The Property Academy Podcast
Opes Partners
The Property Academy Podcast is a daily show that gives you insight, analysis and strategies for how to get the most out of the NZ property market. It's hosted by Ed and Andrew from Opes Partners. Ok, now for the legal bit. The Property Academy Podcast is for your general information. It’s not financial advice. So the hosts aren’t telling you what to do with your own money. We’ve made every effort to make sure the information is accurate. But we occasionally get the odd fact wrong. Make sure you do your own research or talk to a financial adviser before making any investment decisions.
The Property Academy Podcast is a daily show that gives you insight, analysis and strategies for how to get the most out of the NZ property market. It's hosted by Ed and Andrew from Opes Partners. Ok, now for the legal bit. The Property Academy Podcast is for your general information. It’s not financial advice. So the hosts aren’t telling you what to do with your own money. We’ve made every effort to make sure the information is accurate. But we occasionally get the odd fact wrong. Make sure you do your own research or talk to a financial adviser before making any investment decisions.
How Property Nearly Ended Their Marriage (3 Real NZ Stories)
Episodes
A US researcher looked at more than 4,500 couples. Arguments about money were the top predictor of divorce, even after accounting for income, debt and net worth. And here in NZ, 1 in 5 people say money has caused problems in their relationship. In this episode, Ed and Andrew look at why property puts so much pressure on couples. You’ll learn: 3 real stories where money pushed relationships to breaking point Why property hits harder than other financial decisions How to talk to your partner about money when the market is down The lesson? Property is a joint decision. That includes the hard bits ... and owning your share of them. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Stay ahead of the NZ property market Instagram TikTok
We made a video about investing on the average salary. And people were angry. So this time, Ed and Andrew are asking a different question: what is being “normal” actually costing you? In this episode, they walk through 5 things investors do that normal people don’t. You’ll learn: Why waiting to be noticed is costing you more than you think What happens to a pay rise in a normal household vs an investor’s The goal-setting study where 76% of people got at least halfway to their goals (and what they did differently) The lesson? Normal isn’t free. You just pay for it later. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Stay ahead of the NZ property market Instagram TikTok
An eye surgeon with three Auckland rentals sat down with a financial adviser. The numbers said growth; he wanted yield anyway. “I know you’re right. But I still want a yield property.” In this episode, Ed and Andrew walk through the mental traps that catch even the smartest investors. You’ll learn: Why do even SMART property investors make dumb decisions 3 biases investors always fall into How to break the habit and break the bias The takeaway? Every one of these is easier to spot in someone else’s portfolio than in your own. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Stay ahead of the NZ property market Instagram TikTok
After 15 years and $683 million, the new Te Kaha stadium has finally opened. But everyone already knows about that. So, what about the projects reshaping Christchurch that nobody's talking about? In this episode, Ed and Andrew count down the developments coming to Christchurch in 2027, ranked by what they cost. You'll learn: The new riverside path and the 600-hectare old red-zone land around it The $130m downtown precinct of apartments, shops, and laneways The one that was meant to be finished by 2027, and was delayed again The lesson? Tracking what's actually getting built is one of the first things to check before you buy ... and almost nobody does it. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Stay ahead of the NZ property market Instagram TikTok
Peter Lewis has been investing for 35 years, owns 13 tenancies, and until recently had never sold a single one. Now, at 80, he’s starting to sell down – slowly, over the next decade, on his own terms. In this Case Study Sunday, Peter shares how he’s turning a lifetime of property into an income, and how he decides what to keep. You’ll learn: How to turn your properties into an income for the rest of your life Why this investor has started to sell down his portfolio after 35 years How he’s deciding which properties to keep The lesson? It took him 20 years to build real momentum ... because in property, the quick wins are about as rare as winning Lotto. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Stay ahead of the NZ property market Instagram TikTok
Back in 2021, we called Levin the most overvalued town in the country. A listener gone unconditional on a $930k house there. Today, he's down around $150,000, and he asked a fair question: would we change our answer now? In this episode, Ed and Andrew re-run Levin through five tests to see if it's finally a buy. You'll learn: Whether Levin is genuinely cheap now, or just getting cheaper Why it's still overvalued after four years of falling prices The small-town risk that most buyers never check The lesson? This was never really about Levin. He paid 1.8x the average house in town... and the "overflow town" has nothing overflowing into it right now. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Stay ahead of the NZ property market Instagram TikTok
