BusinessInvestingEducationHow To

That Home Loan Hub

Zebunisso Alimova

Welcome to That Home Loan Hub, your ultimate guide to mastering the world of home loans and property. I'm Zebunisso Alimova, here to simplify the complexities of real estate and provide you with expert insights and the latest trends.

Whether you're a first-time homebuyer, an experienced investor, or simply curious about the property market, this podcast is for you. Join me each week as we unlock the secrets to property success and help you make informed decisions. Let's dive into the world of property together!

Play

Open in

31 episodes
daily
Avg 16 min
English

Support the show

Goes straight to the publisher. podnod takes nothing.

Support this Podcast

Episodes 31

Newest Oldest Longest

All20 Unplayed20 In progress0 Played0

Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.

Friday · 11 min
The Great Chattels Mishap And Other Real Estate Lessons
The fastest way to lose money on a property purchase isn’t paying a bit too much, it’s missing the one question that exposes a repair, a consent issue, or a settlement-day argument waiting to happen. We’re continuing our bias checklist by talking through the questions we actually want buyers to ask a real estate agent, because the best outcomes come from clear facts and fewer assumptions. We start with urgent repairs and what proper disclosure looks like, including how a builder’s report can take the heat out of awkward conversations. From there we move into alterations and why older homes are more likely to have changes that may or may not be consented. We talk about checking the council file, when a LIM report is worth making a condition, and how to think about consents and certificates without getting spooked. If you’re buying an older New Zealand home, the details that matter for insurance and peace of mind come up quickly: piles, plumbing, wiring, and whether there’s proof the work was done to a proper standard. We also cover heating and insulation through the lens of Healthy Homes, especially if you’re buying a future rental or you simply want a warm, dry place to live. Then we get into the surprisingly dramatic world of chattels: what stays, what goes, what to do when something breaks before settlement, and why alarms and appliances can turn into last-minute standoffs. If you’re a first home buyer or an investor doing due diligence, you’ll leave with a tighter question list and fewer nasty surprises. Subscribe, share it with a mate who’s house hunting, and leave a review. What question do you wish you’d asked before you bought? Send us Fan Mail 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/4m9SL72
- Transcript
- Chapters
Thursday · 27 min
Financial Freedom Starts With Small Choices You Repeat
Money can feel like a scoreboard, a source of stress, or the thing that keeps you stuck. We see it differently with Natalie Ferguson, co-founder of PowerSuit and former co-founder of Hatch: money is a tool that buys you choices. We talk about how her childhood shaped a calm, practical relationship with money, why financial independence matters, and what it actually means to be “wealthy” when private jets are not the point and freedom is. We also get honest about money psychology: the shame, comparison, and scarcity stories that sit under our spending and saving habits. Natalie shares a simple, powerful prompt for impulse buys, plus why awareness is the real starting line for behaviour change. From there we dig into how Hatch made investing in shares feel normal for everyday New Zealanders, why inflation can quietly eat cash returns, and how simplifying jargon helps people build long-term investing habits. Then we shift to the system around us: the gender pay gap, the leadership gap, and the legacy of women being excluded from financial tools for far too long. Natalie explains how PowerSuit tackles career progression with bite-sized professional development, mini masterclasses, peer coaching, role models, and practical templates designed for time-poor women and their allies. If you’ve been feeling a bit lost, you’ll leave with two tiny weekly rituals that can compound into confidence, clarity, and real momentum. Subscribe, share this with a mate, and leave a review so more people can find the tools to build a freer life. Send us Fan Mail 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/4m9SL72
- Transcript
- Chapters
Wednesday · 11 min
Smart Questions For Home Buyers
The fastest way to get confident as a home buyer is not another spreadsheet. It is asking the questions that reveal motivation, risk, and reality before you fall in love with the place. We sit down with Megan Love to talk through the buyer questions that actually help when you are dealing with open homes, private viewings, and listings that feel a bit unclear. We start with the big one: why are the owners selling? That single answer can tell you whether the vendor is genuinely ready to accept offers or simply “testing the market”. From there we dig into days on market, what it can signal when a property sits longer than the suburb norm, and what relisting can mean when a campaign quietly resets. We also talk about buyer interest and why a packed open home is not the same thing as serious competition, plus the simple step you can take to make sure you are notified if another offer comes in. Then we tackle the New Zealand property basics buyers get tangled in: RV vs registered valuation, the interchangeable RV CV GV terms, and where to find rates without relying on guesswork. Megan also explains how agents can provide comparable sales so you can anchor your view of value. We finish with the part many people underestimate: the neighbours and the street. You will hear why local stories can matter, and why your own due diligence like drive-bys on Friday night can save you a lot of regret. If you found this useful, follow the show, share it with someone house hunting, and leave a quick review so more Kiwi buyers can find it. Send us Fan Mail 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/4m9SL72
