Best Homeloan Podcasts (2025)

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From OCR Swings To Smart Mortgages: A 2025 Property Recap 49:01

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2h ago49:01

49:01

The most useful lessons rarely arrive as breakthroughs—they show up as steps you can actually follow. We’re wrapping a year of learning with a clear path from “I want to buy” to “I’m holding the keys,” and we’re honest about the messy parts too. From pre-approvals that save you from heartbreak to bank timelines that blow out when cashbacks hit, we …

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How To Choose An Investment Fund You Can Sleep With At Night 9:42

1d ago9:42

9:42

Ever picked a fund based on a vibe—then watched your balance dip and felt your stomach drop? We unpack how to build a risk profile that survives real life, not just a tidy survey. With Elizabeth back on the mic, we get practical about matching your money to your time frame, your experiences, and your actual goals, so you can invest with calm instea…

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Choosing Between Property And Managed Funds In New Zealand 11:31

3d ago11:31

11:31

Ready for a real-world showdown on where to put your next dollar? We dive into the tug-of-war between buying property and investing in managed funds, unpacking the trade-offs most people skip: cash versus equity, time versus hassle, and how your money story shapes every choice you make. We start by sizing up the current New Zealand landscape, where…

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How To Choose A Better KiwiSaver Provider 9:28

4d ago9:28

9:28

Think your bank’s “low fees” mean better results? The five-year data tells a different story. We pulled back the curtain on KiwiSaver performance after fees and found a consistent pattern: generalist bank funds often lag, while specialist providers deliver stronger net returns that compound meaningfully over time. Even more surprising, many of the …

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Choosing Between Shares, Index Funds, And Managed Portfolios For Real Goals 10:03

5d ago10:03

10:03

Want a clear way to choose between stock picking, index funds, and managed portfolios without getting lost in jargon? We bring Elizabeth back to map three investing paths to the outcomes real people care about: learning with small stakes, building long-term wealth at low cost, and hitting a specific dollar goal on a specific date. We start with dir…

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From Five Dollars To A Future: How Tiny Investments Build Wealth 10:08

6d ago10:08

10:08

Think you need a big lump sum to start investing? We’re taking a sledgehammer to that myth and showing how tiny, repeatable steps can build real wealth. With Elizabeth back on the mic, we break down practical ways to begin with as little as five dollars, then map a path to diversified managed funds with achievable minimums. No jargon. No shame. Jus…

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From Side Hustle To Studio Homes 29:15

7d ago29:15

29:15

A budget roadblock turned into a design career, a studio, and an award-winning project. Meet Sam MacArthur of Wild Bird Interior Design, who transformed a DIY necessity into a business built on clarity, calm, and clever coordination. We dig into how kitchens and bathrooms get designed for real life first, with function leading finishes, and why pho…

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Budget Hacks For Smarter Renovations 12:53

8d ago12:53

12:53

Renovating or building doesn’t have to drain your wallet to deliver a home you love. We sit down with interior designer Sam MacArthur of Wild Bird Interior Design to unpack the smart, simple moves that stretch your budget without sacrificing style or function. The conversation starts with a mindset shift: your existing space holds real value. By ca…

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EQC Claims, LIM Surprises, And Getting A Mortgage In New Zealand 11:55

9d ago11:55

11:55

Ever seen a “bargain” home that comes with an EQC claim, missing insulation, and a nervous insurer? We dig into real listener scenarios and show how fast a dream deal can unravel when banks, insurers, and lawyers aren’t aligned. From first-home jitters to investor calculus, we break down what to probe, when to pause, and how to protect your approva…

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From Sales Plans To Smart Homes: The Real Value Of An Architect 17:20

10d ago17:20

17:20

Ever stepped out of the shower and realised your front door frames your bedroom to the street? We start with that jolt of real-life design failure and build toward a simple claim: the right architect can save you stress, money, and long-term regret by aligning your home with how you actually live. We dig into what architects really do beyond pretty…

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Reverse Mortgages, Explained Clearly 9:27

11d ago9:27

9:27

Too many families face the same quiet stress: parents are rich on paper but short on cash, while adult children plan around an inheritance that may never arrive. We dive into reverse mortgages with clear, practical advice on when they help, when they hurt, and how to protect vulnerable borrowers while preserving choices later in life. We talk throu…

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How Planning Ahead Eases Grief For The Ones You Love 12:49

12d ago12:49

12:49

Grief arrives fast; chaos doesn’t have to. We open up about a recent loss and the unexpected relief that came from one simple gift: everything was organised. From who speaks at the service to where the documents live, clear choices turned a brutal week into one held together by dignity, love, and less guesswork. We talk through what thoughtful plan…

