There are many investment options for people, but Kiwi’s generally still prefer property.

You could argue that we are in a age of uncertainty when it comes to investing in rental stock. Will the rates rise? Will Capital Gains tax be introduced? Is the cost of property up-keep too much? Questioning the wisdom of investing in property is a good thing, and any investment should not be entered into lightly. The mitigating factors for investing in property right now are the continuing low-interest rate environment, steady-to-lower purchase-price potential and tax-treatment which is, at the current time, favourable.

For those that do build a portfolio there is a formula that is tried and true – START. This does not mean that you’ll necessarily be able to buy a rental property tomorrow but starting can mean a lot of different things. Start Planning – see what you can afford now or how you can work toward something you cannot afford right now. Start Saving – there is a deposit to come up with. Start Talking – to people that are going to be supportive and instrumental in achieving you help reach your goal. Start Believing – you can do it.

When we are younger, 5 years seems like an eternity but as you get older you realise how time flies. Being younger and working to get into a house in 5 years is a great first step, from there it might another 3 years to get your first investment property, 2 years more for your second, and so on. This example would give you 3 properties over the course of 10 years. For some it will happen slower, for others quicker, but we have seen time and time again clients who are committed to achieving a portfolio get there. There will always be excuses for not reaching goals and it is rarely an easy road.

Time, the ability to service debt and surrounding yourself with a team who are specialists in different aspects of portfolio building are a winning combination. We’re always here help with the financial aspects of your plans – be the ultimate goal small or large.    

Property sales activity is down across New Zealand, with low listings and stagnant prices also pointing towards a market slowdown. According to data from the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ), September saw the fewest number of sales recorded nationally since January. Over the last 12 months, sales activity has dropped 3.3 percent outside Auckland and 2.1 percent in Auckland, bringing the nationwide decrease to 3.0 percent over the year.

As the years roll by and the wrinkles start to develop, we have more to look back on but less faculty for doing so. While decreasing memory as we get older might seem like one of life's tricks, there are lots of things we can do to improve our recall and upgrade our state of mind. Memory is a complicated process that’s made up of numerous brain activities, which means this task can be tackled in a few different ways.

The Kiwi dollar dropped to a significant 2.5 year low last week against the greenback, sinking to 64.26 US cents on the back of rising US interest rates and weak domestic data. While the dollar has seen a spirited rise since then, coming back to its mid-September levels, many experts are forecasting the Kiwi to fall even further in the weeks and months ahead. How low the Kiwi goes will depend on US-China trade tensions, the health of the domestic economy, and whether or not the market has fully priced in the Federal Reserve's tightening cycle.

Spring is well and truly here, with more light in the day both increasing the warmth of your home and highlighting the dust in its corners. More than just a bridge between winter and summer, spring is a time to start fresh, a time to hit the reset button on everything that has been and lay the foundations for a better tomorrow. Spring cleaning is well-established across much of the world, with this practical and effective ritual helping you to take stock and get your home ready for the summer ahead.

The world of fine art is shrouded in mystery, especially when it comes to the top end of the market. While most of the world's famous masterpieces are owned by museums in Europe and rarely sold, there is an active private auction market for some high profile works. In order to determine the value of a piece of art, it's important to differentiate between museum paintings and those owned by private collectors. While old master works in museums are valued extremely high, most of them will never be available for private sale.