- Transcript
- Chapters
Tuesday · 55 min
How To Be Positive Without Being Fake
Death has a way of stripping life back to what matters and that’s exactly where Melanie Kerr does her clearest thinking. Known as the Positivity Expert, Melanie joins us to unpack why positivity isn’t a personality trait or a shiny filter. It’s a strategic advantage, a resilience practice, and a set of choices you can train, especially when you’re tired, stressed, or carrying grief. Melanie shares her path from growing up near Taneatua and Ruatoki to living in the remote Western Australian outback, where rain can turn a desert into wildflowers overnight. That image becomes a powerful mental health metaphor: even when life looks barren, the conditions for growth can still be there. From her years in broadcasting to her work as a funeral celebrant in Dunedin, she explains how walking alongside families in loss shaped her “Sprinkle Of Sunshine (SOS)” wellbeing framework, built on acknowledging pain, creating space to feel it, and then choosing a next step towards beauty and connection. We also get practical about emotional intelligence in the workplace: the real cost of negativity, the difference between empathy and compassion, and why boundaries help you stay kind without taking on everyone else’s stress. Melanie reframes leadership as caregiving, speaks frankly about integrity, and offers a timely reminder for anyone feeling the weight of loneliness or uncertainty: a smile and a moment of connection can mean more than we realise. If this conversation lands for you, share it with someone who needs a steady voice, then subscribe and leave a review so more people can find it. What’s your smallest, most reliable “sprinkle of sunshine” on a hard day? Send us Fan Mail 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/4m9SL72
- Transcript
- Chapters
August 29 · 11 min
Kapiti Coast Market Snapshot
Stats can be dull until they start answering the questions you actually care about: where are homes selling, what are people paying, and which parts of the Kapiti Coast are holding their value best? We sit down with Megan Love to unpack recent local numbers across Waikanae, Paraparaumu and Raumati, focusing on sales volumes, average sale prices, and what it really means when a place sells above (or below) RV. The standout story is how different each pocket can be, from Waikanae Beach’s high-value, lower-volume pattern to the more steady, central results nearby. We then move from “what sold” to “what should I do next?”, especially for first home buyers and would-be investors. We talk candidly about rental demand in Kapiti, the current feel of weekly rents, and why a long-term tenant who looks after a property can be worth more than chasing rapid rent growth. If you’re weighing up buying versus renting, we also challenge the 20% deposit myth and explain the stepping-ladder approach: get into a first home you can afford, build equity over time, and keep your options open as life changes. There’s also a crucial compliance insight for landlords and anyone scanning listings: you can’t market a property as a “good investment” without a Healthy Homes certificate. That one detail puts warmth, ventilation and insulation right back at the centre of smart property decisions, not just price and yield. If you’re tracking Kapiti Coast house prices, comparing Waikanae vs Paraparaumu, or trying to time your first move onto the property ladder, this chat will help you make sense of the market without the hype. Subscribe for more local conversations, share this with a friend house-hunting in Wellington or Kapiti, and leave a review with the suburb you want us to cover next. Send us Fan Mail 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/4m9SL72
- Transcript
- Chapters
August 28 · 8 min
Making Smarter Offers With A Proper Builders Report