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AI, Architecture, And The Human Touch 12:03

13d ago12:03

12:03

Fear about AI replacing architects is loud, but the reality is more nuanced and far more useful. We sit down with architect Micah Ricards to map where AI makes the work better—clearer emails, cleaner briefs, sharper questions—and where it hits a hard wall, like carrying responsibility for design decisions that affect how people live day to day. Fro…

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How A Tiny Wellington House Became A Smart, Award-Winning Home 26:42

14d ago26:42

26:42

What if your home could do more with less? We sit down with architect Micah to unpack the craft of designing compact spaces that feel generous, from clever room swaps and foldaway beds to ventilation that keeps things comfortable without energy-hungry cooling. His path through French Beaux-Arts training and life in dense European cities shaped a si…

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OCR Outlook And Your Mortgage Now 11:11

15d ago11:11

11:11

Big headlines say the OCR fell, but your bank rate barely budged. We open the bonnet to show why: lenders price off wholesale markets and move ahead of Reserve Bank calls, which is why retail rates don’t always mirror the cash rate. From there we get practical—how do you choose between a sharp short-term fix and the peace of a five-year rate around…

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How To Navigate Mortgage Stress And Debt With A Clear Plan 9:10

27d ago9:10

9:10

Money pressure builds quietly—then feels impossible. We open up about what we’re seeing across New Zealand households right now: families juggling higher refix rates, patchy incomes after layoffs, and the creeping stress of arrears on essentials like rates and insurance. Rather than waiting for a final notice, we walk through practical moves that l…

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Credit Defaults, Wrongly Lodged 9:58

28d ago9:58

9:58

The scariest words in a mortgage journey aren’t “interest rates rising.” They’re “default recorded.” We walk through a real case where a couple kept up with their repayments, only to discover a large default wrongly sitting on their credit report. That single entry triggered declines across lenders and almost derailed their dream to buy a home—unti…

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Why Switching Banks Now Could Put Thousands In Your Pocket 6:30

28d ago6:30

6:30

Want thousands back when you switch or buy? We break down the rare 1.5% cashback offers rolling out across major New Zealand banks and show how to capture the benefit even if your settlement won’t land until the new year. The key is understanding the power of “documented” before the lender’s December cutoff and using that window to lock in your dea…

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OCR Preview: Will Rates Finally Ease? 7:38

29d ago7:38

7:38

A quarter of a point can feel tiny until it touches your mortgage, your savings plan, and your next move on the ladder. We break down the looming OCR tweak, the real reasons banks push cashbacks instead of cutting fixed rates, and how wholesale swap rates quietly call the shots. It’s a practical map for anyone deciding whether to fix short, float, …

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How NZ Pension And Australia’s Super Stack Up For Your Future 17:05

1M ago17:05

17:05

Think NZ Super guarantees an easy retirement? The safety net is real, but comfort requires more than a minimum KiwiSaver contribution. We sit down with Elizabeth to map the practical differences between New Zealand’s universal pension and Australia’s means-tested age pension, then dig into why higher compulsory super rates across the Tasman transla…

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From Loss To Long-Term Security: A Guide For Young Widows Managing Life Insurance 12:46

1M ago12:46

12:46

A life insurance payout can feel like a lifeline and a landmine at the same time. We open up a candid case study of young widows navigating sudden financial responsibility, the weight of grief, and the fear of doing the “wrong” thing with what feels like the last piece of their partner’s legacy. Our goal is to replace panic with a plan that respect…

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Banks Read Your Power Bill, So Maybe Don’t Bounce It 9:12

1M ago9:12

9:12

Missed payments aren’t always about low income; they’re often about bad timing. We dive into the practical steps that keep your credit score clean and your home loan humming, even when payroll runs late or a provider insists on debiting the 20th of every month. Drawing on real client stories, we show how a one-day buffer after payday, a dedicated b…

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What A 2027 Capital Gains Tax Could Mean For Buyers, Renters, And Investors 9:08

1M ago9:08

9:08

Headlines say capital gains on investment property could arrive from 1 July 2027. We dig into what that timing might do to behaviour: investors bringing sales forward, first-home buyers seeing more stock, and renters caught between short-term sell-offs and longer-term holds. Rather than debate politics or deep tax law, we focus on practical consequ…

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OCR Call: Why A 0.25 Cut Matters Now 7:10

1M ago7:10

7:10

Rates are moving, budgets are stretched, and the clock is ticking toward the 26 November OCR call. We dig into why a 0.25 cut is back on the table, how unemployment at 5.2 percent shifts the Reserve Bank’s calculus, and why falling mortgage rates might still feel like standing still when power, insurance, fuel, and council rates climb. The story is…

