The Reserve Bank has held the OCR at 2.25%, signaling that the interest rate cycle is now stabilising. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has held the Official Cash Rate (OCR) at 2.25% , signalling that the NZ interest rate cycle may have reached its low point. While there was no rate cut or hike, the latest Monetary Policy Statement suggests gradual increases from late 2026 if economic recovery continues. For property investors and mortgage holders, this shift from falling to s

This fixed term tenancy early termination case shows how leaving early does not end rent obligations. The Tribunal ruled that rent continued until new tenants began their lease. It highlights why hardship must be unforeseeable to shorten a fixed term.

ON THE MARKET – December 2025 Edition The NZ Property Market is gently waking up A Market Gently Waking Up For the first time in a long while, the signals coming from the economy, the banks and everyday buyers are starting to all line up at the same time. It is not a boom. It is not even a surge. But it is a clear shift away from the uncertainty that has weighed on the property market for the past three years. The latest ASB Housing Confidence Survey sums it up neatly: buyer

Staircase Mortgage Newsletter November 2025 Discover two big signals that show the New Zealand property market is entering it's recovery phase. Two Moonshots! One Real Market Shift This month marks not just a milestone for us at Staircase, but a tipping point for the entire New Zealand property market. First, the major banks are now offering up to 1.5% cash back on new mortgages, a headline level incentive rarely seen. Second, we’re thrilled to announce that Staircase has ju

The RBNZ dropped the OCR to 2.25% today As expected the Reserve Bank has today reduced the Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 0.25% , bringing it to 2.25%. While a modest adjustment, this move reinforces the Bank’s confidence that inflation pressures have eased and that the broader economic recovery can now be supported by lower borrowing costs. For buyers, homeowners, and investors, the message is clear: financing conditions are moving steadily in your favour, and today’s cut stren

ON THE MARKET – November 2025 Edition New Zealand’s housing market has now entered a genuine recovery phase with momentum gathering as cheaper credit, improved affordability, and easing lending rules Evidence Of The Recovery Taking Root: Confidence and Capital Return to Housing The latest October housing data confirms what Staircase clients have been seeing on the ground for months, the correction is over, and opportunity is re-emerging. New Zealand’s housing market has now e

ON THE MARKET – October 2025 Edition The NZ housing market recovery is just about to start, based on the data After three years of headwinds, New Zealand’s residential property market is finally firing on all cylinders. With the Official Cash Rate now cut to 2.5 percent, fixed mortgage rates down to 4.49% with the expectation of further cuts within the next 3-6 months (mortgage rates could fall to 4%), and the economy showing early signs of expansion, the next upswing has cle

New Zealand's housing market is showing clear signs of a turnaround After three years of softening values, New Zealand’s housing market is showing clear signs the worst is behind us. Media headlines have begun calling the “end of the slide” but beyond the headlines, what does the property cycle research tell us? Understanding the Property Cycle Cycles Always Repeat Extensive research into New Zealand property cycles spanning decades shows the same rhythm repeats: Boom → price