You’re standing in the lounge of a house you might buy, offer paperwork is coming, and someone says, “Just get your dad to have a look.” That tiny moment can decide whether you end up with confidence or with costly surprises. We sit down with Megan, a real estate agent and keen listener of our earlier chats with Evan the building inspector, to unpack what actually happens before a builders report is even booked: the offer stage, the conditions, and the choices buyers make under pressure. We get practical about the difference between a builder and a qualified building inspector in New Zealand. A builder can be knowledgeable, but a specialist inspector brings process, up to date training, and crucially, insurance and independence. That independence is what makes a report useful when you need to activate a condition, document what was found (and what could not be accessed), and have something vendors will take seriously. We also talk about effort and access, because crawling under a house or into a roof space is where the real answers often live. Then we move into negotiation: how you use a builder’s report to ask for remediation or a price reduction, and why getting two or three quotes matters. A roof story shows how estimates can swing wildly depending on method and access, and why evidence beats vibes when tens of thousands of dollars are on the line. We also cover the personal risk of mixing family and money, and why even well meaning friends may not want the liability of your biggest purchase resting on their call. If you’re a first home buyer (or helping one), this is a straight talking guide to due diligence, conditional offers, and smarter property decisions. Subscribe, share this with a mate who’s house hunting, and leave a review with the biggest building report lesson you’ve learned. Send us Fan Mail 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/4m9SL72
- Transcript
- Chapters
August 27 · 14 min
Smart Questions To Ask Before You Buy
That moment at an open home when you think “It feels right” is exactly when you need a sharper set of questions. We keep rolling through a practical buyer checklist for New Zealand real estate, using real examples from the Kāpiti Coast to show how small details can turn into big costs if you miss them early. We talk through what “good local facilities” actually means depending on who’s buying, and why people moving from out of town can live nearby for months and still miss key amenities. We also unpack how new development can be both exciting and disruptive, from pop-up retail and planned supermarkets to retirement village builds that change traffic and the pace of a neighbourhood. Then we get into the nuts and bolts: school zones and how to verify them, how to think about sun and warmth without getting lost in technical jargon, and the questions we hear all the time about noise from expressways, trains and flight paths. From there we move into due diligence essentials like flood ponding checks, coastal erosion flags, redevelopment plans, LIM reports, and the restrictions that can sit on a property through covenants and easements. We also demystify title types like freehold versus cross lease, why protected trees can trigger serious council trouble, and how boundary mistakes happen when people assume the fence is “the line”. If you’re buying a house in NZ and want fewer surprises and better decisions, hit play, then subscribe, share the episode with a mate who’s house-hunting, and leave a review with the best property question you’ve ever asked. Send us Fan Mail 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/4m9SL72
- Transcript
- Chapters
August 26 · 7 min
A Small Defect Can Void A Roof Warranty
A brand new roof should be the least stressful part of a new build, until a light haze of paint turns into a warranty problem. We’re joined by Evan to unpack an insurance-purpose building inspection where a loss adjuster needs independent proof of paint overspray on roof sheeting, captured with drone footage and targeted close-up photos. We talk through why overspray matters in the real world: it can void a manufacturer’s roof warranty, which then creates a knock-on effect when the owners try to get code compliance over the line. Evan explains how he approaches the job like an evidence-gathering mission, breaking the roof into sections, showing what’s affected, and linking visibility back to practical guidance like the three-metre defect test used in NZ new build tolerance thinking. From there, we get into the messy questions everyone asks once the photos are in: how much of the roof needs replacing, how big houses make small defects expensive fast, and how insurance claims can shift responsibility between homeowners and tradies. We also cover drone inspection basics in New Zealand, including DJI permissions, restricted airspace, airport limits, and why a simple bird’s-eye view can change how clearly a roof inspection report tells the story. If you like practical building insights, insurance claim realities, and tools like drone roof inspections, subscribe, share this with a mate in the trades, and leave us a review. What’s the most surprising defect you’ve seen on a “new” build? Send us Fan Mail 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/4m9SL72
- Transcript
- Chapters
August 25 · 13 min
Unregulated Building Inspectors In New Zealand
