Asking prices in Auckland continue to decline while Wellington’s asking prices are still running hot, according to the latest Trade Me Property Price Index.
ASB: Rates may not get much lower
19 August 2019 - Mortgage rates are unlikely to move in "lock-step" with future Official Cash Rate cuts and will only fall "slightly" from current levels, according to economists at ASB Bank.
DTIs still on the Reserve Bank’s radar
12 August 2019 - Almost half of Auckland first home buyers have mortgages that are over five times their annual income – and that makes debt-to-income (DTI) ratios a hot topic again.
Advisers call for servicing test rethink for borrowers
12 August 2019 - Advisers believe banks should adapt their servicing tests for borrowers after the Official Cash Rate plunged to 1%.
Improvements in affordability nationwide
9 August 2019 - Lack of affordability has long been a problem for New Zealand’s housing market, but a new report suggests the tide could be turning.
OCR cut could prompt housing market upturn
8 August 2019 - The Reserve Bank’s decision to slash the Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 0.5% to a historic low of 1.0% has shocked the financial community, but what could it mean for the housing market?
OCR will fall further: economists react to shock cut
8 August 2019 - The Official Cash Rate could drop to 0.75% or even lower this year, economists say, after the Reserve Bank slashed the OCR by an unprecedented 50 basis points.
Reserve Bank surprises markets with 1% OCR
7 August 2019 - The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has surprised economists by slashing the Official Cash Rate by 50 basis points to just 1%.
OCR will fall to 0.75%: Kiwibank
5 August 2019 - Kiwibank has changed its forecast for the Official Cash Rate and now “expects” the OCR will drop to 0.75% in this cycle.
Investor confidence in property softens
5 August 2019 - There have been some positive housing market developments of late but they haven’t served to boost investor confidence about residential rental property.
Economists unanimous on rate cut
2 August 2019 - Economists unanimously agree that the Reserve Bank will cut the Official Cash Rate to 1.25% next week, according to TMM's OCR Preview Survey.
Asking prices defy winter odds
22 July 2019 - There’s little sign of the traditional winter slowdown in Trade Me Property’s new data with strong demand pushing asking prices up in many markets around the country.
10 market predictions for the rest of 2019
28 June 2019 - It’s been an eventful year for the residential property market so far but now’s a good time to look at what might be in store for the rest of 2019, declares Core Logic senior property economist Kelvin Davidson.
Golden rates age set to last
28 May 2019 - There’s no need to worry about interest rates in connection to mortgage debt for the next few years, according to Kiwibank’s chief economist.
Gloomy expectations around Super City
27 May 2019 - Auckland house price expectations have turned negative for the first time since 2009 with a new ASB survey turning in a gloomy outlook on the market.
Don’t count on a market upturn
17 May 2019 - It’s been a spectacular run for the market but this property cycle has done its dash and recent positive developments aren’t likely to cause a major upturn, one top economist says.
Rental property confidence dims
15 May 2019 - Confidence in rental property as an investment option is flatlining nationwide – thanks to the uncertainty surrounding the housing market.
NZ sales on downbound train
14 May 2019 - There’s no escaping the downward trend in sales exposed by new REINZ data but some commentators believe last week’s OCR cut could counter the fall.
Investor lending weak in March
30 April 2019 - The latest Reserve Bank lending data reveals investors borrowed more than $1 billion in March, the highest figure since November, but a 10% fall on the same period last year.
Falling interest rates change investing landscape
9 April 2019 - A changing interest environment may mean some tough decisions ahead for investors and advisers.
Auckland a “buyers market”
4 April 2019 - Prices remain high in the Auckland region but new data from two real estate websites indicates the market has shifted to favour buyers.
COMMENT: Capital gain vs cash flow
12 March 2019 - There are two very different types of property investors and the introduction of a capital gains tax would affect one far more than the other, explains veteran property investor Graeme Fowler.
A good time to buy?
15 February 2019 - There’s slowing price growth and subdued sales nationwide – and yet a new survey shows the number of people who think it’s a good time to buy a house is at a five and a half year high.