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How To Buy Your Parents’ House With Gifted Equity 7:24

1M ago7:24

7:24

Want a faster, cleaner path onto the property ladder without scraping together a 20% cash deposit? We dive into the growing strategy of buying your parents’ home at market value while using gifted equity to supercharge your approval odds, cut low‑equity costs, and keep the whānau home in the whānau. Across a real‑world $1m valuation scenario, we wa…

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From Separation To Settlement: A First-Home Journey That Changed A Family’s Future 25:09

1M ago25:09

25:09

What does it take to turn a tough season into a turning point? Jordan, a heavy diesel mechanic and single dad of twins, opens up about buying his first home after a separation—and how a clear plan, fast moves, and a little luck changed his family’s future. From broker dead ends to a trusted referral, we trace how focus and follow-through created mo…

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Why KiwiSaver Balances Make It Easier To Buy Your First Home Now 5:51

1M ago5:51

5:51

Want the truth about timing your first home without the hype? We dig into why the current market is surprisingly kind to first-time buyers: fewer bidding wars, more time to think, and interest rates that sit closer to long-run norms than the pandemic anomaly everyone remembers. That calmer environment gives you room to negotiate, complete due dilig…

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Three Smart Money Moves After Buying Your First Home 7:18

1M ago7:18

7:18

Send us a text Support the show Buy 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/4m9SL72By Zebunisso Alimova

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How A Blended Kiwi Family Bought A First Home In Their 60s 31:45

2M ago31:45

31:45

What happens when your rent looks a lot like a mortgage, but lenders keep saying no? We sit down with Mark to unpack how he and Shelly went from casual work, rising rents, and thin savings to owning a low maintenance beachside unit in their 60s—without pretending the numbers were easy. We walk through the moments that changed their trajectory: both…

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Healthy Habits On A Budget 44:24

2M ago44:24

44:24

A black belt in progress, a shared birthday, and a mission to help families thrive—this conversation with Lucy Edwards of Lucy Nutrition blends heart, humour, and hard-won tactics for eating well when prices feel impossible. We start with the human stuff: finding strength through taekwondo, turning a hard space into a happy one, and choosing health…

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Council Rates Can’t Be Fixed, But Your Mortgage Can 8:29

2M ago8:29

8:29

A 50 basis point cut just landed, floating rates slid, and yet those four and five-year fixes barely blinked. We unpack the why behind that mismatch, translating market dynamics into clear choices for homeowners who need more than headlines to make the next fix decision. We walk through how banks price long-term rates off wholesale markets and infl…

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My Shares Doubled And All I Got Was A New Kitchen 8:53

2M ago8:53

8:53

Markets don’t wait for permission slips. We open with a candid look at why agriculture and some NZX names are surprising on the upside, and how those signals can help everyday buyers read what’s next for property. One quick portfolio check turns into a useful takeaway: listed property stocks often move months before the housing headlines catch up, …

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How NZ Retirement Villages Signal The Next Housing Cycle 8:16

2M ago8:16

8:16

Markets have a way of whispering before the economy speaks. We zoom into New Zealand’s most telling tickers—retirement village operators and a key challenger bank—to read what might be next for housing, credit, and confidence. If you live and breathe property, these listed signals can become your early-warning system and your roadmap. We unpack why…

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How The Right Insurance Turned A Crisis Into A Lifeline For A Young Family; 32:38

2M ago32:38

32:38

A single night out changed everything for a self-employed dad-to-be—until a well-structured plan kicked in. We sit down with adviser Blake Sutton to unpack how income protection, trauma cover, and private health insurance work in the real world, not just on paper. Blake’s three-generation insurance story takes us from hospitality floors to claim fo…

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Clear Medical Disclosure Today Prevents Heartache Tomorrow 13:12

2M ago13:12

13:12

One small omission on an insurance form can snowball into a denied claim when you need help most. We dive into the real meaning of disclosure for health-related risk cover, why non-disclosure shows up at claim time, and how to build a simple, future-proof record of your medical history so underwriters see a clear and credible story. We start by str…

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Should You Buy A Home Privately? Clear Pros, Hidden Risks, And Smarter Steps 6:58

2M ago6:58

6:58

Hate open homes and bidding wars? We take a clear-eyed look at private home purchases and map out when they shine and when they sting. From tenant-to-owner deals to family sales and investor shortcuts, we unpack the real-world pros, the bank rules that matter, and the due diligence that keeps your budget and sanity intact. We start with the upside:…

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Flood Risk, Insurance Pullbacks, And First-Home Lending On New Zealand’s West Coast 6:59