Anyone can print a business card, build a website, and call themselves a building inspector in New Zealand and that caught us completely off guard. We sit down with Evan to unpack what “unregulated” really means for buyers, sellers, and anyone leaning on a pre-purchase building report to make a call on a home. If you have ever assumed there must be a licensing body making sure inspectors are trained and consistent, this chat will reset your expectations fast. We get practical about what to look for instead: voluntary professional membership (including NZIBI), the difference between a general inspector and a building surveyor, and why banks can demand a weathertightness report for higher-risk homes like monolithic cladding properties. Evan also breaks down why building inspector insurance exists in the first place, how liability works when something is missed, and why clear scope and careful wording in a report can protect everyone when disputes end up in front of lawyers. From there we zoom into the real-world limits of a “visual inspection”. Furniture can block access, inspectors generally should not move your stuff, and that can leave hidden leaks and rot undiscovered until the day you move in. We talk about the two zones that too often reveal the truth roof spaces and subfloors and why moisture staining, timber decay, and vermin entry points matter. We also touch on the less sexy but crucial side of buying: future home maintenance, and how access and height can turn a simple repaint into a major cost. If you found this useful, please follow or subscribe, share it with a mate who’s house-hunting, and leave a review so more Kiwi buyers can find it. What’s one thing you now want every building inspector to show you in their report? Send us Fan Mail 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/4m9SL72
- Transcript
- Chapters
August 24 · 8 min
Monolithic Homes And Hidden Rot
A monolithic plaster home can look solid, modern, and “all good” at a glance, but once moisture gets into a direct-fix wall with no cavity, the damage can stay hidden until it’s brutally obvious. We sit down with building inspector Evan Cardwell and talk through what buyers keep asking us: what monolithic cladding actually is, what the real dangers are, and whether a bank will lend against it when the weathertightness risk is baked into the design. We unpack a recent inspection story where a simple disclosure about swollen skirting boards turns into a wall lining that has fully deteriorated and framing that’s so rotten you can pick away the bottom plate. From there, we get practical about next steps: when a building surveyor needs to get involved, why cladding often has to come off to assess the true extent of damage, and what you’re really paying for when a team starts marking out affected timber and planning a partial or full reclad. Then we zoom out to the patterns that make many 1990s to early 2000s monolithic homes high risk in New Zealand: two-storey designs, internal decks, complex junctions, fascia and gutter issues, poor cladding clearances, and curved windows without proper kick-out flashing. We also cover the finance reality, including why reclad quotes can jump from $200k to $450k once the house is opened up, and why deposit size and equity can be the difference between getting the work funded or getting stuck. If you’re looking at a monolithic property in Wellington or anywhere with a tough coastal climate, hit play, share this with someone house hunting, and leave us a review. What’s the biggest red flag you’d want checked before making an offer? Send us Fan Mail 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/4m9SL72
- Transcript
- Chapters
August 23 · 11 min
From Lawn Bowls To Road Cycling In Kapiti
Community sponsorship can be a hollow gesture, or it can be a promise you keep by actually turning up. We’re joined by James to talk through the local projects we’ve said yes to across the Kapiti Coast and Wellington, and why being present at clubs and events matters more than any “gold or silver” label. You’ll hear what it was like sponsoring a bowls tournament at Raumati, meeting players from all over the region, and the surprising truth about “junior lawn bowls” (hint: it’s not about age, it’s about your first five years). We also flip the script and ask you to sponsor James. He’s taking on the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge, a 160km ride, aiming for a personal best time while carefully managing long COVID. The fundraising target is meaningful, but the reason is even bigger: James’s mum was cared for by Lake Taupo Hospice, and the ride lands on the one year anniversary of her passing. It’s an honest chat about grief, motivation, family support on the day, and why hospice donations have real impact for New Zealand families. To keep things practical, we share where you can meet us next, including the Capital Women’s Expo, the Wellington Home Show, and the Capital Food Fair, plus a fun listener challenge involving a billboard photo and a small giveaway. If you care about community sport, local events, and the human side of what we do in mortgages, this one’s for you. Listen now, share it with someone who loves a good local story, and please subscribe and leave a review so more people can find the podcast. Send us Fan Mail 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/4m9SL72
- Transcript
- Chapters
August 22 · 10 min
The Grass Looks Greener Until You Run The Numbers
