Blog

MTF Finance | 6 Jul 2026

Wedding Planning Made Possible

If you've spent any time on Instagram or TikTok lately, you've probably noticed something: the "perfect wedding" is changing.

Couples are swapping tradition for personality. Guest lists are getting smaller. Weekday weddings are becoming normal. Some are spending more than ever on unforgettable experiences, while others are cutting back on things they simply don't care about.

The common thread? People are designing weddings around what matters to them - not what everyone else expects.

That shift is changing how Kiwi couples are thinking about paying for one of life's biggest celebrations.

MTF Finance | 30 Jun 2026

The most expensive car isn't always the one with the loan

Sometimes the car you've already paid off is costing you more than you realise.

When most of us think about saving money, we assume keeping the car we already own is the obvious choice.

One customer thought exactly the same - until they looked at the full cost of owning their ageing SUV.

"I thought I was doing the responsible thing," they told us.

MTF Finance | 21 May 2026

Putting your car loan on your mortgage could cost you more than you think

There’s a moment that catches a lot of Kiwis off guard. Let’s set the scene - you’re sitting with the bank, talking about topping up the mortgage for a new vehicle, and it sounds… easy.

“Just roll it into the home loan.”
“Your repayments could even be lower.”
“You probably won’t notice it.”

MTF | 3 Dec 2025

Interest Rates, Inflation, and the Economy

What First-Time Buyers Need to Know 

If you’re thinking about buying your first home or just starting to manage your money, the latest Reserve Bank update brings some important news. Here’s what’s happening and why it matters for you.

MTF | 8 Jul 2025

Why isn’t this bigger news?

For a prospective homebuyer, the number of houses to choose from in New Zealand is the highest it has been for about ten years (1), and interest rates the lowest they have been in more than three years (2). Whether you're a first-home buyer, looking to refix your existing mortgage, or expanding your property portfolio, there are fantastic opportunities available right now.

By Narelle Jakeway, MTF Mortgage Adviser | 18 Nov 2024

What size deposit do you need to buy a house in NZ?

If your next big goal is buying your first home, saving up for your deposit can become something of an obsession. And a good one too, because property ownership is how most Kiwis improve their financial position over a lifetime. As with all goals, it helps to know what the finish line looks like, i.e. how much do you need to save to buy a suitable property? So in this article we’ll look at the question of house deposits from every angle.

By Narelle Jakeway, MTF Mortgage Adviser | 18 Nov 2024

Mastering a home loan payment calculator

Our easy-to-use mortgage repayment calculator quickly reveals what your regular payments will be for a particular home loan. It also lets you try different scenarios and immediately see how they would affect your mortgage payments.

MTF Finance | 18 Nov 2024

What is a good debt-to-income (DTI) ratio? 2024 guide

While lenders and the New Zealand government have a set of affordability rules for loans, everyone’s situation is different. Pushing your mortgage-to-income (MTI) or debt-to-income (DTI) ratio up to the limit might not be the best option for you. Before you commit to a home loan, it’s important to get independent financial advice from someone like a mortgage adviser. This article is designed to help you get ready for those discussions.

MTF Finance | 23 Oct 2024

What's the difference between a mortgage broker and a mortgage adviser?

When you’re shopping around for a home loan, you may come across the terms ‘mortgage adviser’, mortgage broker’, and even ‘financial adviser’. When talking about home loans, all of these job descriptions offer a similar service - so why the different names?

MTF Finance | 7 Aug 2024

High LVR lending (low deposit loans)

For many first-home buyers, the housing market has been a bit of a distant dream recently.