Issue: No. 25 (August, 2013)

房貸資訊分享【Home Mortgage Information Update】

Spring is arriving soon!!  Recently the weather has been not stable; you please take good care of your health.  My advice is that you keep drinking hot Lemon Honey (i.e. I prefer ordinary honey; manuka honey is too expensive for daily use).  Trust me!!

The policy for 20% deposit will take effect in this October, which, however, has already caused a huge pressure to banks for assessing pre-approval loans.

Several mainstream banks have recently raised fixed mortgage interest rates (i.e. especially for 2 years or above).  I believe that all the other banks will rush in to follow the trend very shortly.

春天將至，最近的天氣變幻不定，請大家多加注意健康。我提議大家常飲用熱檸蜜！一般的蜂蜜已管用，大家無需花錢買manuka蜂蜜。

本年十月，20%首付的措施就要出臺，但這已經給多家銀行很大壓力，令預批貸款的申請也全堵住了。

最近多家主流銀行已相繼提高房貸定息利率(特別是2年或以上的) 。我相信其他銀行很快也會作出反應。

銀行房貸利率參考表 (Bank Home Loan Interest Rates)

主要銀行 Major Banks	固定年利率 (Fixed Rates Per Annum)
	六個月 6 Months	一年 12 Months	十八個月  18 Months	二年 24 Months	三年 36 Months	四年 48 Months	五年 60 Months
ANZ Bank	5.45%	5.45%	5.75%	5.95 %	6.50%	6.90%	7.10%
ASB Bank	4.75%*	5.40%	5.65%	5.95%	6.40%	6.80%	6.99 %
Westpac Bank	5.25%	5.19%	5.40%	5.65%	6.04%	6.30%	6.60%

* Special condition applies (受特別條件限制)

主要銀行 Major Banks	Revolving Credit Facility
ANZ Bank	FlexiPlus: 5.85% p.a.
ASB Bank	ORBIT Home Loan: 5.75% p.a.
Westpac Bank	Everyday Choice: 5.75% p.a.

請注意，以上各利率祗作參考之用。本公司必定為客户爭取最優惠利率。

希望各位朋友把握現時的良機，享受本公司為大家爭取到的各種優惠。本公司定竭盡所能，為大家解决房貸的疑難，若貴親友需要房貸服務，也請告知，本人定會親自跟他們聯系。多謝大家的支持。

Your attention please!  The above interest tables show carded rates for your banking reference only.  Our company will do our best to get the most favorable mortgage interest for you.  The recent examples are: a 1-year fixed rate of 4.95% and a 2-year rate of 4.99% (special conditions apply).

We hope that you would take this unique opportunity to enjoy all of those benefits that we strive to offer to you.    We promise you our best service.  Please refer to us those you know who are in need of home mortgage; they will surely receive our highest quality service as same as what you have been enjoying.  Thank you for your continuous support.

預期房價將繼續上揚(House price expectations up)

最新的ASB房產信心調查報告指出，有56%的受訪者預期房價在未來十二個月將繼續上揚。ASB首席經濟師表示，諸如個人收入增長、人口增長及低利率均帶動着市場上對房產的需求。他續稱，由於奧克蘭市及肯特伯利市的房源持續緊張及房價不斷飊升，故此受訪者普遍預期在這两個城市的房價將維持高位；大部份受訪者均認為現時不是購房良機，因房源短缺，在大家競相追逐下，這不單廹使房價愈攀愈高，而且更削弱了大家的議價能力。
另39%的受訪者預期在未來十二個月內利率將會上調。

More than half of people expect house prices to continue to rise over the next year, a new survey shows.  The ASB Housing Confidence Survey reports that a net 56% of respondents expected prices to rise over the next 12 months.  ASB chief economist Nick Tuffley said, “Fundamentals, such as income and population growth and relatively low interest rates, will continue to support housing demand over the coming year.”  “Net price expectations remain highest in Canterbury an Auckland, where the housing market remains tightest and house prices are rising rapidly.”