The “Australia looks better” story is everywhere right now, but we wanted to slow it down and actually test it. Plenty of Kiwis are heading over the ditch for higher pay and bigger cities, yet the grass isn’t automatically greener. We talk honestly about why Australia feels so successful, where it genuinely is ahead, and what New Zealand quietly offers that people forget until they leave. A big part of the gap comes down to retirement settings. Australia’s compulsory superannuation has had a massive head start, so many people retiring there now have serious money behind them. KiwiSaver is still building momentum, and we unpack what that means for the next 10 to 15 years and for New Zealand’s ability to reinvest locally. Then we zoom out to the question underneath it all: are “opportunities” a location, or a habit? We share stories from uni life, part-time work, internships, and joining things even when it’s awkward, because that’s often where careers and confidence actually start. We also get into the lived stuff: how New Zealand can feel kinder and more community-driven, how ACC changes the risk of everyday life, and why a smaller market can be an advantage when you’re building a personal brand or launching a business from the ground up. We even cover the classic Kiwi perks and they matter more than you’d think: no snakes, a moderate climate, and that safe-haven feeling. Finally, we talk property and policy differences, including stamp duty in Australia and why some expats are still investing back home. If you’re thinking about moving to Australia, doing an OE, or deciding where to build your future, this chat will help you make the call with clearer eyes. Subscribe, share it with a mate who’s packing their bags, and leave us a review with your take: is the grass actually greener? Send us Fan Mail 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/4m9SL72
- Transcript
- Chapters
August 21 · 8 min
Wellington’s Investor Conference And What You’ll Learn
You don’t have to be a “finance person” to be an investor anymore, and that’s exactly why financial literacy matters. James joins me to share what’s coming up for Wellington investors and anyone with KiwiSaver, Sharesies, or a long-term goal of retiring with options. We talk about the NZ Shareholders Association (NZSA) Investors Conference 2026 and why the theme “A New Era for Investing” feels spot on right now, as more New Zealanders get exposure to shares, bonds, and markets without always understanding how the pieces fit together. We break down what makes this conference different: it’s designed to represent and educate investors rather than push one product. James talks about the value of getting in a room with people who’ve lived through multiple market cycles, the kind of conversations you can have with experienced speakers, and why he calls the ticket price “not a cost, it’s an investment”. We also cover the practical stuff, including that it’s a two-day event in Wellington at the Banquet Hall, Parliament Buildings, on 22 and 23 October, and that there are options if you only want to attend one day. From there we zoom out to the bigger win: making better long-term decisions, especially around KiwiSaver. We talk about how many people stay in default settings for years, how a single review can change outcomes over decades, and why learning the basics early matters even more for our kids. If you want a smarter, calmer approach to investing in New Zealand, this chat is a strong starting point. Subscribe for more straight-up conversations, share this with a mate who’s been meaning to sort their KiwiSaver, and leave a review if you want us to bring more practical investing education to the show. Send us Fan Mail 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/4m9SL72
- Transcript
- Chapters
August 20 · 27 min
I Lost Nearly Half A Million And Rebuilt
A childhood of counting coins and watching farm bills pile up can do more than shape habits, it can shape your whole relationship with safety, spending, and self-worth. We sit down with James Buchanan, our mortgage adviser, to trace the real story behind his “saver” instincts, the guilt he still feels after buying something, and how those early experiences built both discipline and anxiety around money. If you’ve ever wondered why you can’t relax when you spend, this conversation will feel uncomfortably familiar in the best way. From there, we get practical about couple dynamics and personal finance in New Zealand: the planner versus the spontaneous spender, what compromise actually looks like, and why “no surprises” matters more than any perfect budgeting app. James shares how he and Rebecca handle joint accounts, how they talk through financial decisions, and why telling the truth about mistakes is part of teaching kids healthy money skills. It’s honest relationship advice grounded in real household pressure, not theory. Then the hard part: overconfidence, stepping away from salary income, and a costly investing mistake that he puts at close to half a million dollars. We unpack what went wrong, why selling investments to cover living costs can unravel a plan fast, and how mentors and humility helped him rebuild. We also talk about long COVID, burnout, flexible work, and why the “Instagram life” hides what most of us are carrying. If you want clearer money mindset habits, smarter investing boundaries, and a more resilient approach to mortgages and wealth building, press play. Subscribe, share this with a mate who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest money lesson. Send us Fan Mail 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/4m9SL72
- Transcript
- Chapters
August 18 · 8 min
Property Cycles: Buying When Others Panic