2M ago6:59

6:59

Buying a home on New Zealand’s West Coast sounds simple until you try to secure insurance, line up a valuation, and satisfy your finance clause—all while lenders and underwriters grow cautious about flood risk. We open the door on what’s really happening across Westport, Greymouth, and Hokatika, and share a first-home buyer’s story that shows why d…

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From First Keys To Forever Home: Choosing Practicality Over Perks 10:00

2M ago10:00

10:00

The dream of a glossy first home is powerful—until the repayments start calling the shots. We take an honest look at the fork every first-home buyer faces: chase convenience and lifestyle now, or choose common sense and practicality that sets you up for bigger wins later. Through candid stories from our own first purchases—tiny floor plans, borders…

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What Banks Really Check When You Build A House 9:59

2M ago9:59

9:59

Want a warm, efficient new home without a cold shock at settlement? We pull back the curtain on how lenders actually assess build loans and what it takes to move from signed contract to keys in hand. From contingencies and valuations to approval timelines, we share the practical steps that keep your project funded and on track. We start with the th…

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From nursing to finance: Elizabeth Moloney Geany on building confident, custom money plans for women and families 29:31

2M ago29:31

29:31

Most money rules weren’t written with women’s lives in mind. That gap shows up at retirement, in the middle of a separation, or when confidence takes a hit after caregiving breaks and career pivots. We sit down with Elizabeth Maloney Geany—former nurse turned financial adviser and founder of Know Your Worth—to talk about designing a plan that fits …

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Names, Numbers, Dates: First-Home S&P Basics 13:12

2M ago13:12

13:12

Buying your first home can feel like learning a new language under pressure, and the sale and purchase agreement is where that pressure peaks. We open the contract and walk you through the parts that matter most—names, price changes, deposits, conditions, and the one date that starts your finance clock—so you can move from uncertainty to control wi…

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What would you do with $1,200 extra each month? 9:09

2M ago9:09

9:09

Rates are finally drifting down—and the numbers are a game changer. We take a real $700k mortgage, drop the rate from 7% to 4.49%, and show how repayments tumble from about $4,657 to $3,543 a month. That’s roughly $1,200 back in your pocket every month, or around $324 a week. The big question becomes strategic: do you take the cash flow win, or kee…

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Inside AIA’s New Specialist & Testing Cover: Real Options When Full Health Insurance Is Too Pricey 14:40

2M ago14:40

14:40

A cough, a reality check, and a genuinely helpful shift in health cover design. We dig into AIA’s new specialist and testing support add‑on—a smarter way to secure access to private specialists, diagnostics, and imaging without paying for full health insurance. If you’ve felt priced out of comprehensive cover, this conversation lays out a practical…

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When Your First Home Isn't Your Forever Home: Lorraine's Story 13:55

2M ago13:55

13:55

Stepping up the property ladder presents unique challenges compared to buying your first home – a reality Lorraine Peterson knows firsthand. Having sold her first property before securing her next one, Lorraine candidly shares her experience navigating the uncomfortable limbo between houses and the emotional rollercoaster that accompanies this majo…

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To Break or Not to Break: The $8,000 Question 6:12

2M ago6:12

6:12

Are you trapped in a high fixed-rate mortgage while watching interest rates tumble? The financial sting of being locked into rates around 7% until 2028 or 2029 has many Kiwi homeowners questioning if they should break their fixed terms and refix at today's lower rates. This question doesn't have a simple answer. Breaking a fixed mortgage involves s…

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Your Parents Couldn't Buy a Home, But You Absolutely Can 10:07

3M ago10:07

10:07

What happens when you grow up hearing "people like us don't own homes"? That limiting belief gets passed down through generations, creating invisible barriers to financial freedom that can feel impossible to overcome. In this raw, emotional conversation, we share the inspiring journey of a client in his early 30s who just became the first person in…

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Should You Let Your Friend Build Your Dream Home? 8:42

3M ago8:42

8:42

Wondering whether to build your dream home with a friend or go with a major construction company? You're not alone. The unexpected financial implications of this choice can be staggering – sometimes reaching six figures. The construction industry is bouncing back across New Zealand, with Otago leading the charge at 9% above its 2022 peak. As more K…

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New Zealand's Real Estate Reality: Prices Drop Despite Lower Interest Rates 6:05

3M ago6:05

6:05

The housing market continues to present challenges across New Zealand despite conditions that should theoretically stimulate growth. Median house prices have dropped 0.5% year-on-year to $761,000, even as interest rates have fallen below 5% for the first time since 2022. This unexpected scenario raises important questions about consumer confidence …