Home loan and mortgage guides

Do your home loan homework

From working out what you can borrow to keeping an eye on the OCR, here's everything you need to choose a mortgage with confidence.

Interest rates and the OCR

Giant percentage sign in forest. OCR announcement NZ.
Buying guide
Next OCR announcement in NZ - Calendar for 2026

Key dates for the official cash rate in 2026 and 2027

10 February 2026 | 3 min read
Cash in front of house.
Buying guide
Interest rate predictions from NZ economists: 2026 & 2027
2 June 2026 | 10 min read
Image of New Zealand dollars with arrow.
Buying guide
OCR predictions for 2026 & 2027
28 November 2025 | 7 min read
Villa in Aotearoa
Feature article
To float or fix long (or short)?
10 April 2025 | 5 min read
Estate agent talking to a potential buyer in a home with a notebook open on the table.
Buying guide
What are home loan interest rates and how do they work?
25 June 2023 | 3 min read

Getting your first home loan

Lady holding up keys taking selfie in new home.
Buying guide
Home loans for first home buyers: A beginner’s guide

Finance, sorted.

27 August 2025 | 5 min read
Real estate agent handing over flowers and keys to a couple that have just bought a house in New Zealand
Buying guide
Getting financial support for buying your first home in New Zealand
26 August 2025 | 6 min read
Couple discussing their NZ home loan options with a mortgage broker.
Buying guide
Everything you need to know about home loan deposits in New Zealand
26 August 2025 | 7 min read
Person handing over their credit card
Buying guide
Q&A: Saving for a deposit to buy a home
4 August 2025 | 4 min read
Couple that have just moved in to their first home
Buying guide
Using KiwiSaver to buy your first home: how it works
5 min read

How much can I borrow?

Family who are saving to buy a house
Buying guide
How much can I borrow for a mortgage?

Before looking for a home, you should calculate how much you can borrow and afford for a mortgage.

27 August 2025 | 5 min read
Cash and house balancing on scales.
Buying guide
LVR explained: what loan to value ratios mean for your mortgage
4 August 2025 | 5 min read
Self employed woman on the phone to the bank asking about a mortgage.
Buying guide
Getting a mortgage if you’re self-employed
4 August 2025 | 2 min read
NZD $100 notes in hand.
Buying guide
NZ debt to income ratios: The essential guide
2 September 2024 | 6 min read
Man reading his credit rating online.
Buying guide
How your credit score can impact buying a house in New Zealand
16 April 2025 | 5 min read

Home loan guides

Couple getting mortgage approval
Buying guide
The ultimate guide to mortgages and home loans in New Zealand

Plain-English answers to the biggest mortgage questions, from deposits to repayments.

22 October 2025 | 8 min read
How to pay mortgage off faster. Person putting coin into house.
Buying guide
Pay off your mortgage faster with these 20 tips
25 June 2025 | 7 min read
Real estate agent handing over flowers and keys to a couple that have just bought a house in New Zealand
Buying guide
Getting financial support for buying your first home in New Zealand
26 August 2025 | 6 min read
A mortgage broker helping a first home buyer understand mortgages
Buying guide
Working with a mortgage broker in New Zealand
4 August 2025 | 3 min read
Money in front of house in New Zealand.
Buying guide
Can I buy a house with no deposit?
27 August 2025 | 4 min read

Latest News

Wellington at dusk
News
Rental market shows signs of stabilising as decline narrows

Rental Price Index - May 2026

16 June 2026

Wellington aerial
News
House prices stand steady as survey shows optimism slump

Property Pulse Report - May 2026

10 June 2026

High contrast modern building facade in winter
News
The OCR holds at 2.25%, but is a July increase on the cards?

OCR updates and insights from Chief Economist Kelvin Davidson.

27 May 2026

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