Last time I walked through open homes. But what about when you’re buying something that doesn’t exist yet ... just dirt, a fence, and a sign with a picture on it? So I visited three developments at three different stages to find out what you’re actually looking at. In this In The Field episode, Ed shows you how to inspect a new build before it’s built. You’ll learn: Never buy a property off the plans without checking this Come with me as I go in the field looking at a development site The crucial features that property developers always miss The takeaway? Buying off the plans doesn’t mean buying blind. You just have to know what to look at. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Stay ahead of the NZ property market Instagram TikTok
The Reserve Bank just surprised everyone, leaving the Official Cash Rate (OCR) unchanged at 2.75%. In this episode, Ed and Andrew share why the Reserve Bank broke with expectations and where the OCR could go next. You’ll learn: What the Reserve Bank decided to do with the Official Cash Rate Where interest rates could go next When the next hike could come Sign up to Ed’s monthly Property Market Newsletter hear Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Stay ahead of the NZ property market Instagram TikTok
Everyone who gives you property advice gets paid somehow, including us. So, why are we telling you this? Because sunlight is the best disinfectant ... and once you can see the incentives, you can judge the advice. In this episode, Ed and Andrew lay their own incentives bare, then show you how to spot everyone else’s. You’ll learn: Is your property adviser biased? The hidden incentive behind every piece of property advice How to work out whose advice you can actually trust The takeaway? You don’t need advice with no bias ... that doesn’t exist. You need advice where the bias is out in the open. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Stay ahead of the NZ property market Instagram TikTok
In July, police found 17 West Auckland properties being used as grow houses. So, what do you actually do if it happens to you? And can you even see it coming? In this episode, Ed and Andrew break down the real rules, the insurance traps, and the warning signs. You’ll learn: How do you actually, legally get drug-growing tenants out The $91,000 bill a landlord got just a few weeks ago And what the tenants were REALLY doing in there The takeaway? You can’t always prevent it, but you can make sure your insurance will actually pay when it matters. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Stay ahead of the NZ property market Instagram TikTok
The national average to build a standalone house is about $3,236 a square metre – roughly $576,000 before land. But that's only half the story. And there's a myth worth busting: that the land goes up while the building goes down. In this episode, Ed and Andrew break down what building really costs, region by region, and why buildings actually appreciate. You'll learn: What a build really costs (and the 20–30% most people forget to add on top) Why it costs about 50% more to build here than in Australia Why your building gains value over time, and what insurers and valuers prove The lesson? Replacement cost is the floor under house prices ... as building gets more expensive, so does the home you already own. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Stay ahead of the NZ property market Instagram TikTok
Caro walked out of her divorce with four kids, $14 a week in child support, and the belief that she’d have to do this on her own. Seventeen years later, she’s 61, single, and has just bought her third investment property. In this Case Study Sunday, Caro shares how she built a portfolio from scratch on a nurse’s income. You’ll learn: How a nurse on a single income bought three investment properties on her own How she learned that a man is not a financial plan What five straight years of getting turned down by the bank taught her to change The lesson? She’s the first to say she had energy on her side ... but it was years of grinding, studying all night and renting to get ahead that actually changed her life. Want to share your story on Case Study Sunday? Send us a message, email ed@opespartners.co.nz Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Sign up for the weekly Private Property newsletter Instagram TikTok
Labour wants a 28% tax on the profit when you sell an investment property. So we built a spreadsheet ... not to argue whether it’s fair, just to answer one question. If you buy a property, what does the bill actually look like? In this episode, Ed and Andrew run the numbers on a 28% CGT in plain English. You’ll learn: What actually happens if Labour’s capital gains tax comes in The bill you’d actually receive, and can you legally minimise it How it changes which property you buy The lesson? A CGT wouldn’t kill the maths, but it changes the game most for anyone planning to switch from growth to yield at retirement. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Stay ahead of the NZ property market Instagram TikTok
I usually buy off-market, so I’d never really done the open-home circuit as an investor. So one afternoon I went to three in a row to see what actually happens. A messy layout, a big price drop, and a do-up the vendors wanted $1 million for. Here’s what I found. In this In The Field episode, Ed takes you along to three Auckland open homes and shows you how to read one like an investor. You’ll learn: The questions to always ask an agent What can go wrong when you invest in a townhouse What happened when Ed rang the agents back after the auction The takeaway? An open home isn’t about the staging. It’s about the questions you ask after you leave. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Stay ahead of the NZ property market Instagram TikTok
