The Harcourts HX 2023 annual conference in May was a tremendous success, and our network were fortunate enough to be in the company of some of the finest speakers in the world during the two-day event.

Listening to Ruby Tui, the Black Fern Gold Medalist, and New Zealander of the Year Awards semi-finalist share her story of overcoming the odds to become a gold medalist was truly inspiring. Neha Rajebhosale, the Practice Director at The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center, was another speaker who captivated the audience. Her engaging and innovative approach towards delivering the finest experience left us with valuable insights on how to enhance our property management service levels. Julie Masters, the leading expert in building trust and authority, was equally impressive. Her talk emphasised the importance of building and maintaining trust as a cornerstone for any successful
business relationship. Her tips and tricks were practical and easy to implement, making her talk one of the highlights of the conference and very beneficial to everyone in the property management part of our business. Last but not least, Crisis Negotiator Lance Burdett shared some invaluable takeaways on how to build personal resilience and enhance communication. Attendees were left feeling motivated and empowered to take on challenges with renewed vigor.

Overall, this year’s Harcourts HX conference was an incredible experience, with a roster of topnotch speakers and seminars that provided valuable insights and transformative ideas to enhance our business outlook. We cannot wait to implement what we’ve learned and share it with all of you.

With the increasing need for housing in New Zealand, sustainability is now more important than ever. Designs must incorporate green building techniques that take into account environmental responsibility and resource efficiency to ensure a bright future of property across New Zealand. By understanding what sustainable designs are, their advantages, and preparing accordingly – we can ensure Aotearoa remains habitable for generations to come!

What is green building?
Sustainable building or “green building” is a flexible term used to describe a building process whereby every aspect is required to be environmentally responsible and resource-efficient. From planning and construction, to maintenance, renovation and eventually demolition, consideration is given to the building materials, the processes used to create it, as well as its lasting impact.

Green buildings are built around creating healthy, natural environments for people to live and work in, and make particularly efficient use of resources such as energy and water. Green buildings have lower operating costs, as energy and water efficient homes cost less to run, are warmer and drier, and deliver health benefits to those who live and work in them.

All buildings in New Zealand must comply with the Building Code that sets standards for things like the right levels of moisture, fire safety, overall health and safety, and energy efficiency. However, given the environmental challenges we’re currently facing in the wake of a particularly destructive cyclone, it’s evident that incorporating further eco-friendly designs and construction choices is the responsibility of all New Zealanders planning a new build or renovation.

Why build eco-friendly homes?
As well as being good for the environment and our health, green buildings are good for the bottom line. Green commercial buildings deliver better returns for owners and investors and are in greater demand from tenants. International evidence shows that green buildings enjoy better occupancy and better returns and have lower operating costs (including energy).*

Unlike many New Zealand homes which are known to be damp and unhealthy, green buildings offer modern comforts and energy saving features which are better for overall health and wellbeing.

But there are far-reaching benefits too: green buildings have a lower carbon footprint, help reduce waste, and place less strain on the grid. Switching to renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind power, helps reduce pollution and greenhouse gases impacting climate change.

Where do you start?
The New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC) advocates for regulatory and industry-wide change so that all homes and buildings in Aotearoa may be green and sustainable, making healthier, happier New Zealanders.

To support New Zealand on its path to a low carbon future, here are some important starting points:
• Use renewable materials
• Reduce waste and carbon impacts savings
• Adopt innovative technology.

Before planning a new build or renovation, get advice from any one of these experts:
• NZ Green Building Council (NZGBC)
• Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ)
• Eco Design Advisor
• Smarter Homes (Government site)

Source: www.nzgbc.org.nz

Recently, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ increased the Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 50 basis points, from 4.75 per cent to 5.25 per cent. It’s the 11th successive increase and takes the OCR to its highest level since December 2008. As some New Zealand mortgage holders prepare to re-fix their mortgage in the next 6 months, many are likely to see their interest rates double from 3 per cent or less to more than 6 per cent. Before locking in new interest rates, it’s important for borrowers to know these 5 things.

