The Mortgage Advisor

02/09/2026

When you describe what you do for a living and suddenly everyone's looking at you differently 😂

I'll go first 👇

I convince strangers to hand over their most sensitive financial secrets, then use that information to persuade large institutions to transfer them life-changing sums of money.

Drop yours in the comments. Bonus points if it sounds worse than mine.

31/08/2026

The mortgage to-do list is real. And for most people, it's the thing that puts them off even starting.

What documents do I need? Which bank should I approach? Is my deposit enough? What does my credit history look like? Do I need a lawyer yet?

The list goes on.

Most of it isn't actually yours to figure out. One client said it best in their testimonial:

"Rhonda, the fairy godmother of mortgages."

I'll take that. The first step is yours...

The other 9? Leave them to me.

👉 https://www.themortgageadvisor.co.nz/lets-chat/

Rhonda

30/08/2026

Came across this recently and it stuck with me.

In my world, curiosity looks like asking questions before assuming you know the answer. It looks like a first-home buyer who picks up the phone before ruling themselves out. Or an existing homeowner who wonders if their lending is still structured the right way.

The people who tend to end up in a better financial position are rarely the ones who had it all figured out from the start. They're the ones who stayed curious enough to ask.

27/08/2026

Sorry to add to your Friday list - but this one is worth 15 minutes of your weekend.

When did you last check the sum your house is insured for?

Rebuild costs have continued to rise and it's one of those things that's easy to set and forget. But if your cover hasn't been reviewed in a while, it's worth checking it still stacks up.

Being underinsured only becomes a problem when you need to make a claim - and by then it's too late to do anything about it.

If you'd like a recommendation on who to talk to about your insurance, feel free to get in touch.

https://www.themortgageadvisor.co.nz/lets-chat/

Rhonda

26/08/2026

This is a really good listen - especially if you're thinking about buying your first home in the next year or two.

Frances Cook - Journalist sits down with Jessica O'Hare, Head of Lending at Revolut, to talk about something that comes up a lot in my conversations with first-home buyers: what lenders actually look at when they assess your application.

Your credit score, your spending habits, your Afterpay history - it all leaves a digital footprint. And while there's a lot of scaremongering around this stuff, the reality is more straightforward than most people think.

A few things covered in this episode that are worth knowing:

👉 What actually gets flagged on your credit report
👉 How missed Buy Now Pay Later or utility bill payments can affect you - and for how long
👉 The red flags and green flags lenders look for on your bank statements
👉 How your phone and power bills can actually work in your favour
👉 How to automate your income, split your salary and use "money pockets" to stop overspending

Worth a listen before you start the application process. Link in the comments. 👇

Rhonda

Is your Afterpay habit hurting your financial future and stopping y...

19/08/2026

I've been working with a few first-home buyers lately and something has come up a few times - so it felt worth sharing.

That rate you've been eyeing on the bank's website? It might not be the one you're offered.

Most banks advertise what's called a "special" rate. It looks attractive, and it's designed to. But special rates typically apply to borrowers with at least 20% equity. If your deposit is sitting below that, the rate you're actually offered could be higher than what caught your eye.

It's not something banks shout about - and it's easy to miss if you're navigating the process for the first time.

This is one of the reasons it pays to have someone in your corner who knows what each lender will actually offer for your specific situation - not just what they're advertising to the market.

The difference might be small. Or it might not be. Either way, it's worth knowing before you commit.

Rhonda

18/08/2026

One of the most common questions I get from parents is: "How can I help my kids into their first home?"

It's a question that comes with a lot of moving parts - and the answer looks different for every family.

The team at Duncan Cotterill have put together a couple of really practical reads on exactly this topic. Because whether you're considering a gift, a loan, going guarantor or co-purchasing, the way you structure that support matters more than most people realise - both for you and for your child.

I've linked both articles in the comments. They're worth a read if this has been on your mind.

As always - please make sure you talk to your lawyer and accountant before making any decisions. Getting the right advice early can save a lot of headaches down the track.

And if you'd like to understand how parental support can work from a lending perspective, I'm happy to talk that side through.

👉 https://www.themortgageadvisor.co.nz/lets-chat/

Rhonda 😊

Get in touch with The Mortgage Advisor to find out how I can support you throughout your property journey & save you time, money & stress.

11/08/2026

One of the biggest myths I come across is that you need a 20% deposit to buy your first home.

This OneRoof article is worth a read if that's been holding you back.

More than half of first-home buyers so far this year have bought with less than 20% deposit. They're not waiting until they've saved the full amount - they're getting into the market with what they have.

There are options available for buyers with smaller deposits and it's worth understanding what those look like before you rule yourself out.

If you don't have 20% saved, let's talk through what's possible.

👉 https://www.themortgageadvisor.co.nz/lets-chat/

Rhonda

And why a September rate rise is still on the cards despite unemployment shocker.

09/08/2026

There is no in between, right!?

06/08/2026

Now that I'm back into the swing of things, one thing that's stood out is just how quiet the market is right now.

And depending on where you sit, that's not a bad thing.

For buyers, a flat market means less competition at open homes, more time to make considered decisions and more room at the negotiating table. A few years ago, that kind of breathing space simply didn't exist.

Wellington in particular has been soft for a while. If you've been watching and waiting, the current conditions are worth paying attention to.

If you'd like to talk through what it means for your situation, I'd love to hear from you 👇

https://www.themortgageadvisor.co.nz/lets-chat/

Rhonda

💻 [email protected]