A woman had it all figured out: good income, mortgage-free, the trust paid off the house. So where’s the money she used to put on the mortgage going? “Honestly, we just spend it.” In this episode, Ed and Andrew explain why even high earners can’t find money to invest and the one fix that reliably works. You’ll learn: Why your money gets absorbed, not wasted The “commitment device” that forces you to save without willpower Why a mortgage top-up is temporary and what it can turn into The takeaway? The hardest part of investing isn’t the maths. It’s removing your own ability to change your mind. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Stay ahead of the NZ property market Instagram TikTok
Around 600,000 more people are set to call Auckland home... like half the South Island upping sticks and moving to the big smoke. So, where do we put them all, and what does that mean for where you buy? In this episode, Ed and Andrew map out the $50 billion of infrastructure reshaping the city, decade by decade.You'll learn: Why Auckland needs the equivalent of 100 new suburbs How new trains, motorways and busways lift house prices around them Which projects are near-certain, and which might never happen The lesson? Follow the roads and rail, but know the timing. The price boost tends to arrive a year or two before a project opens, not at the time of the announcement. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Stay ahead of the NZ property market Instagram TikTok
Remember 2022, when banks combed your statements and declined you for too many flat whites? That's over. So, what do banks actually check now, and what have they stopped caring about? In this episode, Ed and Andrew break down how banks really assess a mortgage application in 2027. You'll learn: Why banks no longer scrape your spending line by line Whether a messy few months will actually sink your application How credit cards, Afterpay, and the stress-test rate affect your borrowing The surprising takeaway? Most people are far more mortgage-ready than they think. Try out our Can I afford an investment property in 2026? calculator. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Stay ahead of the NZ property market Instagram TikTok
In 1962, the average Kiwi house cost about $7,000. By 2021, it was $895,000 – seven doublings.But not one of them took exactly ten years. So can prices really keep doubling as everyone says? In this episode, Ed and Andrew walk the whole 60-year ladder, then argue whether the pattern can continue. You'll learn: How long each of the seven doublings actually took The case for it continuing and against The number that surprised us, even measuring from the bottom of a downturn The lesson? Growth is the lever you control least. The two you do control: buy earlier, and buy more. Check out our NZ House Price doubling calculator for yourself. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Stay ahead of the NZ property market Instagram TikTok
Charlotte and her husband were on their honeymoon when they signed up for a central Wellington apartment. It hasn't gone to plan. So, what's it really like when some of your property bets win, and others sink? In this Case Study Sunday, Charlotte shares an honest journey – the wins, the losses, and the sacrifice in between. You'll learn: How she bought her first home with her twin sister at 25 Why did they sell the home they loved to fund a seven-townhouse development The truth about topping up rentals when the market turns against you The lesson? Property can make you money or cost you money, depending on when you buy ... and Charlotte's refreshingly honest about living both. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Stay ahead of the NZ property market Instagram TikTok
One house was built when Kiwis still got paid in pounds and shillings. The other isn't even finished ... the builders are still on site. And they cost the same: $700k. So, which one's the better investment? In this episode, Ed and Andrew score a new build against an existing one across seven rounds. You'll learn: Where existing wins and where new builds win Whether there's really a "drive-it-off-the-lot" effect on capital growth The round that decides the whole thing It's closer than the online die-hards admit ... but on the numbers, one of them edges it 4–3. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Stay ahead of the NZ property market Instagram TikTok
I own five rental properties, and I've never once inspected one myself. You just get a report, a few photos, maybe a line saying it's fine. So, I spent a morning shadowing a property manager on three real inspections. In this episode, Ed and Andrew take you inside what actually happens in the 20 minutes someone's in your rental. You'll learn: What a property manager actually looks for How a good PM handles a messy or difficult tenant What the inspection report doesn't show you The takeaway? There's a lot more to protecting your rental than the photos in your report. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Stay ahead of the NZ property market Instagram TikTok
There’s a proposal on the table that would hand loss-making landlords a tax refund. So, who’d actually benefit, who’d miss out, and will it even happen? In this episode, Ed and Andrew break down the push to unwind ring-fencing in plain English. You’ll learn: The major new policy just announced for landlords The $194 a week tax cut that could be coming for property investors Will it actually come in, and how do you get it? The lesson? It could change the numbers for anyone starting out. But it’s a proposal, not law, so don’t bank on it yet. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Stay ahead of the NZ property market Instagram TikTok