1. Know when your existing fixed rate expires
Before your fixed rate term comes to an end, you’ll need to decide whether to refix your home loan at a new interest rate or change to a floating interest rate. If you choose not to re-fix or if you do nothing, your home loan will automatically switch to a floating interest rate the day after your fixed term ends. To plan your next steps, contact your mortgage adviser or lender at least 6 to 8 weeks before your fixed rate is due to expire.

2. Know what your plans and goals are
When deciding how long to refix, consider your plans and goals. Think about any changes to your current situation that could affect your home loan. For example, are you planning to sell your home, do you have a new baby on the way, are you changing your job or lifestyle? Each of these situations requires more flexibility so a shorter fixed term may be preferred.

3. Know what the different rate options are
Understand the difference between fixed interest rates and floating interest rates, and the pros and cons of each.

Floating interest rates:
• More flexibility allowing extra repayments
• No break fee so you can fix part of your mortgage at any time
• Repayments fluctuate with interest rate changes making it harder to budget
• Rates tend to be higher than fixed interest rates.

Fixed interest rates:
• More certainty with set repayments which can simplify budgeting and financial planning
• Locking in a fixed interest rate ahead of an increase could save you money
• No benefit if interest rates drop
• Does not allow for any extra repayments or early repayments.

4. Know how your mortgage is structured
Splitting your home loan and spreading your risk over a few loan terms could help minimise the impact of higher mortgage repayments as interest rates continue to rise. At the same time, it’s important not to lock yourself into too long a loan term and potentially miss out on an interest rate downturn.

Before refixing your home loan, talk to your mortgage adviser about your current situation and what’s on the horizon for you both short-term and long-term, so you can decide on the right home loan structure for the coming two to three years.

5. Know what other lenders are offering
It pays to check what interest rates and incentives other lenders are offering before you refix with your current lender, and to compare your fixed interest rates to see how they stack up. Talk to your mortgage adviser about opportunities to renegotiate your fixed interest rates, or find out if refinancing is right for you.

As a large number of Kiwi homeowners will be rolling off fixed interest rates this year, rising interest rates and higher repayments will understandably be a source of concern. Keeping track of changes in fixed interest rates can be hard, and not all deals are advertised. That’s why it’s important to work with a mortgage adviser – such as those at Mortgage Express – who can help you compare lenders and interest rates to find the right financial solution.

Source: www.mortgage-express.co.nz

Most homes have them and yet the dangers associated with window blinds are not widely known. As a leading safety hazard for children under 6 years old, there seems to be an oversight in the understanding of how dangerous this everyday fixture in our home, actually is.

The dangers of blind cords peak between one to four years of age as toddlers gain mobility and become curious about their surroundings. They are able to reach blind cords, but they do not understand the danger of strangulation and are unable to free themselves once entangled. While many parents think this won’t happen to them if they just watch their child, most injuries happen while a child is under a parent’s care and has been left alone for the time it takes to boil the kettle.

Tenancy Services is working with Consumer Protection to raise awareness of the deadly combination of loose cords and young children in homes, but here is what you can do to ensure their safety:
• Start by going through your rental homes to identify any blinds or curtains with long or looped cords that are within a child’s reach or near furniture they can climb on. If you are a tenant, you can do this immediately and if you are a property manager or landlord you can include this in your regular property inspections.
• Replace or remove any window coverings with cords, use a tension device to keep cords safe, retrofit cords to make them safer and keep all cords out of reach.
• You can get tension devices (also known as “cord tensioners” or “cord cleats”) from hardware or window furnishing stores. This is a minor change that can be purchased for a small cost and makes a great difference towards safer homes for children.

For more information visit:
Tenants making changes to the property – Click here.
Safety for children around blinds and window shades with cords – Click here