Michele Davidson - Mortgage Adviser

25/06/2026

Putting an offer on the house isn’t as scary as it seems 👻

You just want to make sure you understand the key parts of an offer BEFORE you put pen to paper and have your offer accepted!

So here’s a few things you need to know first 👉

Placing an offer is exciting, you’ve found the house and now you’re ready to see if you and the owner can agree on a price! 💃🕺

These are KEY parts of an offer that you need to get right.

💰The price!
Have a budget and stick to it. Just because your pre-approval is for $X doesn’t mean you have to max it out. Find your value point for the property, but also do your research.
Offering well below asking or indication price might just leave you out of the race all together.
Be reasonable, calculated and stick to your guns!

📅 Settlement Date
You want to make sure you factor in notice you have to give on your existing rental or home, plus also the bank does need some time to prepare your loan documents and set up any accounts.
Have a chat to your mortgage adviser to help refine a Settlement date with you. If the vendor needs a long settlement, you may be able to use this in negotiations.

📋 Conditions
These are so important as they are what protects you as a buyer, however just to consider - if you have too many conditions you might push the vendor to accept a price lower than yours with less conditions. 🤔
This is where your lawyer and Mortgage Adviser can provide advice and tips as to what ones are needed specifically for your situation and pre-approval terms.

💵 Deposit
This is an agreed amount you will pay on the day you go unconditional (your conditions are all satisfied). Generally speaking it is 10% of the agreed purchase price but this can be negotiated to more or less.
Key to remember, if the majority of your deposit is coming from KiwiSaver there are clauses that can be used to allow for the timeframe for withdrawal. We as Mortgage Advisers can also request from the bank to provide you a temporary overdraft to cover the deposit - there are costs associated to this.

Just know that the price is only one part of the consideration in your offer.

You might have conditions that are more favourable than anoth

24/06/2026

To be honest, these clients could have looked to borrow a couple hundred thousand more… 😳 and we hadn’t even factored the boarder they are having.

But it’s not my jam to max you out to your eyeballs 👀 there are plenty other mortgage advisers that might do that for you. Just not me.

I work with you, your budgets and your comfort levels. After all, you’re the one that has to pay it. 💸

Do those numbers look similar to yours?
Then it might be worth a chat 💁‍♀️

📲 M: 0274593090
💻 E: [email protected]
👩‍💻 W: www.claymortgages.co.nz

This is not financial advice, this is for educational purposes only! 📚

22/06/2026

Mortgage Jargon Made Simple 🏡

Just when you think you’ve learnt all the mortgage terms, a few more pop up...

Here’s 5 terms you might hear during your homeownership journey that are worth understanding.

Which one would you like me to explain further? 👇

20/06/2026

Homeownership comes with its sacrifices but shouldn’t mean saying no to everything you enjoy!

A good mortgage strategy isn’t just about getting approved, it’s about creating a structure that suits your lifestyle and helps you enjoy life along the way.

Better living everyone ✌️

19/06/2026

Being single doesn’t mean home ownership is out of reach. 🏡

It just means we might need to get a little more creative.

Whether it’s making the most of your income, taking on a boarder, using KiwiSaver, increasing your deposit, or finding a property that suits your budget, there are often more options than people realise.

Too many singles rule themselves out before they’ve even explored what’s possible.

The best place to start? Find out where you stand and create a plan from there.

You might be closer than you think. ✨

This single person did, now they own their first home 😏🤭

📲 M: 0274593090
💻 E: [email protected]
👩‍💻 W: www.claymortgages.co.nz

16/06/2026

🍃 A little reminder because it’s easy to forget…

If you’re fed up with high fuel prices and thinking about upgrading to a hybrid or electric vehicle 🚗⚡️

Or you’re looking to make your home more energy efficient with solar panels, double glazing, insulation, heat pumps or other sustainable upgrades

Some major banks are currently still offering loans at 1% interest and in some cases even 0% interest, for eligible green improvements. 🏡☀️

Every bank has different lending limits, terms and criteria, and normal lending assessments still apply. But opportunities to borrow at rates this low don’t come around often.

If you’ve been putting off that upgrade, it could be worth exploring what’s available.

📩 Reach out for a chat and let’s see what options might help you go a little greener, sooner.

📲 M: 0274593090
💻 E: [email protected]
👩‍💻 W: www.claymortgages.co.nz

10/06/2026

It seems scary, but really it doesn’t have to be!

I’m all about helping you build knowledge in a space that might seem foreign but can be the most rewarding thing ever 🏡

So often I chat with clients who think they are still 6 - 12 months away, sometimes even longer. But when we break it down, they are actually a lot closer than they think.

My tips to consider when starting thinking about whether buying a home for you is:

🏡 Understand your numbers - how much do you earn, what does your deposit look like, what debts do you have?
Awareness is half the journey!

🏡 Think about what a comfortable weekly/fortnightly mortgage repayment is - remember this is essentially going to replace your rent payment. Think about what is comfortable for your budget

🏡 Be open minded to options - where you want to live vs where you could live, what opportunities at work do you have to increase your income, consider having boarders/flatmates

These are just a few simple things that the home buying process seem a lot less daunting.

Oh and last one…

🏡 Speak to a Mortgage Adviser sooner rather than later. Take away the guess work, let us help you help refine your path to a home 😁

📲 M: 0274593090
💻 E: [email protected]
👩‍💻 W: www.claymortgages.co.nz

05/06/2026

Checking your KiwiSaver provider is one of the easiest tweaks you can make as a First home Buyer that can potentially increase your deposit for your first home.

So many clients have never touched their KiwiSaver since it first started and I get it, it seems too hard… but this could be costing you thousands in fees and thousands in potential deposit.

If you want some advice around what changes you could make, then reach out and I can help refer you to an expert in the field!

Disclaimer - I am not a KiwiSaver Adviser therefore can not advise your specifically.

04/06/2026

Real-life numbers because hypothetical scenarios only tell part of the story. 👀

This isn’t about comparing yourself to someone else’s journey. It’s about showing what’s actually happening in today’s market and what may be possible for people in a similar position.

Everyone’s financial situation is different. Income, expenses, KiwiSaver, deposit, lending criteria, and location all play a part.

But one thing I see time and time again is people assuming they’re not ready to buy a home, when in reality they’re much closer than they think.

The only way to know for sure is to look at the numbers.

🏡 If you’ve been wondering whether home ownership could be within reach, send me a message and let’s see what might be possible for you. 💬

📲 M: 0274593090
💻 E: [email protected]
👩‍💻 W: www.claymortgages.co.nz

This is not financial advice, this is for educational purposes only! 📚

02/06/2026