NZ Herald 18 April 2009
Q&As: The pluses and minuses of the government’s new student loan repayment bonus; 2 Q&As on the woes — and possibilities — for first home buyers.
Q&As: The pluses and minuses of the government’s new student loan repayment bonus; 2 Q&As on the woes — and possibilities — for first home buyers.
You can indeed go wrong with bricks and mortar. I first heard people saying, “You can’t go wrong with bricks and mortar” years ago, when I lived in the US. I bet the saying isn’t quite as common there these days, now that millions of people have, indeed, lost huge amounts because of property. Yet we still hear that untrue “truism” in New Zealand. And in the last few weeks, as some people are trying to convince us that the house price slump is over, it keeps popping up.
Q&As: PIES have many more pros than cons, with tax breaks and, in some cases, a government guarantee; Single parent with three rentals might want to sell one — but not for the reason she suggests. Plus: readers’ views on KiwiSaver.
Q&As: Does KiwiSaver allow for earlier withdrawal for someone with Down syndrome?; Would having savings in KiwiSaver affect entitlement to benefits?; Does it make sense to look at productive and non-productive KiwiSavers?; Some property investors stand to gain from the current climate. Plus: Readers’ comments on KiwiSaver.
Q&As: Why KiwiSaver mortgage diversion is such a good idea; Should the government intervene to stop house prices from falling?
Q&As: The best KiwiSaver fund for a 23-year-old depends on her house-buying plans; Angry Blue Chip investor muddles my opinion with a reader’s opinion; A reader suggests why online tax payments sometimes go wrong.
Q&As: Do Blue Chip, finance company and other investment victims deserve what’s happened?; 2 Q&As on “nicer” ways to invest than rental property; Electronic tax payment problems not common.
Q&As: A middle-of-nowhere section might not be the best choice for a 25-year-old’s savings while he studies; Have delays in processing KiwiSaver contributions hurt savers in the recent tumultuous markets?; How to top up your KiwiSaver contributions so you get the full tax credit.
Q&As: Why 20 shares are much better than two; Reader claims diversification is not a great idea. I disagree; Is land a lower risk investment than a share fund?
Preparing for a possible property price plunge. The volume of house sales is slowing. Houses are taking longer to sell. And some apartment prices are falling. What if house prices are next to fall?