Time of change: 2019 forecast
15 January 2019 - New Zealand’s property market might be in a better place than Australia’s but investors still need to brace themselves for major change in 2019.
Mortgage lending to investors plummets
20 December 2018 - Investors may not be selling up en masse but they aren’t buying either – going by new data which shows the amount getting mortgage lending has dropped significantly.
Ring-fencing Bill hits Parliament
7 December 2018 - [UPDATED] The Bill which will put an end to the practice of negative gearing on investment properties has now been introduced into Parliament.
Rates fall boosting housing market - Westpac
15 November 2018 - Mortgage rates have fallen to record lows recently and the housing market is perking up as result – but it won’t last, Westpac’s chief economist says.
House buyer sentiment hits 5 year high
12 November 2018 - Growing numbers of New Zealanders think the times are improving for those wanting to buy a house, ASB’s latest Housing Confidence Survey shows.
Growth cycle not over yet
1 November 2018 - It seems there is some life in the market yet with property values springing back to life in the latest QV data.
Housing affordability improves
18 October 2018 - Falling house prices and historically low mortgage rates have led to an improvement in housing affordability around New Zealand.
Kiwibank one-year special to rise
31 August 2018 - Kiwibank's one-year fixed home loan special, at 3.99 percent, is set to end this weekend, as the bank reverts to its standard interest rate.
Owner occupiers better protected now: RBNZ (+ Report)
17 July 2018 - New owner-occupier mortgage holders have become less vulnerable to a housing market bust, higher interest rates or income loss since the Reserve Bank introduced the LVRs.
ASB predicts “mild” OCR increase
5 July 2018 - Lender ASB believes there will be a “mild” tightening cycle at the Reserve Bank, with floating and fixed rate mortgages expected to remain stable until the end of next year.
Kiwis back shared equity schemes
21 June 2018 - Many New Zealanders would support government-backed "shared equity schemes" to help first home buyers, as they struggle with high prices across the country.
RESIMAC unveils self-employed specials
14 May 2018 - Non-bank lender RESIMAC has introduced rate cuts and new products for the self-employed as it targets more business rejected by the major banks.
RESIMAC cuts rates after 30% volume rise
11 May 2018 - Non-bank lender RESIMAC has unveiled a series of interest rate cuts on its home loan products after experiencing record growth in April.
Applause for OCR call
10 May 2018 - New Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr has earned plaudits from economists for his first OCR announcement this morning – even though the decision itself was not a surprise.
All eyes on Orr in lead-up to OCR call
4 May 2018 - Thursday’s monetary policy statement (MPS) is the most keenly anticipated Reserve Bank outing in many months – but it’s due to the new Governor, not the OCR outlook.
Kiwibank slashes rates
23 April 2018 - Kiwibank has cut pricing across its 1 to 5 year fixed rate home loans, effective from Monday.
Time to get climbing?
17 April 2018 - We recently came across the chart below, which by anyone’s standard gives a truly long-term view on interest rates. It was put together by the Reserve...
No need to fear RBNZ’s new PTA
26 March 2018 - The Reserve Bank will now have to consider employment outcomes when setting monetary policy but this may have less impact than feared, experts say.
Spirit of caution in OCR call
22 March 2018 - Don’t expect interest rates to start rising anytime soon as the Reserve Bank’s decision to leave the OCR at 1.75% today makes it clear they remain on hold.
OCR call takes backseat
16 March 2018 - Changes are looming for the Reserve Bank and that has pushed OCR decisions into the background – despite a pending announcement next week.
Lending criteria to ease, rates to rise
22 February 2018 - Tight bank lending conditions are expected to ease as credit growth continues to slow, global ratings agency Standard & Poors says.
Low interest rates set to continue
8 February 2018 - Interest rates look set to remain low for a considerable amount of time following the Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Statement (MPS) and OCR call this morning.
OCR holding pattern to continue
2 February 2018 - Measured restraint will be the tone of the Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Statement next week, with economists unanimously expecting the OCR to stay on hold.
