Current Mortgage
Make your existing mortgage work harder: repayments, interest rates, refinancing, break fees, and smart ways to reduce interest.
Articles in this topic
Refix, Refinance or Top Up? How to Choose the Right Mortgage Move in 2026
A practical NZ guide to choosing between refixing your current loan, refinancing to another lender, or topping up your mortgage in 2026.
Debt Consolidation By Refinancing Your Mortgage in NZ: When It Helps and When It Hurts
Refinancing can reduce high-interest debt repayments, but it can also turn short-term debt into long-term mortgage interest. Here is how to judge it properly.
Mortgage Refinance Costs and Cashback in NZ: How to Work Out the Real Deal in 2026
Cashback can make refinancing attractive, but only if the numbers work after legal costs, break fees, clawbacks, and loan structure.
Mortgage Refinance Documents Checklist NZ: What To Prepare Before You Apply
A practical document checklist for NZ homeowners preparing to refinance, refix, top up, or switch mortgage lenders in 2026.
The Revolving Credit Trap
Revolving credit can be useful for homeowners and investors, but investment lending can create tax deductibility complications if the facility is not treated properly.
The Official Cash Rate (OCR) Explained: What Every NZ Homeowner Needs to Know
The OCR plays a central role in determining how much you'll pay on your mortgage. Here's a plain-English guide to understanding New Zealand's most important interest rate.
Using Home Equity in Retirement: Options for NZ Homeowners
Your home may be your largest asset, but you cannot eat bricks and mortar. Here are the ways to access home equity in retirement without selling up.
Where Will Mortgage Interest Rates Be in 2026?
What might happen to mortgage rates through the rest of 2026? We look at what economists, banks, and the Reserve Bank are saying-with the next OCR decision coming 19 February.
The CCCFA: What Property Buyers Need to Know After the 2024 Reforms
The Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act (CCCFA) has been significantly reformed since 2024, making mortgage lending more accessible while maintaining responsible lending principles.
Can Flatmate Income Help You Get a Mortgage in NZ?
Banks typically cap flatmate income at $150–$200 per week. Learn how flatmate income factors into mortgage applications in New Zealand.
How Does A Student Loan Affect A Mortgage Pre-Approval?
Student loans typically have a smaller impact on mortgage applications than borrowers expect. Learn how banks really assess student loan debt.
The Bank Said No Because of My Income
When a bank declines a mortgage application due to insufficient income, it's often called hitting the income hurdle. Learn actionable solutions to overcome this challenge.
Declined for an Investment Property? What to Do When the Bank Says No Due to Credit History
When a bank declines an investment property loan application, understanding the reason is crucial. A decline based on credit history is classified as a credit hurdle.
10 Annual Home Maintenance Tasks Most Homeowners Forget
A practical annual home maintenance checklist to help homeowners keep their properties safe, efficient, and in good condition.
Why Should You Use a Mortgage Broker If You Already Have a Mortgage?
When you think about mortgage broking, you probably think about it in the context of buying a house. But your mortgage broker provides multiple important services throughout the life of your mortgage.
Better Budget – All About Your Heat Pump
Heat pumps represent an efficient heating solution. According to GenLess, "a heat pump is the most energy-efficient way of using electricity to heat your home."
Buying a Better Home in a Hot Property Market
If you're fortunate enough to have owned a house for a couple of years, property appreciation has likely increased your wealth. Should you use your increased equity to upgrade?
How to Move Cities When You Have a Mortgage
With remote work becoming increasingly common, relocating to smaller, more affordable cities is now viable for many professionals.
Small Steps: Review Your Insurance Policies for Better Cover
If you haven't reviewed your insurance in the last couple of years, you're not alone. This month's Small Steps action is to pull out your policies and see whether they still stack up.
NZ Interest Rates Prediction 2020 (Historical Archive)
HISTORICAL: This article from early 2020 was overtaken by COVID-19 events. Preserved for historical interest only.
Prepare, Don't Panic – 3 Things to Do Right Now to Prepare for a Recession
The key problem in a recession is the lack of business confidence. Here are 3 things you can do to prepare-and 1 thing you definitely shouldn't.
NZ Mortgage Interest Rates Prediction 2023 (Historical Archive)
HISTORICAL: This 2023 prediction article is now over 3 years old. Preserved for historical interest-see how our predictions played out.
Where Will Mortgage Interest Rates Be In 2024? (Historical Archive)
HISTORICAL: This 2024 prediction article has been overtaken by events. The OCR has since dropped to around 4% with further cuts expected.
What Could NZ Mortgage Rates Be In 2025? (Historical Archive)
HISTORICAL: This 2024 prediction has been superseded. Actual OCR cuts were more aggressive than predicted, dropping to around 2.25% by late 2025.
