From outside of the banks it looks like it should be getting easier to borrow money. With interest rates continuing to fall, it seems logical that the trading banks should look at the amount required for servicing through kinder eyes. The fact is that they are easing servicing requirements - slowly – but this is offset by the fears they have about the way the money markets may go and the upcoming requirements for holding more capital i.e. more dollars held for every dollar they lend out.

The overall result is that banks are more cautious about lending money which means, for people trying to borrow money, it is tough.

Seizing on this opportunity, a number of non-banks have moved into the lending space that was occupied by the trading banks. We now have access to non-bank funders who range from those who cost only a little more than traditional banks (and lend for just as long), those who lend specifically to help the cashflow of businesses, those that lend where there is bad credit or it’s difficult to prove self-employed income, those who provide second mortgages and those who have larger amounts of money available for property traders and large-scale developers.

The very clear message is that there are a lot of reputable non-bank lenders available and they cover almost every area of lending.

If the banks say no then there may well be other options. Call us to find out.

The New Zealand property market is performing strongly, with prices set to rise even further in 2020. The market has steadily picked up pace over the last few months, making it harder for many first-home buyers to save for a deposit. With property values rising and sales numbers increasing, there is increasing pressure in heated markets due to long-term lack of supply. According to Westpac's economists, we can expect 7% growth next year alone, with the market not yet hot but heating up by the minute.

The New Zealand population continues to grow, despite a sharp increase in the number of Kiwis leaving the country. While population growth is still putting pressure on the housing market, recent reports of a housing shortage seem to have been overinflated. Real population growth over the last 5 years has been significantly lower than forecast by Statistics New Zealand, with the housing gap real but much smaller than first thought. 

Technology continues to have a profound effect on every aspect of our lives, with computers and other devices used for work, play, and everything in-between. Whether it's a desktop computer at work, a laptop at home, or a smartphone during your daily commute, people are spending more time staring at computer screens each and every year. Excessive screen time is known to have a negative effect, with digital eye strain increasingly recognised as a serious health issue. Whether you suffer from headaches, blurred vision, or eye twitching, there are lots of ways to look after your eyes in the screen age. 

With summer approaching fast, there's never been a better time for some creative interior design tweaks. While few people have the time or budget to completely change their home each season, a few small adjustments will keep your home looking sharp and fresh. Summer is the time of light, heat, and celebration, with relevant interior design schemes able to align your home with the best aspects of the season. Let's look at some of the best interior design trends to look out for during the summer of 2019/20.

The rollout of 5G connectivity is having a huge impact, with some people looking forward to lightning fast download speeds and others concerned about the health and environmental risks of this new technology. 5G is the latest and fifth generation of cellular network technology, and promises faster speeds, lower latency, and greater reliability than its predecessors. 5G is about 60 times faster than 4G, with better speeds and bandwidth achieved through the use of higher frequencies and therefore shorter wavelengths.