Thousands of Kiwis desperate to get on the property ladder are signing up to 30-year mortgages - but many are saddling themselves with a lifetime of debt.

David Hamilton and his fiancee Lyna Pen are in their 20s but hope to be mortgage-free within 10 years.

Banks are handing out mortgages of as much as $10 million to the wealthy in record numbers while first-time homebuyers struggle to get loans.

House prices are up, home ownership is down. We all know the story, but what's really going on in real estate?

Reverse equity mortgages are increasingly tempting to retired Aucklanders who have houses soaring in value, but little cash.

Sharp slowdowns in the Auckland housing market or in China are the main risks the NZIER sees to a recovery which is accelerating and broadening.

The first impression of the Labour Party's "monetary policy upgrade" is that it looks good, writes Brian Fallow, managing to look both conservative and progressive.

Homeowners are rushing to fix their mortgage interest rates after the second cash rate increase in as many months.

Homeowners are bracing for another rise in mortgage interest rates but experts say most are prepared with better spending habits and contingency plans.

Here are some reasons not to embrace the view of economic analyst Jesse Colombo that NZ is hurtling towards crisis.

Auckland's sizzling property market could bring New Zealand's economy crashing down, a global economic expert warns.

PM John Key knows homeowners in the electorally crucial mortgage belts of Auckland are nervous about rising mortgage rates, writes Bernard Hickey.

Homeowners could save more than $90,000 over the life of their mortgages by shopping around, according to an analysis of 95 floating home loans.

Should you fix your mortgage? This is an important question and if I knew the answer I would tell you, writes Damien Grant.

Interest rates are likely to rise - so what should you do with your home loan?

Baches in some parts of the country can command enough rent in one month over summer to cover half the year's mortgage repayments.

Major banks are "stress-testing" mortgage borrowers to ensure they will be able to meet repayments when higher interest rates hit.

The latest deal from a New Zealand bank to lure in new customers with "free" money and zero fees comes with a warning tag from financial experts.

Banks are still finalising how they will deal with the Reserve Bank's exemption for home-building loans.

Rising home loan approvals are another sign that the Australian housing recovery is in full swing, making another cash rate cut unlikely.

Banks are showing more interest in making low-deposit home loans after cutting back hard before Christmas, but it is mainly investors who are taking advantage.

Auckland's average house price rose to a record in December as property values benefited from a lack of supply heading into summer.

Kiwibank has become the third bank to lift its mortgage rates in a week.

National house prices rose $17,475 last month to reach a $425k median. But are falling sales numbers a sign that new loan rules are starting to bite? (with new infographic)