That Home Loan Hub
Welcome to That Home Loan Hub, your ultimate guide to mastering the world of home loans and property. I'm Zebunisso Alimova, here to simplify the complexities of real estate and provide you with expert insights and the latest trends.
Whether you're a first-time homebuyer, an experienced investor, or simply curious about the property market, this podcast is for you. Join me each week as we unlock the secrets to property success and help you make informed decisions. Let's dive into the world of property together!
Episodes
184 episodes
From Side Hustle To Studio Homes
A budget roadblock turned into a design career, a studio, and an award-winning project. Meet Sam MacArthur of Wild Bird Interior Design, who transformed a DIY necessity into a business built on clarity, calm, and clever coordination. We dig int...
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29:15
Budget Hacks For Smarter Renovations
Renovating or building doesn’t have to drain your wallet to deliver a home you love. We sit down with interior designer Sam MacArthur of Wild Bird Interior Design to unpack the smart, simple moves that stretch your budget without sacrificing st...
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12:53
EQC Claims, LIM Surprises, And Getting A Mortgage In New Zealand
Ever seen a “bargain” home that comes with an EQC claim, missing insulation, and a nervous insurer? We dig into real listener scenarios and show how fast a dream deal can unravel when banks, insurers, and lawyers aren’t aligned. From first-home...
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11:55
From Sales Plans To Smart Homes: The Real Value Of An Architect
Ever stepped out of the shower and realised your front door frames your bedroom to the street? We start with that jolt of real-life design failure and build toward a simple claim: the right architect can save you stress, money, and long-term re...
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17:20
Reverse Mortgages, Explained Clearly
Too many families face the same quiet stress: parents are rich on paper but short on cash, while adult children plan around an inheritance that may never arrive. We dive into reverse mortgages with clear, practical advice on when they help, whe...
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9:27
How Planning Ahead Eases Grief For The Ones You Love
Grief arrives fast; chaos doesn’t have to. We open up about a recent loss and the unexpected relief that came from one simple gift: everything was organised. From who speaks at the service to where the documents live, clear choices turned a bru...
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12:49
AI, Architecture, And The Human Touch
Fear about AI replacing architects is loud, but the reality is more nuanced and far more useful. We sit down with architect Micah Ricards to map where AI makes the work better—clearer emails, cleaner briefs, sharper questions—and where it hits ...
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12:03
How A Tiny Wellington House Became A Smart, Award-Winning Home
What if your home could do more with less? We sit down with architect Micah to unpack the craft of designing compact spaces that feel generous, from clever room swaps and foldaway beds to ventilation that keeps things comfortable without energy...
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26:42
OCR Outlook And Your Mortgage Now
Big headlines say the OCR fell, but your bank rate barely budged. We open the bonnet to show why: lenders price off wholesale markets and move ahead of Reserve Bank calls, which is why retail rates don’t always mirror the cash rate. From there ...
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11:11
How To Navigate Mortgage Stress And Debt With A Clear Plan
Money pressure builds quietly—then feels impossible. We open up about what we’re seeing across New Zealand households right now: families juggling higher refix rates, patchy incomes after layoffs, and the creeping stress of arrears on essential...
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9:10
Why Switching Banks Now Could Put Thousands In Your Pocket
Want thousands back when you switch or buy? We break down the rare 1.5% cashback offers rolling out across major New Zealand banks and show how to capture the benefit even if your settlement won’t land until the new year. The key is understandi...
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6:30
Credit Defaults, Wrongly Lodged
The scariest words in a mortgage journey aren’t “interest rates rising.” They’re “default recorded.” We walk through a real case where a couple kept up with their repayments, only to discover a large default wrongly sitting on their credit repo...
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9:58
OCR Preview: Will Rates Finally Ease?
A quarter of a point can feel tiny until it touches your mortgage, your savings plan, and your next move on the ladder. We break down the looming OCR tweak, the real reasons banks push cashbacks instead of cutting fixed rates, and how wholesale...
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7:38
How NZ Pension And Australia’s Super Stack Up For Your Future
Think NZ Super guarantees an easy retirement? The safety net is real, but comfort requires more than a minimum KiwiSaver contribution. We sit down with Elizabeth to map the practical differences between New Zealand’s universal pension and Austr...
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17:05
From Loss To Long-Term Security: A Guide For Young Widows Managing Life Insurance
A life insurance payout can feel like a lifeline and a landmine at the same time. We open up a candid case study of young widows navigating sudden financial responsibility, the weight of grief, and the fear of doing the “wrong” thing with what ...
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12:46
Banks Read Your Power Bill, So Maybe Don’t Bounce It
Missed payments aren’t always about low income; they’re often about bad timing. We dive into the practical steps that keep your credit score clean and your home loan humming, even when payroll runs late or a provider insists on debiting the 20t...
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9:12
What A 2027 Capital Gains Tax Could Mean For Buyers, Renters, And Investors
Headlines say capital gains on investment property could arrive from 1 July 2027. We dig into what that timing might do to behaviour: investors bringing sales forward, first-home buyers seeing more stock, and renters caught between short-term s...
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9:08
OCR Call: Why A 0.25 Cut Matters Now
Rates are moving, budgets are stretched, and the clock is ticking toward the 26 November OCR call. We dig into why a 0.25 cut is back on the table, how unemployment at 5.2 percent shifts the Reserve Bank’s calculus, and why falling mortgage rat...
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7:10
How To Buy Your Parents’ House With Gifted Equity
Want a faster, cleaner path onto the property ladder without scraping together a 20% cash deposit? We dive into the growing strategy of buying your parents’ home at market value while using gifted equity to supercharge your approval odds, cut l...
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7:24
From Separation To Settlement: A First-Home Journey That Changed A Family’s Future
What does it take to turn a tough season into a turning point? Jordan, a heavy diesel mechanic and single dad of twins, opens up about buying his first home after a separation—and how a clear plan, fast moves, and a little luck changed his fami...
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25:09
Why KiwiSaver Balances Make It Easier To Buy Your First Home Now
Want the truth about timing your first home without the hype? We dig into why the current market is surprisingly kind to first-time buyers: fewer bidding wars, more time to think, and interest rates that sit closer to long-run norms than the pa...
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5:51
How A Blended Kiwi Family Bought A First Home In Their 60s
What happens when your rent looks a lot like a mortgage, but lenders keep saying no? We sit down with Mark to unpack how he and Shelly went from casual work, rising rents, and thin savings to owning a low maintenance beachside unit in their 60s...
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31:45
Healthy Habits On A Budget
A black belt in progress, a shared birthday, and a mission to help families thrive—this conversation with Lucy Edwards of Lucy Nutrition blends heart, humour, and hard-won tactics for eating well when prices feel impossible. We start with the h...
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44:24
Council Rates Can’t Be Fixed, But Your Mortgage Can
A 50 basis point cut just landed, floating rates slid, and yet those four and five-year fixes barely blinked. We unpack the why behind that mismatch, translating market dynamics into clear choices for homeowners who need more than headlines to ...
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8:29