Nathan Miglani - Squirrel South Island

24/04/2026

Lest we forget.

We hope you take the weekend to spend time with friends & family.

24/04/2026

The Market Update: Christchurch 🌅

23/04/2026

Do Mortgage Advisers send your home loan to every single bank? 📲🏦

21/04/2026

Advisers React: Their house, as created by AI 🏡🤖

21/04/2026

We asked a simple question.
If our advisers were houses… what would they look like?
These homes are based on their website bios, interpreted through design.
You’ll recognise our team members in their homes faster than you think!

Share this with someone who needs their personality translated into their dream home 🏡

20/04/2026

I chat to a lot of people from Auckland and Wellington who are quietly asking the same question: Is Christchurch actually a good place to live now?

The short answer is: yes.

The longer answer is that it depends what you want your life to look like.
Christchurch isn’t trying to compete with bigger cities anymore. It’s just getting on with being a city that works.

Buying a home up north can feel like a grind. In Wellington, it often feels uncertain. In Christchurch, prices are still tied to wages in a way that makes sense.

You can buy a modern home. You can upgrade without leaving the city. First‑home buyers, families, and investors all still have options. It’s not dirt-cheap, nothing is - but it is balanced. People have options, and opportunity. And if Christchurch itself isn't your cup-of-tea? Canterbury is a big place!

Commuting here is simpler too. You’re not planning your week around traffic. School drop‑offs, work, sport, dinner, there is less stress involved in the mundane of commuting. That extra hour or so a day, it adds up faster than you think.

The lifestyle is also right on our doorstep. Beaches, the Port Hills, rivers, walking tracks, they’re part of daily life, not drawn-out weekend expeditions. You don’t need to overplan. You don’t need to psych yourself up. You just go.
It sounds small, but it makes life feel lighter.

The city in 2026 feels confident. New builds. Growing business activity. A CBD that actually feels alive. And with the stadium opening, there’s a real buzz about where things are heading.

People are moving here deliberately. Not to escape somewhere else, but to build something better.

This isn’t about writing off Auckland or Wellington. They’ll always be great cities.
Christchurch just offers a different trade‑off: more space, more certainty, and less financial noise. For a lot of people, that’s starting to matter more.

If you’re curious about whether a move south could work for you, it’s a conversation worth having.

19/04/2026

Rev up those engines Christchurch, it's only just getting started! After a major success for Supercars, the Super Rugby Super Round is on this weekend at One NZ Stadium, and the city is loving it. So great to have a real buzz in the air for our great wee city.

Did you attend the races at Ruapuna? Let us know in the comments!

Lara McMurray has been a fan of Supercars for years but could never afford to travel to watch a race live - until this weekend when the event landed in her backyard.

19/04/2026

There's a lot of talk about where interest rates will go. We know they are going up - but how high?
The best thing for you is to refix soon. And the best way to do that? Get in touch with a mortgage adviser.

16/04/2026

There’s no getting around it. Queenstown property is expensive.

With a median price sitting around $1.5 million, it remains one of the most expensive markets in the country. What’s more telling is that, even at these levels, the market is still moving.

Buyer demand remains broad. According to REINZ, it has a surprisingly strong first‑home buyer market, alongside competing owner‑occupiers, and the inevitable property investors. Open homes are well attended and auctions are attracting genuine bidders on the majority of listings. Sellers, for the most part, are realistic about pricing, which is helping deals get done.

One reason Queenstown continues to behave differently is that it operates as its own economic micro‑climate. It’s an international destination, influenced as much by offshore demand as domestic conditions. When New Zealand slows, Queenstown doesn’t always follow in step. Global uncertainty can lift construction costs, but it can also make places like Queenstown more appealing as a safe, long‑term investment destination.

The market here is shaped by scarcity, demand from both local and global buyers, and a strong local economy tied to tourism, development, and population growth. Limited land and ongoing demand mean prices don’t need hype to stay elevated. They’re supported by fundamentals.

That strength does come with pressure. High property prices affect who can live and work in the region, and continued growth places strain on infrastructure already feeling the load. These challenges are part of daily life for locals and are becoming increasingly important as the area continues to grow.

Queenstown isn’t powered by quick wins or short‑term speculation. It’s supported by long‑term demand, limited supply, and an economy that keeps pulling people in. It’s not an easy market to enter, but it remains one of the most resilient in the country.

If you're buying in the region, we are here to help you get your property goals across the line. Get in touch today.

15/04/2026

First home ✅
What's next?

Buying another property is the logical next step.

We've helped hundered of clients with the process, and it may be the right time for you to do the same.

DM us 'NEXT HOME' to get started.

14/04/2026

Racing fans, there's a big event rolling into town this weekend!

Supercars Christchurch Super 440. Let's go!

We cannot wait to hear the roar of the engines out at Ruapuna - another great event for our city. Maybe one day the cars will have some Squirrel branding on them for real... they look pretty good!

Who's excited? 🏁

11/04/2026

Not every OCR announcement needs to be a headache.

The Reserve Bank’s statement this week was long, detailed, and full of economic language... but the key message was pretty simple.

Fuel prices are pushing inflation higher again.
At the same time, the economy is already a bit fragile.

So they held the OCR steady and are watching closely to see what sticks.
If inflation spreads into wages and long‑term expectations, rates will move.

If growth continues to soften, they’ll be careful not to overdo it.

We’ll keep translating this stuff as it comes out, so you don’t have to read 20 pages to work out what it means for your mortgage.

If you’re refixing or planning a move this year, our team is here to help.