New Zealand values most stretched in world
26 January 2018 - New Zealand equities are the most highly valued in the world on a price-to-earnings basis according to a ranking of MSCI indexes, but local commentators say that’s not necessarily cause for concern.
Don't worry, stay invested
12 January 2018 - New Zealand market commentators are optimistic about the year ahead, despite international warnings that a crash is “overdue”.
Inflation problem for RBNZ
5 December 2017 - If inflation doesn’t pick up by late 2018 interest rate cuts could again be on the cards, according to the Reserve Bank.
RBNZ to ease LVR restrictions
29 November 2017 - The Reserve Bank says it will make some slight easing of the LVR restrictions from January 1.
Economic outlook still positive: ASB
15 November 2017 - Investors are being told to expect less economic growth over the second-half of the year – but the slowdown should not last.
Reserve Bank changes 'not radical'
8 November 2017 - The Government is set to introduce an employment objective for the Reserve Bank but that is unlikely to affect the future direction of interest rates.
Investors search for income
2 November 2017 - More investors are looking for products that produce income in retirement, as low interest rates persist.
Leverage up your KiwiSaver fund
30 October 2017 - Booster chief investment officer David Beattie says people should be taking more risk in their KiwiSaver funds.
Peters as Kingmaker: What next for investors?
25 September 2017 - New Zealand may be on tenterhooks waiting for New Zealand First leader Winston Peters' coalition decision, but investors do not have cause to worry ... yet, commentators say.
Labour would change Reserve Bank - so what?
21 September 2017 - A change of government this weekend could mean a new direction for the Reserve Bank and another element for investors to understand.
LVRs still needed - RBNZ
30 August 2017 - The Reserve Bank’s LVRs are not expected to be a permanent measure but they are not going to be removed in the near future, outgoing Governor Graeme Wheeler said in a speech today.
Softer market better time to buy
25 August 2017 - Good news for advisers: softer price growth is starting to improve perceptions of whether it is a bad time to buy a house, a new survey suggests.
Clients might need a bonds brush-up
17 August 2017 - Advisers are being warned that some clients may get a shock when rising interest rates put pressure on bond values.
PM rules out DTI ratio idea
16 August 2017 - Prime Minister Bill English has ruled out allowing the Reserve Bank to bring in debt-to-income ratios. It had suggested limiting loans to no more than five times borrowers’ incomes.
No dovish nod to future for RBNZ
10 August 2017 - The Reserve Bank’s OCR statement made it clear hikes are a long way off but its tone was still far less dovish than economists were expecting.
Partners Life profit flat on back of continued growth
1 August 2017 - Partners Life has reported a flat profit for the year to March 31, even though premium revenue has continued to grow.
Why now is the time for active management
19 July 2017 - Publisher Philip Macalister spoke to Andrew Bascand from Harbour Asset Management. Harbour has over $3.3 billion in funds under management at the moment, and recently won the Morningstar Fund Manager of the Year Award for the second consecutive time.
GRTV: Code working group, active v passive and the rising cost of financial advice
14 July 2017 - In this latest episode of GRTV, Mike Newton of advice firm Newton Ross discusses the "scary" make up of the new code working group, Hobson Wealth Partners' Warren Couillault talks about the rising cost of providing financial advice and finally Paul Moore of PM Capital explains why passive managers’ luck just might run out.
$2b tilting programme 'good example' for advisers
13 July 2017 - Strategic tilting has delivered an extra $2 billion in value to the NZ Super Fund, and it is suggested there may be lessons for advisers in its experience.
Active managers time is coming: Moore
8 July 2017 - Passive managers’ luck may run out over the coming years, one fund manager says.
Hawkish talk foreshadows rate rises
5 July 2017 - Tightening talk is coming from central banks around the world – although not New Zealand’s – and that means more interest rate movement is on the cards.
RBNZ renews push for DTIs
31 May 2017 - UPDATED: Ongoing risks posed by the housing market mean the Reserve Bank is set to start consulting on the addition of debt-to-income ratios (DTIs) to its policy toolkit.
Rate rises not prompting action
10 April 2017 - Most mortgage holders expect interest rates to rise this year – but they aren’t planning to do anything about it, new BNZ research reveals.