Some houses look like a bargain... until you try to sell them. One home in this episode was bought for $375,000 and later resold for just $35,000. So, which properties are almost impossible to shift, and why? In this episode, Ed and Andrew count down seven types of homes that can wreck your wealth. You'll learn: The seven property types that quietly destroy value The traps that make them so hard to sell What all seven have in common The lesson? It's not that these houses are bad. It's that they shrink the pool of people who can buy them off you... and that's what kills the price. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Stay ahead of the NZ property market Instagram TikTok
One Kiwi put solar on her house 18 months ago... now her power company pays her, and in summer her bill runs negative. So, does solar actually pay off, and does any of it work on a rental? In this episode, Ed and Andrew run the real numbers on home solar. You'll learn: What solar costs now, and how long it takes to pay for itself The one rule that decides whether it's worth it Why it rarely stacks up on a rental as an income play, but can still be worth it The verdict? Great in your own home. On a rental, it fills vacancies... not your pockets. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Stay ahead of the NZ property market Instagram TikTok
One party is proposing to tax the land under your house – around $23,000 a year on a typical section, whether you sell or not. So, what would it actually do to house prices, and who wins and loses? In this episode, Ed and Andrew give a fair, unbiased breakdown of TOP's proposed land tax. You'll learn: What a 1.75% land tax would cost you each year Why it could push house prices down 10-15% Who benefits and who's hurt most It's a proposal, not law ... and TOP isn't in Parliament yet. But with the party near the threshold, it's worth understanding before 7 November. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Sign up for the weekly Private Property newsletter Instagram TikTok
Matt and his wife landed in Whanganui from Australia with two suitcases, $30,000, and a couple of credit cards ... no job, no furniture, no one they knew. Seven years on, they've flipped 29 houses. So how did they do it? In this Case Study Sunday, Matt Perks shares the deals, the sacrifices, and the lessons behind it. You'll learn: How these investors arrived in NZ with 2 suitcases and, 7 years later, flipped 29 houses How much did they lose on their first development Their next chapter of property investing The lesson? The numbers look great from the outside. What you don't see is the years spent living in the dust ... and the one deal that set everything up. Want to share your story on Case Study Sunday? Send us a message, email ed@opespartners.co.nz Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Sign up for the weekly Private Property newsletter Instagram TikTok
We built a tool that's the next best thing to a time machine: put in your birth month and where you live, and it shows what you'd have made if you'd bought earlier. So, does buying earlier always win? Not always... and that's exactly the problem. In this episode, Ed and Andrew put the "wealth vs wait" question to the test. You'll learn: How much extra you could have made by buying five years sooner Why you can never pick which five years will matter most What a famous study says about timing the market The lesson? You can't time it perfectly. But the earlier you're in, the longer you're in... and today is the earliest you'll ever be able to buy from here on. And check out the Private Property newsletter that Andrew mentioned. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Sign up for the weekly Private Property newsletter Instagram TikTok
We record this show in a studio every day. This week, we sat in an Auckland auction room for two hours. So what's it really like to be in the room when the hammer comes down? In this episode, Ed and Andrew take you inside a real auction afternoon, and you'll learn: What an auction room actually looks (and sounds) like The tactics we saw real bidders use The four numbers you should walk into the auction room with So what keeps you calm when it's your turn to bid? Knowing the rules of the room ... and your numbers. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Sign up for the weekly Private Property newsletter Instagram TikTok
A developer is building 322 apartments in Morningside ... with just 78 car parks. That's one for every four homes. The locals fear chaos. The developer says the tenants simply won't own cars. So who's right? In this episode, Ed and Andrew dig into the Morningside build-to-rent development and what it says about Auckland's future. You'll learn: Is this the new future for Auckland Why couldn't the council require more car parks Is this a problem waiting to happen The real question isn't whether 78 parks are enough. It's whether we'd rather house those 322 families in Morningside ... or an hour away in Pokeno. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Sign up for the weekly Private Property newsletter Instagram TikTok