Property headlines are designed to make you feel like you’re late, wrong, or doomed. We’d rather talk about what actually happens: the New Zealand property market moves in cycles, and the stories people tell at the top and bottom are almost always extreme. So we zoom out and look at the pattern, why downturns don’t last forever, and why a calmer long-term view can help you make better choices with housing, lending, and risk. We also get real about the COVID-era surge and why it was such an unusual period for house prices. When prices ran up fast, plenty of buyers jumped in with FOMO, sometimes teaming up with friends or family to make it work. Now some of them want to move overseas, change relationships, or simply regain flexibility, and they’re staring at the possibility of selling at a loss. We talk through the problem in plain language, and the kinds of questions that matter if you’re deciding whether to hold, sell, or wait. From there we dig into practical decision points: whether it’s a “good time to buy” if you’re a first home buyer, how election uncertainty can rattle confidence, and why comparing markets like Auckland and Christchurch depends on what you want (rental yield versus long-term capital gains). We also flag one indicator we keep an eye on because it quietly shifts demand over time: net migration, especially when Australia cools and New Zealand looks more attractive. If you want help making sense of your options, listen through, share this with someone who’s stuck in the timing spiral, and subscribe so you don’t miss the upcoming first home buyer case study. If you found it useful, leave a review and tell us what property question you want answered next. Send us Fan Mail 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/4m9SL72
- Transcript
- Chapters
August 16 · 10 min
How A Single Woman In Her 50s Bought A Home With A Small Deposit
She turns up expecting us to say no. Single, mid-50s, average salary, tiny deposit, and a head full of “you need 20%” advice that’s kept her stuck for years. With James as my lead detective, we pull apart the assumptions and rebuild the plan using real New Zealand lending settings, not pub-talk. The moment she learns a 5% deposit route can be possible (including Kāinga Ora First Home Loan options for eligible buyers), you can almost hear the weight lift. From there we get practical: how to reshape a home loan application when retirement is on the horizon, how to think about serviceability, and why buying in the exact area you live in can be the difference between getting on the ladder and staying on the sidelines. We talk through the trade-offs of looking slightly further out, including commuting costs and the reality of negotiating more working from home days, then show how a three-bedroom property can create choices rather than stress. We also dig into the details people don’t budget for properly: registered valuations, builder’s reports, lawyer fees, and how bank cashback offers can help cover those costs after settlement. We clear up the big question we hear all the time, too: “Do I have to pay a mortgage broker?” Often, no, because the lender pays on settlement, and we’re upfront about the rare cases where fees might apply. If you’re feeling boxed in by your age, income, or deposit size, this is your reminder that the story isn’t finished yet. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs hope, and leave a review, what’s the one barrier you want us to unpack next? Send us Fan Mail 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/4m9SL72
- Transcript
- Chapters
August 14 · 11 min
How Multi-Offers Work In The New Zealand Property Market
Your heart is set on a house, you finally put an offer together, and then the agent says two words that spike your stress levels: multi-offer. Suddenly you are asking all the hard questions. Are they telling the truth? Are you being pressured? Do you have any rights in the process, or are you just meant to “put your best foot forward” and hope for the best? We sit down with Megan Love, a Harcourts real estate agent, to demystify how multi-offers work in the New Zealand property market and why they happen more often than people think. We talk through the difference between expected competition during auction, tender, and deadline sale campaigns, versus the surprise multi-offer that can pop up weeks later when a vendor adds a price and buyer interest flares up again. Megan explains the purpose of the multi-offer form, why it exists to create transparency, and the key detail many buyers miss: the paperwork can only be triggered once a first offer is actually received. We also dig into the buyer’s side of the stress. If you doubt a multi-offer is real, we share a practical way to check by contacting the agency manager and asking the right questions. Then we tackle the big confusion point: why a property can still be advertised and have open homes while your offer is under negotiation or still conditional. A real story shows how deals can fall over during finance, builder’s report, or legal review, and why keeping momentum protects the vendor and can even lead to a better outcome for everyone. If you found this helpful, subscribe, share it with a mate who is house hunting, and leave a review so more Kiwi buyers can find it. What is the most confusing part of making an offer for you right now? Send us Fan Mail 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/4m9SL72
- Transcript
- Chapters
August 12 · 47 min
Business Development That Turns Busy Into Productive