Major changes for Reserve Bank?
10 April 2017 - Interest rate decisions could soon be made somewhat differently after both National and Labour suggest changes for the Reserve Bank are on the cards.
Reaction: OCR - 'Nothing to see here'
23 March 2017 - Interest rates look set to remain low for some time following a Reserve Bank OCR announcement this morning which was as expected and determinedly neutral, according to economists.
US rate rise likely this month
6 March 2017 - US Federal Reserve chairman Janet Yellen gave a hat tip to a March rate hike in her most recent speech. She said that if the economy continues to evolve...
Volatility leads to tighter lending environment
16 February 2017 - Expect slower lending growth and rising interest rates this year as banks respond to developments in 2016, the latest KPMG Financial Institutions Performance Survey says.
OCR cut not expected
3 February 2017 - It’s a unanimous verdict: economists en masse expect the OCR to stay on hold next week – and for many months after that.
OCR hike to come - later
24 January 2017 - The Reserve Bank’s next OCR move is likely to be up – although it won't be for a while, a new HSBC report says.
Surprise spike in mortgage lending
21 December 2016 - Evidence that the effect of the latest LVR restrictions might be diminishing comes in new data which reveals a big jump in mortgage lending – including to investors.
OCR hikes on the horizon
21 December 2016 - The OCR has troughed and the risks are now skewed to OCR hikes from the middle of next year, according to one major bank.
Rising rates, quieter market
16 December 2016 - Higher mortgage rates will have a more sustained impact on the housing market than the LVR restrictions have, according to Westpac.
US Fed hike: When a tiny move matters
15 December 2016 - As widely anticipated, the US Federal Reserve lifted the US Fed Funds Rate by 25 basis points this morning, to a new target range of 0.50% to 0.75%. ...
Fed move will boost NZ rates
15 December 2016 - Mortgage rates are set to continue on their slow upward trajectory – after getting added impetus from the first US Federal Reserve rate increase in a year.
'Lower forever' no longer safe interest rate view
21 November 2016 - Improving term deposits rates are putting pressure on other asset classes to provide a better premium.
Post-earthquake OCR cut unlikely
18 November 2016 - Don’t expect the Reserve Bank to cut the OCR again following the earthquakes earlier this week - despite the damage and disruption they have caused, economists say.
US election casts shadow over OCR response
10 November 2016 - Spectre of US election result looms over reaction to this morning’s OCR cut, but economists say it is too soon to say what impact it might have on the Reserve Bank’s future moves.
OCR to hit lowest point this week
4 November 2016 - A historic low is looming for the OCR this week but it could be the trough of the cycle, with most economists predicting the cut will be the last.
Inflation pressure off - slightly
2 November 2016 - Pressure on the Reserve Bank to keep cutting the OCR has been alleviated by the results of the Bank’s latest inflation expectations survey.
Fed increase 'would alarm'
19 September 2016 - Equities markets around the world could get a shock if the United States Federal Reserve opts to increase interest rates this week.
OCR cut not on the cards - yet
16 September 2016 - Don’t expect another OCR cut this week: economists are uniformly predicting the Reserve Bank will leave the OCR on hold, but cut later this year.
Low interest rates, political risk new normal for investors
9 September 2016 - Investors are being told political uncertainty and demographic change are now two of the most important risks to consider in their asset allocation decisions.
Rising pressures impact on Kiwibank
26 August 2016 - Competitive market and increasing funding costs mean Kiwibank has experienced a small drop in its annual after tax profits.
Expect OCR cut in November - economists
24 August 2016 - Further OCR cuts are looming strongly on the horizon in the wake of the Reserve Bank’s speech yesterday, economists have said.
Reserve Bank defends interest rate stance
23 August 2016 - Lowering the OCR risks further fuelling house price growth but the Reserve Bank believes it has been a necessary trade-off to prevent a decline in inflation expectations.
Borrowers unlikely to see full cut
11 August 2016 - Reserve Bank expects this morning’s OCR cut to be passed on to, but that's unlikely to happen. ANZ has already said it is only passing on one fifth of the central bank's cut to its customers.