Jenna is 31 and already owns two properties... but like most people, she has no idea what she's actually on track for.So, we built her a full Wealth Plan, live, and revealed the number she'd never seen. In this episode, Ed and Andrew build Jenna's plan from scratch, from her perfect day in retirement to the shortfall she's facing. You'll learn: A live demo where we create a wealth plan for a listener on the show How much money will she need to create her ideal money life What actually happens when you create a wealth plan with Opes Partners The lesson? Almost nobody knows their number... even people who already own property. Once you do, you've got choices. Start your path to financial freedom with a detailed Wealth Plan for $0 For more from Opes Partners: Sign up for the weekly Private Property newsletter Instagram TikTok
We all know more expensive food is usually better. But with houses, most of us don't have that instinct. So, how do you tell the difference between a low price and a genuinely cheap one? In this episode, Ed and Andrew break down why the cheaper house isn't always the better deal. You'll learn: The difference between a low price and real value (and why it matters) The hidden reasons one house is cheaper than the one down the road The one question that tells you if a discount is actually a discount The lesson? A discount is only a discount if you can remove the reason for it. Otherwise, it's just the price. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Sign up for the weekly Private Property newsletter Instagram TikTok
Everyone tells you where to buy. Almost nobody tells you where not to. So, we ran three tests across the country to find the five worst places to buy property in 2026. In this episode, Ed and Andrew count down five markets to be wary of, and the surprising thing most of them have in common. You'll learn: The three tests that reveal a risky market: returns, timing, and building Where a term deposit currently beats the rental yield The pattern linking most of these towns A great long-term track record doesn't make it a great time to buy. Sometimes the history and the moment point in opposite directions. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Sign up for the weekly Private Property newsletter Instagram TikTok
Eve values property for a living. But on her very first purchase, years before she qualified, she got played. So, what does a valuer see now that the rest of us miss? In this Case Study Sunday, Eve shares her journey from marketing to property valuer, and from first-home buyer to investor. You'll learn: The property valuer who got hustled on her first purchase What a property valuer sees that the rest of us miss Why did this investor deliberately pause building her portfolio The lesson? Even the pros get emotional and biased about their own property... which is exactly why she says to get an independent valuation before you buy or sell. Want to share your story on Case Study Sunday? Send us a message, email ed@opespartners.co.nz For more from Opes Partners: Sign up for the weekly Private Property newsletter Instagram TikTok
We're all told to chase financial freedom. But for most people, that's 20 years away. Financial peace, on the other hand, could be six months away... and it's available at any income. In this episode, Ed and Andrew explain the difference between the two and the simple systems that buy you peace of mind. You'll learn: Why financial peace matters more than freedom right now The research shows that money worries can cost you 13 IQ points Six practical ways to get financial peace, whatever your income Financial peace isn't about how much you have. It's knowing where your money's going, instead of wondering where it went. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Sign up for the weekly Private Property newsletter Instagram TikTok
Almost every Kiwi walks into a bank and gets the same 30-year table loan. It's the default... and for a lot of people, it's not the best fit. So, what are the other options, and which one should you actually have? In this episode, Ed and Andrew break down the seven genuinely different types of home loans (no, fixed vs. floating doesn't count). You'll learn: The one question that tells you which loan you're really looking at How offset and revolving credit work, and which suits which person The reducing loan that could save you meaningful interest The lesson? The interest rate gets all the attention, but the structure of your loan can matter just as much. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Sign up for the weekly Private Property newsletter Instagram TikTok
A listener left us a voice message... he's about to spend $20,000 furnishing a new Airbnb, and he's having second thoughts. So, should he take the punt or turn it into a long-term rental now? In this episode, Ed and Andrew model his exact decision and the GST trap most short-stay owners don't see coming. You'll learn: Should you give up on your Airbnb? Real listener’s scenario … and what he should do What he'd have to sacrifice if he changed course now The lesson? The GST decision isn't a formality at the time of purchase. It's a strategic decision. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Sign up for the weekly Private Property newsletter Instagram TikTok
Every stage of building wealth has its own trap. And the thing that got you here is often the thing that stops you from going further. So, which one are you about to walk into? In this episode, Ed and Andrew map the traps at every stage, from your first $1,000 to $2.5 million in equity. You'll learn: The traps hiding at each stage of wealth Why being too scared of debt can leave a million dollars doing nothing Why you retire on cash flow, not capital growth The lesson? Every trap is caused by what worked at the previous stage. Knowing what's coming is how you avoid it. Want to book a free session with one of our Financial Advisers, then just click here Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Sign up for the weekly Private Property newsletter Instagram TikTok
