Resources

A selection of topical articles are provided by Home Transfer Centre. If you have any questions, please give us a call on 0800 77 33 88.

For Buyers and Sellers

What is an Enduring Power of Attorney?

An enduring power of attorney is a legal document that allows someone ( the “donor”) to appoint another person (the “attorney”) to make decisions on their behalf, even if they become mentally incapacitated or unable to make decisions for themselves in the future – the attorney would step in and make decisions for them. Examples […]

What is involved when writing your Will?

A Will is an important safeguard to ensure your estate is distributed according to your wishes when the time comes. In the absence of a Will, the law decides where your assets go – to your next of kin or to the crown if you don’t have any relatives. It is important that you receive […]

What You Need to Know About Property Auctions

House auctions can be exciting affairs. Bidding on and winning an auction is something worth celebrating, and can be the first step to your very first home. What you may not know is that there’s a surprising amount of preparation behind the scenes – both before and after the auction. To ensure you are well-prepared, […]

Commonly Used Terms in Real Estate Transactions

Here are some common terms you are likely to see when undertaking real estate transactions and what they mean:

Benefits of Online Conveyancing Services

At Home Transfer Centre, we run a paperless office which means our staff can access the information necessary to assist you from any of our three offices. It has also meant that during Covid-19 Lockdowns our team were able to continue working from home with limited disruption to our ability to act for you.

Understanding the Bright Line Property Rule

The Bright Line Property Rule is a Tax Law that was first introduced in 2015 and has been amended twice since. It sets out to tax property investors who buy and sell residential property within the timeframe set out in the Bright Line Property Rule. In a nutshell: The bright-line property rule does not usually apply to […]

Tips for vendors

If you are selling your property, we refer to you as a “seller”. As your lawyer for your property transaction, we will lead you through all the legal steps necessary to ensure your sale goes through smoothly and legally.

What to ask your Lawyer when purchasing property

When you are purchasing property you will need to engage a lawyer to act for you and complete certain legal aspects of the purchasing process. There are a few questions that you should consider asking your lawyer before you sign a sale and purchase agreement.

Understanding Easements

It is important to understand what an easement is when looking to buy property. An easement is registered against the title of a property and is generally created when the land owner grants another party the right to access part of the land. The most common types of easements are: for telephone and broadband data […]

What is Involved When Refinancing Your Mortgage?

With mortgage interest rates at a record low and banks offering more competitive deals by the day, you may find moving your mortgage to another lender can lead to significant savings. What is Refinancing? Moving your mortgage to another bank is called ‘refinancing’. It is a relatively simple process but does need to involve a […]

Kiwisaver and HomeStart Grants for First-Time Home Buyers

If you are hoping to use some of your Kiwisaver towards the deposit of your first home, we suggest your first step should be contacting your Kiwisaver provider to obtain a letter to indicate to you how much you may be eligible to withdraw from your Kiwisaver. Once you have that figure confirmed you will be well placed to start the process.

Property Transaction Changes 2015

New Requirements for Residential Property as of October 2015 If you are buying, selling or settling* a residential property from 1 October 2015 then there is additional information you MUST supply to us. The New Zealand Government has passed amendments to the Land Transfer Act and the Tax Amendment Act which took effect from 1 […]

How to Help Your Children Purchase Their First Home

The ability for people to get into their own home, farm or business is perhaps more difficult now than it has been for a number of years. The desire to see your children succeed and improve their position is a desire most parents have, and one often encouraged by our adult children. Is there a safe way to do this?

Pros and Cons of Buying Leasehold Properties

“Leasehold” refers to when a property purchaser buys the buildings and other structures on a property, but the land itself remains the property of the original owner. The purchaser is effectively renting the land from the owner. This sort of arrangement is often shunned for its reputation for getting complicated when it comes to legal matters.

The Low Down on Property Reports

Before buying your first home, looking into investment property, or taking part in an auction, getting property reports will help you ensure you know everything you need to know about your potential new home or investment. There are two types of property reports that we recommend you get for any property you are seriously considering purchasing.

Checklist for First Time Home Buyers

Want to buy a house for the first time but not sure what to do? There is a lot involved when purchasing property, but there’s no need to be overwhelmed. It often helps to break the tasks down into easy steps. Our checklist for first home buyers is a helpful resource to get you started on the journey to purchasing your first property.

Resources

For Buyers and Sellers

For Sellers

For Buyers