Michelle Barr - Mobile Mortgage Manager

30/10/2026

🏡 Helping Kiwi families create healthier, warmer, and more energy-efficient homes 🌱

This week I had the pleasure of hosting an ANZ Healthy Homes Webinar alongside the NZ Green Building Council, where we discussed how homeowners can improve the comfort, health, and sustainability of their homes.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and to the NZ Green Building Council team for sharing their expertise on the benefits of healthy, energy-efficient housing.

Some of the key topics we covered included:

✅ What a Homestar rating is and why homes rated 6 stars or higher can be healthier, warmer, and more efficient to run.

✅ How HomeFit can help homeowners assess whether their home is warm, dry, safe, and healthy.

✅ The support available through ANZ to help Kiwis build, buy, or upgrade a healthier home.

We also explored three great ANZ lending solutions designed to support more sustainable living:

🏠 ANZ Healthy Home Loan Package - We have special home loan benefits for eligible homes with a Homestar rating of 6 or higher, helping make healthier homes more affordable.

⚡ ANZ Good Energy Home Loan - A great option for customers wanting to make energy-efficient improvements, such as solar panels, heat pumps, insulation, double glazing, hot water heat pumps, EV chargers, and battery storage.

🔨 ANZ Blueprint to Build Package - Supporting customers building a new home with a range of benefits that can help make the construction journey a little easier.

As someone who talks with homeowners every day, it's exciting to see more Kiwis looking at ways to reduce running costs, improve comfort, and future-proof their homes.

If you'd like to learn more about any of these options, feel free to reach out. I'd be happy to have a chat about how they could work for your situation.

"What's one upgrade you've made to your home that has had the biggest impact on comfort or energy savings?" 💬🏡

Send a message to learn more

21/10/2026

Last week I had the fantastic opportunity to spend some time with ANZ Managing Director Grant Knuckey, alongside Richard Wilson, Head of Mobile Specialists, meeting with some incredible people from our local real estate industry.

A big thank you to Adrianna Watson and Emma O'Keefe from Team Watson for hosting us.

Adrianna and Emma bring so much energy, experience, and passion to what they do. It was fantastic to hear their insights on the local property market and the opportunities and challenges facing buyers today. The conversation was engaging, insightful, and full of great ideas about how we can work together to better support people on their home ownership journey.

And of course, a good meeting always starts with good food, which is why I stopped by Neverland Cakes & Sweet Treats in Porirua! They make the most incredible cookies using New Zealand's favourite Whittaker's Chocolate, and they were a hit with everyone on the day. 🍪

I'm looking forward to working more closely with Team Watson in the future and creating even more opportunities to help our customers navigate the property market with confidence.

Watch this space!

08/10/2026

🏡 Thinking about refinancing your home loan to ANZ?

A lot of people don't realise that refinancing can be about more than just switching banks. It can also be a great opportunity to achieve other goals, such as:

✅ Renovating your home with an ANZ Renovation Loan
✅ Making your home more energy efficient with a Good Energy Home Loan
✅ Purchasing an electric or hybrid vehicle with a Good Energy Vehicle Loan

Before refinancing, it's worth considering:

🔹 Is your current loan fixed, and when is it due for review?
🔹 What is your current home loan balance?
🔹 Are there any early repayment costs?
🔹 What is your current equity position?
🔹 What legal or refinancing costs need to be considered?

💰 ANZ can also offer a cashback contribution to help with some of these costs.

The best place to start is with a simple phone call. I'll help you understand your equity position, explore your options, and see what's possible.

📞 If you're thinking about refinancing, renovating, making your home more energy-efficient, or purchasing an EV, let's have a chat.

Sometimes the first step towards achieving your property goals is simply picking up the phone.

🏡⚡🚗

Send a message to learn more

02/10/2026

I saw a poll on Stuff today asking:

"How much work are you actually doing on a Friday afternoon?"

Well, over the past two Friday afternoons, I've been doing plenty!

What started with a Friday afternoon phone call last week turned into helping a new-to-bank customer refinance three properties, bringing $2.6 million of lending across from KiwiBank to ANZ, with the approval and structure finalised this Friday afternoon.

Along the way, I was able to secure interest rates before they increased this week, obtain a refinance exemption approval, use current i-valuations to make the process smoother, and secure an awesome 1% cashback for the customer when they settle their lending with ANZ later this month.

But the real takeaway isn't the numbers.

It's that some of the best opportunities come from simply being available when someone needs help. One Friday afternoon phone call turned into a great outcome for a customer and a reminder that you never know where a conversation might lead.

So the moral of the story?

Don't underestimate the power of answering that Friday afternoon call. Sometimes the opportunities you weren't expecting turn out to be the most rewarding...

I love helping customers navigate big financial decisions and finding solutions that make a real difference to their goals. That's what makes this job so rewarding. 😊

If your home loan is coming up for review and you're wondering whether refinancing could save you money or better suit your goals, feel free to get in touch. We can explore whether you may qualify under the Bank's refinance policy and what options might be available to you.

Happy Friday everyone!

Send a message to learn more

30/09/2026

🏡 Open Bridging Loan vs Closed Bridging Loan – What's the Difference?

If you're looking at buying your next home before you've sold your current one, a bridging loan can help "bridge the gap" between buying and selling. But did you know there are two different types?

✅ Closed Bridging Loan

A closed bridging loan is when your existing home has already been sold and you have a confirmed, unconditional settlement date. This can be a great option if you'd like to move into your new home before settlement on your current property occurs, or if there's a short overlap between the two transactions.

