Lesley Harris

The new budget is changing the rules for property price caps on two schemes to encourage first home buyers to invest.

This comes as the boom in housing prices is wrapping up with experts predicting a… Audio

House prices continue to fall nationwide as interest rates climb.

The average home decreased in value by 2.2 percent over the past three months, according to the latest QV House Price Index - but the… Audio

With average house prices across New Zealand now exceeding one million dollars, pulling together a deposit and then servicing a mortgage underscores how challenging the market is, an expert in the… Audio

The planned overhaul of First Home Grants has been put off until next year.

The number of grants approved this year is on track to be the lowest since the scheme began seven years ago, despite a caps… Audio

The average nationwide property price has tipped over $1 million dollars.

Despite that, some property analysts say the latest house price figures and number of properties for sale suggest the… Audio

The government's first home buyer grant for new houses is being squeezed by the rising cost of building materials. The cost of bricks, timber and steel is steadily rising, with price increases of up… Audio

It might soon be harder to get a mortgage, as the government has given the Reserve Bank approval to tighten loan-to-value ratios and move to bring in debt-to-income ratios.

The Finance Minister Grant… Audio

It's getting even harder to get on the property ladder. The latest QV Quartile Index shows in the main centres, the five biggest price increases in the last 12 months all occurred at the lower end of… Audio

Lesley Harris from the First Home Buyers Club hopes today's announcement will include financing help for first home buyers.

However, she says this is a complex issue, with no easy fixes.

She spoke… Audio

The Green Party is calling for action on the overheated property market.

Their four-point plan includes ensuring that those buying an extra property put down a deposit, and an indefinite extension on… Audio

A senior mortgage advisor is warning that the government's flagship Kiwibuild project is in danger of becoming worthless. There's now more uncertainty about the programme after the Housing Minister… Audio

The hopes and dreams of some wannabe first-home buyers applying for mortgages are being dashed because of credit card debt and personal loans. Advice website The First Home Buyers club surveyed almost… Audio

First Home Buyers spokesperson Lesley Harris joins Checkpoint to discuss the impact SHAs had had on people hoping to buy their first homes. Video, Audio