More cuts on the horizon
11 August 2016 - Lack of surprise greeted the Reserve Bank’s OCR cut today and economists say further cuts have now been clearly signposted.
Quieter times ahead for housing market - ASB
8 August 2016 - New Zealand’s housing market has been on the boil this year, but ASB predicts it is set to cool to a simmer in the year to come.
Little doubt OCR cut coming
5 August 2016 - Rare consensus reigns on the OCR forecast front with economists across the board expecting the Reserve Bank to cut the OCR next week.
Banks care more about income than equity
24 July 2016 - Homeowners who want to tap into their increased equity in their homes are being warned they may be disappointed, unless they have had an income boost, too.
Reserve Bank signals more OCR cuts
21 July 2016 - The Reserve Bank says more official cash rate cuts are likely as it fights to get inflation into its target range.
Future OCR cuts dependent on inflation
7 July 2016 - Persistently subdued inflation means a further OCR cut looks likely, but economists are suggesting that the tide may have turned on multiple cuts.
Brexit means August OCR cut likely
27 June 2016 - It’s early days yet but economists agree that Brexit has upped the odds for the Reserve Bank to cut the OCR in August.
Turbo-charged returns can't last: Super Fund
23 June 2016 - Strong market returns experienced over the past five years are unlikely to continue into the future - but low interest rates are likely here to stay, the NZ Super Fund’s manager of investment analysis, Roland Winn, says.
Borrowing frenzy risks
22 June 2016 - New Zealand’s high level of mortgage lending has been in the spotlight recently and commentators are warning that’s for good reason.
Institutional backing gets blame for high rates
20 June 2016 - Constraints on funding are being blamed for the interest rates peer-to-peer lenders are charging borrowers.
Low interest rates likely to be a problem for some time
16 June 2016 - Advisers and clients will need a mindset shift to deal with many more years of low interest rates, it has been predicted.
OCR on hold till August - HSBC
30 May 2016 - Strong growth and a booming housing market mean that HSBC now expects the Reserve Bank to hold off on an OCR cut until August.
Budget unlikely to change Reserve Bank views
27 May 2016 - It’s been described as a no surprises, boring Budget, but what might Budget 2016 mean for interest rates?
Tactical guessing game
24 May 2016 - Reasons for the Reserve Bank not to cut the OCR in June are compelling but it’s a guessing game, according to some economists.
Investors brace for higher interest rates
24 May 2016 - Property investors need to be prepared to pay higher interest rates on their loans in response to changes made by the Reserve Bank. Read more. ...
Nick Tuffley's interest rate update
11 May 2016 - ASB Bank chief economist Nick Tuffley talks to TMM publisher Philip Macalister about where interest rates are headed and what strategy borrowers should take in this low interest rate environment.
The 'how' and 'why' of negative interest rates
4 May 2016 - The interest rate outlook has shifted from “lower for longer” to now “very low for very long”.
ASB: The only way is up
3 May 2016 - New Zealand’s economic growth is set to head upwards over the next couple of years, while interest rates dip further, a new report says. Read more. ...
Onwards and upwards
3 May 2016 - New Zealand’s economic growth is set to head upwards over the next couple of years, while interest rates dip further, a new report says.
Are more housing market curbs on the agenda?
19 April 2016 - Speculation over the prospect of further restrictions on the housing market has been growing, but the Reserve Bank is remaining silent.
Predicting the RBNZ's next OCR announcement a head scratcher
13 April 2016 - It's just over a fortnight now until the Reserve Bank makes its next Official Cash Rate announcement. After the surprise cut last time and a mixed bag of economic news since then, economists are scratching their heads to try and predict if the OCR will stay at 2.25% or be cut.
Reserve Bank's 'fine balance'
1 April 2016 - Should the Reserve Bank cut rates to boost inflation, or hike them to slow borrowing?
More OCR cuts to come - ASB
21 March 2016 - Further OCR cuts will be needed for the Reserve Bank to get the economic stimulation it needs, ASB predicts.