During this period, you'll need to be able to cover the costs of both your existing home loan and the bridging loan until the sale of your current property settles. Because there is certainty around the sale and settlement date, this type of bridging loan is generally considered lower risk.

✅ Open Bridging Loan

An open bridging loan is when you've found and want to purchase your next home, but your current property hasn't sold yet. This gives you the flexibility to secure your new home without waiting for the sale of your existing one.

Because your current home hasn't sold, there is more uncertainty around how long it may take to sell and what sale price you'll achieve. This means there are additional considerations around affordability, equity, and market conditions, making open bridging loans a higher-risk lending option.

💡 Which option is right for you?

Every situation is different. The right solution will depend on your income, equity position, borrowing requirements, and overall financial circumstances.

Moving home can feel overwhelming, but understanding your options early can make the process much smoother. If you're thinking about buying before selling, I'd be happy to talk through what may be possible and help you create a plan that works for you.

📞 Feel free to reach out for chat to discuss your situation.



Lending criteria, terms, conditions and fees may apply. Approval is subject to ANZ's lending and eligibility criteria.

27/09/2026

After a wonderful few days on annual leave, I'm back in the office feeling refreshed, and ready for another great week ahead...

One of the highlights was spending time in Taupō at the Global Games Rugby Tournament, watching my youngest son play his final games for Norths Rugby Club before heading off to college next year. As a proud mum, it was very special to be there supporting him and his team of legends. 🏉❤️

Coming back to work, I was excited to help a couple who were referred to me by Emma O’Keeffe Real Estate at Harcourts Mana. They had found their dream home but needed to see if they could secure it before selling their current property.

By putting an open bridging loan in place, I was able to help them move forward with confidence and secure their next home. The best part is that they now have time before settlement to get their current home ready for sale, without the pressure of potentially missing out on the property they really wanted.

It's a great example of how having the right advice and a strong team around you can open up opportunities that you may not have realised were possible.

A big thank you to Emma for the referral and for working alongside me to help achieve a fantastic outcome for our mutual clients. I love collaborating with great local professionals to help families achieve their property goals. 🏡

Over the coming days, I'll also be sharing more about how open bridging loans work, who they may be suitable for, and what you need to have in place to qualify. If you've been wondering how you could buy your next home before selling your current one, stay tuned. It may be more achievable than you think!

🏡✨

16/09/2026

🏡 Helping Kiwis achieve their property dreams for over 30 years! 🏡
One of the things I love most about my role is helping people navigate the journey to home ownership and property investment.
With more than 30 years of experience in banking and lending, I am passionate about making the process as simple, stress-free, and successful as possible. Whether you're buying your first home, adding to your investment portfolio, or refinancing, I'm here to guide you every step of the way.
I pride myself on going into bat for my customers and finding solutions that work for their unique circumstances. Having purchased properties myself, I understand firsthand the excitement, challenges, and decisions involved in major financial commitments.
My customers often tell me they appreciate that I'm responsive, knowledgeable, and easy to deal with.
I believe lending doesn't need to be complicated, and my goal is always to make things as straightforward as possible.
Over the years, I've built strong relationships across the bank and wider industry, helping me achieve excellent outcomes for my customers.
💙 I believe every customer deserves someone in their corner who genuinely cares, listens, and goes the extra mile to help them succeed.
If you're thinking about your next property move, I'd love to help.

14/09/2026

🏡🔑 Did you know that when buying your first home, you could qualify for a $5,000 cash contribution?
🏡 This can be a massive help with all those extra costs that tend to build up during the process.
🏡 People often don't realise that it's not just the legal fees you need to think about.
🏡 You also need to consider the costs of insurances, potential valuation fees, moving costs, utility connection fees, and simply getting your new house set up.
🏡 If you're in the market to buy your first home, please give me a call. 📞
🏡 We can work on getting you pre-approved so you are ready to buy, and secure a great cash injection on settlement to help cover those initial expenses.
🏡 Get in touch today to discuss how ANZ can help make your first home a reality

07/09/2026

MORTGAGE MYTH MONDAY : "If you buy takeaway coffee, the bank won't approve your home loan."

BUSTED! ✅

This is one of the most common myths I hear from customers.

The reality is that buying a regular coffee isn't usually the reason someone won't qualify for a home loan. A daily coffee is generally considered discretionary spending, and we're not sitting there counting every flat white you purchase!

When assessing a home loan application, lenders focus on things like:

✅ Your income
✅ Existing debts and commitments
✅ Fixed living expenses
✅ Whether you can comfortably afford the proposed repayments
✅ Having enough surplus income left over after your commitments are paid

It's not about being perfect. It's about making sure your budget is sustainable and that you can comfortably manage your home loan alongside your everyday living costs.

So if you've been avoiding your morning coffee because you think it's stopping you from buying a home, it's time to put that myth to rest! ☕😊

If you're wondering what a bank actually looks at when assessing a home loan application, I'd be happy to have a chat.

Send a message to learn more

30/08/2026

🏡 Thinking About Buying a Home?

One of the first conversations I have with many customers is about getting pre-approved before they start looking at properties.

Knowing your budget upfront can make the whole process more enjoyable and give you the confidence to act when the right home comes along.

There's nothing quite like finding a home that ticks all the boxes and knowing you're ready to make your move.

If you're just starting out, ANZ's First Home Buyers Handbook is a fantastic resource. It covers everything from saving a deposit and understanding the buying process through to applying for a home loan and settling into your new home.

📘 I'd be happy to send you a copy of the handbook and have a chat about what your borrowing options could look like.

📞 Feel free to get in touch if you're thinking about taking the first step towards home ownership.