She wears “100 million hats”, but the through-line is clear: Helene Judge builds plans that help people move from busy to genuinely productive. We sit down with the founder of Kapiti Business Projects to unpack what business development looks like in real life, especially for sole traders and small business owners who are stuck in delivery mode and struggling to step back far enough to see what’s next. We also get the inside story of the Kapiti Food Fair, from its early days to becoming a major Kapiti Coast consumer event that people lock into their calendars as a family highlight. Helene shares what it takes to plan an outdoor festival across an entire year, how vendor success and entertainment fit together, and why the team thinks of themselves as being in the “happiness business”. We talk funding, measurable return on investment, and the wider economic impact when visitors travel from Wellington and the lower North Island to spend locally. The chat goes wider too: resilience in a tough economy, budgeting for the quiet months, the psychology of December spending, and the pressure young people face with the rising cost of study and the pull of Australia. We finish with a practical reality check on technology and AI for business, including how tools like Microsoft Copilot can help, and why you still need to read, verify, and use your own judgement. If you got value from this, subscribe, share it with a business owner who needs a fresh plan, and leave a review so more New Zealand listeners can find the show. Send us Fan Mail 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/4m9SL72
- Transcript
- Chapters
August 11 · 43 min
Property Management Without The Guesswork
If you’ve been doom-scrolling property headlines and wondering whether to buy, hold, sell, or just wait for the election to pass, this chat will steady your footing. We’re joined by Sandy Dodson, Head of Business Development at Wolfbrook Property Management, who works across markets from Auckland to Dunedin and sees what landlords, tenants, and investors are actually dealing with day to day. We talk frankly about the current New Zealand rental market and why “waiting for certainty” can become expensive indecision. Sandy explains what she’s seeing with investors still purchasing, the rise of accidental landlords who can’t sell in a softer market, and why big policy shifts rarely hit overnight. From there we tackle a topic lighting up Wellington right now: water rates arriving without water meters and how that can feel unfair when household usage is unknown. We unpack a practical way to think about fixed charges versus usage, and how to keep tenant relationships intact while the region figures out the long-term solution. Compliance is a major theme too, especially Healthy Homes Standards and the gap between excellent property management and the shonky end of the industry. We get into training, inspection quality, accountability, burnout in property management, and why education sometimes needs to be as basic as showing people how to care for a home. Sandy also shares hard-earned lessons about getting rentals filled fast: presentation and price, and why the market won’t pay premium rent for average quality. If you want a clearer, calmer view of property investment, rental compliance, and how to protect your asset while treating tenants fairly, press play. Subscribe, share this with a landlord mate, and leave a review. What’s the one rental issue you want us to unpack with real numbers next? Send us Fan Mail 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/4m9SL72
- Transcript
- Chapters
August 10 · 54 min
How Cam Calkoen Builds An Opportunity Mindset
Life can feel heavy when you’re stuck replaying the same story about what you can’t do. We wanted a conversation that cuts through that fog, so we brought in Cam Calkoen, an Auckland-based celebrity public speaker who was born with cerebral palsy and still built a life packed with sport, travel, family, and stages around the world. What stands out is not “perfect positivity”, but a practical, repeatable way of choosing a better focus when things get tough. We talk about Cam’s “backpack of belief” and how many of us carry assumptions that never belonged to us in the first place. You’ll hear how connection in the school playground becomes a template for confidence later on, why reflection can be as useful as consuming more self-help, and how attention drives energy. We also get real about social media comparison, the curated highlight reel, and the simple discipline of asking: what can I control right now? Cam shares a defining rejection story from the United States that could’ve ended his career, and exactly how he turned it into fuel by getting coaching, improving his content, and staying in the game until the opportunity arrived. We also unpack how he builds memorable speeches like an album, plus a side-track into AI tools, productivity, calendars, and managing “too many dreams” without burning out. If you’re looking for mindset, resilience, motivation, public speaking insights, and grounded personal development from a New Zealand lens, this one will land. If this resonates, subscribe, share it with a mate who needs a lift, and leave us a review so more people can find the show. Send us Fan Mail 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/4m9SL72
- Transcript
- Chapters

Showing 1–20 of 31 episodes