Insights

Expert Financial Advice

Insights and updates on financial advice, mortgage, insurance, 

and KiwiSaver.
Five Threefold Group team members smiling together at the KAN 2026 Conference Awards gala evening.
18 May 2026

Threefold Awarded Outstanding Advice Business

At the Kiwi Adviser Network (KAN) Industry Awards 2026 held on May 13, Threefold was recognised in *FOUR* different categories – a result we think reflects the caliber of people, advice, and processes across our business. The headline result was our team taking out the Outstanding Advice Business Recognition (5+ Advisers) award. The judges were […]

Happy couple embracing outside a large modern home - illustrating the decision to upsize in New Zealand's current property market.
28 Apr 2026

The Upsizing Equation: Why a Flat Property Market Could Work in Your Favour

Thinking about upsizing but unsure whether now is the right time? In a flat or softly declining property market, the maths can actually work in an upsizer’s favour – because the dollar saving on a more expensive purchase is typically larger than the reduction in your sale price. Threefold breaks down how the numbers work in New Zealand’s current market, what buyers need to know about negotiating power and mortgage readiness, and why being financially prepared matters more than timing the market perfectly.

04 Mar 2026

How much deposit do I need to buy a house in New Zealand?

Most people think they need 20% to buy a home in New Zealand. The reality is more flexible. We explain what you really need including the 20% rule, using KiwiSaver to buy a home, LVR, and your options as a first home buyer.

A young woman with long light brown hair sits cross-legged indoors, smiling and holding a mug. She wears a light sweater and jeans, with green houseplants in the background and soft natural light as she checks her loan eligibility online.
18 Feb 2026

How Much Can I Borrow?

“How much can I borrow?” is often the first question people ask when they start thinking about buying or upgrading their home, or investing in property. It sounds simple, but the answer is rarely just a number on a calculator. In reality, your borrowing capacity is shaped by a mix of income, expenses, your credit […]

A man and woman smile while stacking coins on a table beside a piggy bank, glasses of orange juice, and Win Mortgage papers, suggesting they are saving money together for their home loan.
11 Nov 2025

When Should You Refix or Refinance Your Mortgage?

Unsure whether to refix or refinance your mortgage? Learn the difference, when to act, and how timing can save thousands. Understanding Refixing vs Refinancing Many homeowners use refix and refinance interchangeably, but they mean very different things and the choice can make a big difference to your long-term costs. Refixing means locking in a new […]

A young man with curly hair and a striped shirt smiles while standing at the gate of a house, one hand resting on a purple mailbox, excited about lower mortgage payments, with greenery and a porch visible in the background.
08 Oct 2025

How falling rates can cut years off your mortgage

Over the past year, interest rates in New Zealand have eased, creating a valuable opportunity for homeowners to get ahead. While the headlines often focus on what this means for first home buyers, the real potential lies with existing homeowners who can use lower rates to shorten their loan term and save tens or even […]

A cheerful family of three—a man, a woman, and a young boy—lie on the floor in front of a sofa, laughing and watching TV together with a bowl of popcorn nearby, celebrating their recent mortgage cashback win.
23 Sep 2025

Mortgage Cashbacks and Cash-Retention Payments

How to make cashbacks and cash retention payments work for you! Banks in New Zealand often offer thousands of dollars in cashback payments to win your mortgage business. The marketing hook is obvious: instant money in your account, just for taking out a home loan. With the right approach, refinancing and securing a mortgage cashback […]

A woman smiles while holding a potted fern and a cardboard box. Beside her, a girl helps carry a box, and a man in the background carries more boxes, suggesting they are moving into a new home.
26 Aug 2025

The Mortgage Myth

Why The Lowest Rate Doesn’t Always Equal The Biggest Savings Over the past 12 months, the Official Cash Rate (OCR) in New Zealand has been steadily dropping. That’s good news for borrowers, because it’s flowed through to lower interest rates across most fixed terms. It means many households now have the opportunity to lock in […]

A woman smiling and holding a potted plant and a cardboard box stands in a home entryway, with a man behind her carrying a large moving box. Moving boxes, a teddy bear, and July campaign details are visible around them.
28 Jul 2025

Rates Are Dropping: Is it worth overpaying your mortgage? 

How a little extra can cut years off your loan and save you thousands in interest With interest rates having eased over the last 12-months, it’s understandable that many of us are wondering whether now’s the time to enjoy a bit of breathing room on repayments. But there’s a smarter opportunity worth considering. When your […]

A smiling couple takes a break, looking at a laptop together at a wooden table in a modern kitchen, surrounded by papers, a phone, and a coffee cup.
22 Oct 2024

Rates Are Dropping: Should I Break, Fix or Float?

Updated: October 23, 2024 Following the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s announcement that it had dropped the OCR by 50-basis points to 4.75 percent on October 9, we have seen all the main banks drop their rates. ANZ led the way by dropping it’s one-year rate to 5.59 percent, with ASB and BNZ following suit. […]

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