No role for politicians in OCR uproar - experts
16 March 2016 - Banks’ reluctance to pass on last week’s OCR cut may not be popular, but commentators agree it is far from surprising – and politicians shouldn’t get involved.
Inflation key for interest rates
14 March 2016 - An ongoing decline in inflation expectations could mean interest rates drop further, but some are nervous about the trade-offs involved.
No affordability problem
8 March 2016 - Interest rate trajectory is what is of most importance to house price movement, it has been suggested. Read more. ...
OCR cut this week unlikely
7 March 2016 - There’s little doubt further OCR cuts are on the way, but most economists see a cut this week as unlikely.
Looming impact of global funding costs
1 March 2016 - ANZ is warning mortgage rates may not fall as far as the OCR because of rising bank funding costs.
Flat half-year for Kiwibank
23 February 2016 - Scope for interest rates to drop is limited as funding costs are increasing and this could compress bank margins, according to Kiwibank. Read more. ...
Inflation expectations fall sharply
17 February 2016 - Marked decline in inflation expectations could be crucial for OCR outlook, one major bank says.
Slow growth expected
16 February 2016 - ASB predicts a a slow start to 2016 for the economy, which strengthens the case for further cuts to the OCR. Read here. ...
Lower mortgage rates expected
15 February 2016 - Westpac’s chief economist is expecting home loan interest rates to be lower in six months’ time than they are today. Read full story. ...
Expect lower mortgage rates in six months: Stephens
15 February 2016 - Home loan interest rates are likely to be lower in six months’ time than they are today, Westpac’s chief economist says.
Forecasts not commitment - RBNZ
4 February 2016 - Don’t mistake transparency and regular guidance as commitment to a certain policy path, the Reserve Bank warns.
Flexibility key to RBNZ policy
3 February 2016 - Responding to low inflation with immediate interest rate cuts is not the way to go, the Reserve Bank says.
NZ economic outlook downgraded
27 January 2016 - Weaker prices for agricultural exports have led Fitch Ratings to revise New Zealand’s growth outlook down.
OCR cuts to come – but not now
25 January 2016 - Inflation forecasts are the key theme in economists’ predictions for Thursday’s official cash rate call from the Reserve Bank.
Mortgage lending grows
22 December 2015 - Increase in mortgage lending goes against the prevailing trend of slowing growth, new analysis says.
Muted response to Fed move
18 December 2015 - Global monetary policy is likely to be supportive for investors in international equity markets for some time, including in New Zealand and Australia, commentators say.
Reluctance to cut may be wrong
10 December 2015 - Predictions of further cuts and analysis of changes in tone flow following the Reserve Bank’s OCR cut this morning.
Odds are on an OCR cut
4 December 2015 - Expectations of a cut to the OCR next week are riding high – although some economists have divergent theories.
PIMCO platform launches
4 December 2015 - PIMCO has launched a new digital platform customised for financial advisers, institutions and individual investors in this part of the world.
New normal threatens RBNZ tactics
2 December 2015 - NZIER says the Reserve Bank should give up inflation-targeting.
More OCR cuts to come
16 November 2015 - Weakness in the dairy sector means OCR cuts are on the way, ASB says.
Housing market still a risk - RBNZ
11 November 2015 - There are no Reserve Bank plans for further investor restrictions, despite its housing market concerns.
More OCR cuts likely – despite housing concerns
14 October 2015 - Global economic concerns mean more “easing” of the OCR is likely, even though this could further fuel the already-hot housing market, the Reserve Bank Governor has said.
Global factors make for low rates
28 September 2015 - Low interest rates look set to continue as the Reserve Bank’s annual report emphasises the importance of maintaining a flexible monetary policy in the face of global economic challenges.
Interest rate rise could surprise, economist warns
24 September 2015 - Interest rates could increase at a rate that is much faster than the market expects, NZIER principal economist Aaron Drew is warning.
Six-month term borrowers' best bet
18 September 2015 - A six-month fixed term is the best bet for borrowers who want to slash their mortgage interest bill, economists say.
