Fines system overhaul needed urgently

Too many people are getting away without paying their fines on time, says National’s Law & Order spokesman, Simon Power.
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Pushing mortgages to the limit

Modern life has already given us extreme sports and extreme makeovers. Now it is mortgages that are being pushed to their limits.
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House prices drop but little danger of market collapsing

If Alan Bollard didn't manage a smile when the latest house data was revealed last week, he would make a good poker player.
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Bollard raises rates, leaves the door open for more

Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard has chosen the hawkish option, raising interest rates again and not ruling out the possibility of further hikes while emphasising that inflation pressures are stronger than expected.
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Home loan wars - Round 3

The Bank of New Zealand has resumed its discounting campaign with home loans, this time extending it to include three-year rates as well as two-year rates.
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Home loan rate rises pick up

Mortgage rates are heading higher in reaction to the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s rate rise and hawkish tone last week, and it’s all your fault.
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The rate war continues

The fixed interest rate loan competition continues unabated, despite one day of no changes during the last week.
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Housing policy contributing to poor health stats

National Party Labour's policy of allowing people with surprisingly high incomes to stay in state houses indefinitely is contributing to an out-of-control waiting list and poor health statistics among those waiting for state housing, says National's Housing spokesman, Phil Heatley.
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Legislative Updates

The Social Services Select Committee 2005/2006 financial review of the Department of Building & Housing has reported that the department has for a considerable time been undertaking legislative reviews of the Unit Titles Act 1972 and the Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
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Housing market still hot

Despite the Reserve Bank's best efforts to cool the property market, house values are still rising.
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Brace yourselves for repeat of 1987, says developer

Property develper Olly Newland, who gained and lost a fortune at the time of the 1987  sharemarket bubble and bust, believes New Zealand is about to repeat the experience.
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Tenant admits assault charge

A Takaka carpenter assaulted his 83-year-old landlord in frustration over a tenancy dispute, Nelson District Court has heard.
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BNZ market share up - slightly

Bank of New Zealand gained a smidgen more share of the mortgage market in the June quarter but its profitability is suffering slightly.
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Warning over tenants blacklist

A Nelson property manager who has been asked by landlords to blacklist tenants with whom they have had a 'clash of personalities' has warned that such databases need to be closely monitored.
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Speed - wealth dream is just that

Diana Clement looks at the dream offered by some of the companies selling one-stop-shop packaged property investments.
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Kiwibank sneaks into home loan war game

The home loan price war became a battle between two of the banks last week – the protagonist Bank of New Zealand and the ASB Bank.
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Few bite BNZ bait

It’s been a bit of a one-way street with mortgage rates last week. The only changes have been decreases and all the changes have been in the longer term fixed rate area.
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Cullen prepares ground for new tax

National Party Finance spokesman John Key says Michael Cullen appears to be preparing the ground to impose a capital gains tax on investment property.
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Problems understanding the jargon

A home loan is usually the biggest debt New Zealanders will have but many homeowners are not aware of even the basics on mortgage repayment and home loan terminology, according to the results of New Zealands first Adult Financial Knowledge Survey.
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Rates start easing

After a period of strong rises in home loan rates they are now starting to ease back, and by reasonably significant margins.
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Higher floating rates now a possibility

Not only has the prospect of lower floating rates receded well into 2006, but now the market is beginning to suggest further tightening.
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Housing NZ, Ministry may share information

Legislation establishing information sharing between Housing New Zealand and the Ministry of Social Development will be considered by a parliamentary committee.
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Economic news points to higher rates

The message on home loan rates is still the same - there won't be any falls for sometime now.
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Residential Tenancies (Damage Insurance) Amendment Bill - Formally Withdrawn

Earlier this month the report of the Social Services Select Committee on the Residential Tenancies (Damage Insurance) Amendment Bill was finally presented to Parliament.
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BUDGET 2007 – Initiatives

The Budget (17 May) contained three announcements that were of interest to the Federation.
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