It’s OK to give up on ever owning a home.
– Home ownership falling — people need family help to buy
– It can work to be a long-term renter
– Advantages of renting
– But you need to save lots for renting in retirement
– Prediction — long term house prices will fall relative to incomes
– Best way to save
Q&As:
– Wobbly markets don’t mean you should sit on the sidelines
– Reader unhappy after following my advice
– Tips for nervous investors
– Best KiwiSaver plan after first home purchase
– Use a reverse mortgage to help son?
– A reader’s story: Learning to appreciate market downturns
Q&As:
– KiwiSaver provider’s ad looks like cherry picking to me
– Retired couple should sell their rental property
– You can repay reverse mortgages any time
– Reader takes note of bank credit ratings when choosing term deposits
– A reader’s story: Surviving Covid jitters, and upping KiwiSaver and mortgage payments
Kids and KiwiSaver
– You can sign them up at any time
– The rules for under 18s on government and employer contributions, when teenager gets a job etc.
– Maybe make small contributions — starts saving habit
– $10 or $20 a week could start a house deposit — not just from parents
– Changes at 18 — keep helping with contributions
– Saving for children outside KS — pluses and minuses
Q&As:
– How could I resist? Quite easily, actually
– A short-term reverse mortgage works well for this reader…
– … But rates postponement might be better for this one
– Don’t overlook other banks’ term deposits
Readers’ stories:
– Column helps with recovery from accident
– House deposit money better in the bank
Q&As:
– A reverse mortgage that hasn’t gone well …
– … But it might work for this reader
– A great tip on how to get more on your term deposit
– Buying shares is much cheaper these days
– A reader’s story: Many wise moves, and a great attitude
KiwiSaver back to positive! Also, new KiwiSaver help for new parents
– Returns January to March positive for almost all KiwiSaver funds
– Are the best short-term funds also the best long-term?
– Main points: Hang in there; higher risk = higher return; never judge by short-term performance
– Government helps KiwiSavers on paid parental leave
Q&As:
– How to avoid the boss’s meanness — a different way to contribute to KiwiSaver
– Credit card interest rise alarming
– Don’t bail out of KiwiSaver
– Funds’ relative performance all over the place
– 2 more providers let you withdraw dividends from funds — which can work well in retirement
– A reader’s story: Lessons learnt boost confidence
Q&As:
– Rental property comparison with KiwiSaver not valid
– Working out your true income can help you curb spending
– How reader can keep getting some benefits after 65
– A pity more managed fund providers don’t distribute dividends to investors
– A reader’s story: Recovery from divorce, and 21st birthday presents
Laddering — a clever way with term deposits and perhaps your mortgage
– What is laddering?
– Who might be affected?
– Why do it? — gives longer-term returns on deposits (which are usually higher); frequent access to some of your money; some protection from bad luck with timing.
– How it might work with a mortgage