But the tight market meant fewer respondents thought now it was a good time to buy.  Tuffley said the results reflected the current housing landscape, “While housing demand has increased, new supply has remained at historically low levels.  With more potential buyers chasing the few properties listed, competition has bid up prices and reduced negotiating power.”

Interest rate expectations lifted in the three months to July, with net 39% of respondents expecting interest rates to rise over the next 12 months.
 
首置買家跟首付限制措施互相競賽(First-home buyers try to beat restrictions: REINZ)

本國房產協會透露，現時首置買家正快馬加鞭務求趕及在新的首付限制措施出臺前能購得心儀住房。最新統計數字顯示，本年七月份有6,777宗住房成交，較去年同期上升了14.7%，較六月份也上升了10%。協會執行長官稱，這是最近六年來最忙碌的冬季。她表示，七月份是房市傳統性淡季，但地產業仲介認為，由於首置買家為趕及在新的首付限制措施出臺前能獲得住房貸款，故紛紛入市，令致他們在七月份也喘不過氣來。

綜合全國住房銷情，有20%的成交量是透過拍賣方式完成；但以個別地區而言，單是奧市，就有近3/4的成交是經拍賣進行的。

七月份全國住房成交金額達33億，其中祗有5%是屬於一百萬元以上的豪宅類別。

First-home buyers are moving quickly to secure properties before loan-to-value restrictions kick-in, the Real Estate Institute says.  Its latest date shows that there were 6,777 residential property sales in July, up 14.7% on the same time last year and more than 10% higher than in June.  REINZ chief executive Helen O’Sullivan said it was the most active winter the market had seen for some time.  July is the quietest month but agents were reporting first-home buyers wanting to secure loans before the rules changed, she said. 

Just over 20% of the houses sold nationally went under the hammer and about three-quarters of Auckland’s sales were by auction.

The total value of residential sales in July was $3.31 billion across the country, compared to $3.06 billion in June.  Just over 5% of the sales were in the $1 million-plus price bracket.

新KiwiSaver補助首置押金計劃出臺(Changes to KiwiSaver subsidy announced)

本國政府剛出臺新的KiwiSaver補助首置押金計劃，讓中高收入人仕可獲得KiwiSaver首置押金補助。

若市民加入KiwiSaver計劃超過3年，就具有資格申請首置押金補助。下限為3年 ($3,000) 及上限為5年 ($5,000) ；即每年$1,000補助。入息上限設定為每對夫婦的稅前總收入由以前的$100,000增至現時的$120,000。所購房價上限亦有改變，Auckland的房價上限由以前的$400,000 增至現時的$485,000。

Higher-income borrowers will be able to access the KiwiSaver subsidy under changes announced today by the Government.  Housing Minister Nick Smith had previously indicated that the Government was considering changing the thresholds for the scheme.  That was confirmed today.
The KiwiSaver subsidy allows buyers to get an extra $5,000 towards their first-home deposit.  They have to have been KiwiSaver members for five years to access the full amount and previously a couple could only earn up to $100,000 between them.  The house they were buying could previously only cost up to $400,000 in Auckland and $300,000 in other parts of the country.

The changes, announced today, lift the combined income limit for a couple to obtain the subsidies from $100,000 to $120,000 and raise the maximum price of a home they can buy in Auckland from $400,000 to $485,000.

Reference:
Changes to KiwiSaver subsidy, Welcome Home Loan announced @Landlords.co.nz on 11/08/2013
First-home buyers try to beat restrictions: REINZ @ Landlords.co.nz on 12/08/2013
House price expectations up @Landlords.co.nz on 12/08/2013
Expert: Home rules aid middle class @ The New Zealand Herald on 13/08/2013

若大家有各種關於房貸的查詢，歡迎大家撥打09-5356818 或傳遞電郵至aamortgage@xtra.co.nz與張小姐聯系。

If you have any home loan inquiry, you are welcome to discuss it with Anita by phone at 09-5356818 or by email to aamortgage@xtra.co.nz

Note: All Chinese translations exhibited in this newsletter are subject to the English versions (此通訊中所有中文譯本，均以英文為準。)
Disclaimer: The information given in this newsletter is of a general nature and does not constitute specific professional advice in regard to your investment planning.