Donna Marks, Mortgage Adviser, Mortgage Express

17/09/2026

Friday Fact: an emergency fund doesn’t have to be huge to be useful.

When you’ve got a family, a home and all the usual day-to-day costs, unexpected expenses can seem to come out of nowhere. The car needs fixing, an appliance breaks, or there’s a bill you hadn’t planned for.

Having a little money set aside can make those moments easier to manage and take some of the pressure off.

I’ve shared a helpful article with some simple tips on building an emergency fund and where to start.

Read it here:
https://www.mortgage-express.co.nz/resources/retirement-planning/how-to-build-an-emergency-fund-that-actually-works

– Donna
Mortgage Adviser | 027 330 6623

14/09/2026

A pretty special way to spend a Saturday 😊

I met with one of my lovely clients over the weekend to go through their loan structure, finalise the instructions for the bank and get the paperwork signed.

Meanwhile, the kids had a very important job of their own… putting up the SOLD sign on their new home.

I love being there for these moments. There is a lot that happens behind the scenes with a mortgage, but this is the part that makes it all feel very real.

Congratulations to this lovely family on their new home.

14/09/2026

Helping families like Piara’s is what keeps me doing what I do, and why I still believe I have the best job.

It’s very special to be part of such a big milestone in someone’s life.

Thank you for your very kind words, Piara. I really appreciate them, and it was such a pleasure helping you into your first home.

10/09/2026

Friday Fact: your savings could be doing more than sitting there.

With an offset home loan, money in your linked savings or everyday accounts can reduce the balance your interest is calculated on.

So if you had $40,000 in linked savings against a $600,000 offset home loan, interest would be calculated on $560,000 instead.

Your savings still stay accessible, while also helping reduce the interest you pay.

Offset loans won’t suit everyone, but for some people they can be a really useful way to make their savings work a little harder.

08/09/2026

A really lovely first home buyer win to share.

When this family first came to me, they weren’t sure buying a home was even possible. Both self-employed, with two children, KiwiSaver and some savings, there were a few things to work through.

We secured pre-approval, they missed out on the first property, and after a lot of work behind the scenes, they found another home and were successful.

Then I received this lovely message:

“Thank you so much Donna, all of your work made our first home possible. There are no words to thank you enough for your support, flexibility and hard work.”

Messages like this mean a lot, especially after everything it took to get there.

07/09/2026

06/09/2026

Your mortgage needs can change as life does.

From buying your first home to building, investing, moving or refinancing, I can help you understand your options at every stage.

03/09/2026

One thing I’ve noticed over the years is how quickly people compare mortgages by the rate alone.

It’s understandable, because the rate is the easiest number to compare.

That’s why when I’m talking through options with someone, I’ll usually look at the bigger picture too - how the loan is structured, what flexibility you have, any fees involved and how it fits with the way you actually manage your money.

The rate matters, of course, but it’s only one part of the decision.

– Donna
Mortgage Adviser | 027 330 6623

02/09/2026

The OCR has risen again today, this time by 0.25% to 2.75%.

That makes two increases in a row, so the next thing to watch is how the banks respond with their fixed and floating rates.

If your fixed rate is coming up soon, this is a good time to look at what your lender is offering, compare the wider market and make sure your current loan structure still suits where you’re heading.

This is exactly the kind of thing I can help with, so if you want to talk through your options, I’m here for a chat.

– Donna
Mortgage Adviser | 027 330 6623

31/08/2026

A little win I wanted to share from last month.

A client I was referred to wasn’t even sure buying a home on her own was possible yet.

Within one week of submitting her application, she had conditional pre-approval.

Then that same weekend, she found a home she loved - close to public transport, on the flat and just right for her. She made an offer and it was accepted.

There are still a few steps to work through but, all going well, she’ll settle on her new home this month.

Such a lovely reminder of how quickly things can change once you know where you stand.

– Donna
Mortgage Adviser | 027 330 6623