The Real Cost of Credit Cards on Your Mortgage Capacity
Credit cards are a familiar fixture in most New Zealand wallets. But when it comes time to apply for a mortgage, those little pieces of plastic could be reducing your borrowing power more than you realise.
Can I Get a Top-Up on My Mortgage?
A mortgage top-up is an additional loan added to your existing home loan. The bank increases the amount owed on your mortgage and releases the difference as cash.
Split Banking for Property Investors in NZ: What You Need to Know
Split banking involves distributing your property loans across multiple lenders rather than concentrating all borrowing with a single bank.
What Is a Reverse Mortgage? How It Works for NZ Retirees
A reverse mortgage enables homeowners aged 60+ to access home equity without mandatory repayments. Here's what you need to know.
Interest-Only Mortgages: When They Work-and When They Don't
Interest-only mortgages tend to get a bad rap, and not without reason. Used recklessly, they can lead to financial stress and ballooning debt. But in the right circumstances, they can be a very smart move.
How Offset Mortgages Work in New Zealand
An offset mortgage links everyday bank accounts to your home loan. Rather than earning interest on savings, the money in those accounts is treated as if it's reducing the mortgage balance.
Should You Break Your Fixed Mortgage? Here's How to Calculate If It's Worth It
Over the past 16 years, mortgage interest rates in New Zealand have had their fair share of ups and downs, creating situations where borrowers experience regret about their fixed rates.
Weekly vs Monthly Mortgage Payments: Which Is Better?
Does paying your mortgage weekly instead of monthly really save you thousands? This article investigates whether this advice holds merit through mathematical analysis.
Refinancing Your Mortgage in NZ: The Go-To Plan Before You Switch Banks
A complete New Zealand refinancing plan covering refix vs refinance, break fees, cashback, LVR, DTI, equity release, top-ups, documents, and when to talk to an adviser.
What Is a Revolving Credit Account and Should You Use One?
A revolving credit account is a flexible home loan structure functioning similarly to a large overdraft. Rather than having an entire mortgage on a fixed schedule, a portion operates as a revolving facility.
Who Pays for the Mortgage After a Separation?
When a relationship ends, financial responsibilities don't simply disappear-especially when there's a mortgage involved.
Why Don't We Have 30-Year Fixed Mortgages in New Zealand?
If you've lived in the United States, you'll probably be familiar with 30-year fixed mortgages. But in New Zealand, the longest fixed term you're likely to get is five years. So why the difference?
The Magic of Compound Interest When Paying Down Your Mortgage
Compound interest represents "interest on interest." Understanding this concept can help you save hundreds of thousands throughout your loan.
The One Bank Trap and The Several Bank Nightmare
Property investors frequently encounter two contrasting approaches to debt management. The first concentrates all borrowing with a single lender, while the second spreads loans across numerous banks.
Getting a Divorce and a Mortgage – What You Need to Know
Divorce brings stress, uncertainty, and plenty of paperwork, and that's before anyone starts talking about who keeps the air fryer. If you're navigating a separation and wondering what it means for your mortgage, you're not alone.
Fixing or Refixing Your Mortgage: 3 Questions to Ask Before You Lock In
Let's be honest, refixing your mortgage doesn't exactly set your pulse racing. But it represents a financially significant annual decision deserving careful consideration before locking in rates.
Frequently asked questions
Is refixing the same as refinancing?
No. Refixing means choosing a new fixed term with your current lender. Refinancing means moving your mortgage to another lender and completing a new lending and legal process.
When should I compare refinance options?
Two to three months before your fixed term ends is usually a practical window. It gives you time to compare lenders without rushing into a refix.
Does a top-up count as refinancing?
A top-up can happen with your existing lender or as part of a refinance. Either way, it is extra borrowing and the bank will assess whether you can afford it.
Can cashback make refinancing better?
Yes, but only after checking legal costs, break fees, and clawback periods. Cashback is helpful, but it is not the whole deal.
Will LVR or DTI rules matter?
They can. Same-balance refinancing may be treated differently, but extra borrowing through a top-up can trigger fresh LVR, DTI, and serviceability checks.
Can Mortgage Lab compare all three options?
Yes. A Mortgage Lab adviser can compare refixing, refinancing, and topping up so the decision is based on the full mortgage plan, not just a rate.
Can I refinance my mortgage to consolidate debt?
Yes, if your income, equity, credit position, and lender policy support the extra borrowing. The bank will still assess whether the loan is suitable and affordable.
Is debt consolidation through a mortgage a good idea?
It can be, but only when the repayment plan is clear. Lower monthly repayments can hide a higher long-term interest cost if the debt is spread over decades.