Whether you’re a first home buyer or looking to add another property to your portfolio, there’s no denying that purchasing a house is one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make in your life.
With this in mind, it’s important to think about what you can do to minimise the risks involved. Popular advice stipulates that the value of the house you buy should be significantly lower than the mortgage you’re approved for, but in New Zealand’s housing market this is rarely practical. In fact, many homebuyers are financially stretched to the max, leaving them financially vulnerable if anything were to happen to disrupt their income stream.