An auction is the only way to buy a house where you sign an unconditional contract, in public, in about four minutes. So, what's really going on in the room... and how do you avoid getting played? In this episode, Ed and Andrew sit down with Daniel Coulson – the CEO of Ray White NZ – who's called around 8,000 auctions. You'll learn: The mistakes bidders make at auction What auctioneers can and can't legally do Whether the usual auction tricks and tips still work The lesson? Most people walk into an auction not knowing the rules of the game. Learn them, and you walk in with the upper hand. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Sign up for the weekly Private Property newsletter Instagram TikTok
This couple wanted to buy an investment property, but the bank said no. After a few tweaks with a mortgage adviser, they were approved to borrow $580,000 more. In this episode, Ed and Andrew share three real examples of Kiwis who unlocked more borrowing capacity... and the everyday things that quietly drag your capacity down. You'll learn: Why can the bank lend you $80k less in six months How clearing a $10k student loan added $225k of borrowing power The unused credit card could be costing you a deposit If the bank says no, it's often not a no forever. Sometimes it's just a number waiting to be moved. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Sign up for the weekly Private Property newsletter Instagram TikTok
First, their income was too low to get the loan. They fixed it ... then the market fell, and suddenly their equity fell short, too. So, how did this couple finally cross the line into their first investment property? In this Case Study Sunday, Steve and Vicky share a 5-year journey of hitting wall after wall and refusing to give up. You'll learn: Why the bank turned them down … and how they changed their mind What it REALLY takes to save your way to a deposit How these investors are building towards $100k of passive income The lesson? Sometimes you do everything right and still get knocked back. Getting there anyway is the whole story. Want to share your story on Case Study Sunday? Send us a message, email ed@opespartners.co.nz For more from Opes Partners: Sign up for the weekly Private Property newsletter Instagram TikTok
A listener found a bargain: a house where meth was smoked, fully cleaned, and now testing safe. But everyone in town knows its history... and it's on the LIM. So does the stigma ever go? Or is it a "meth house" forever? In this episode, Ed and Andrew dig into the science, the stigma, and the real numbers behind former meth houses. You'll learn: What the science says about meth smoked vs cooked Why meth stays on a LIM forever, and how it gets there in the first place What a former meth house really costs you (hint: it's not the clean-up) A cleaned meth house can be perfectly safe to live in. Whether it's a bargain or a trap comes down to the numbers. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Sign up for the weekly Private Property newsletter Instagram TikTok
We talk about prices, yields, and interest rates constantly. But what someone pays often depends on how a place feels when they walk in. So, what design mistakes are quietly costing investors money? In this episode, Ed and Andrew are joined by interior designer Kelly Gammie. You'll learn: The 3 biggest interior design mistakes … and what each one costs The renovations that add value and the ones that just cost you money How bold and brave should investors be when choosing what to paint the walls The numbers matter... but so does the feeling. Get the design right, and it shows up in the price. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Sign up for the weekly Private Property newsletter Instagram TikTok
Five years ago, every NZ market stood on the same hilltop. Then prices fell into the valley together... and since then, they've gone in completely different directions. So, where are prices actually booming, and where are they still hitting record lows? In this episode, Ed and Andrew count down the fastest-recovering markets, and reveal the North/South divide splitting the country. You'll learn: The markets leading the recovery Why seven North Island towns just hit fresh record lows How to tell a real boom from a small-town fluke The lesson? Stop reading the national number. And a boom tells you what already happened, not what happens next. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Sign up for the weekly Private Property newsletter Instagram TikTok
Two of New Zealand's biggest property sites just launched AI search. Is this the new way to buy a house? We put them to the test to see if AI can actually find you a good investment. In this episode, Ed and Andrew try out the AI tools on TradeMe and realestate.co.nz, from yield hunting to image search. You'll learn: What the new AI searches can do that the old filters couldn't Whether they can handle the numbers that matter to investors, like yield Which one actually worked, and which kept falling over AI can do the basics. But when it comes to the numbers that make a deal, there's still a big gap. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Sign up for the weekly Private Property newsletter Instagram TikTok
One Wellington flip had neighbours pointing boom boxes at it, dumping tyres, and breaking in to steal the appliances. None of that was in the spreadsheet. So, how do you know if a deal can survive when things go wrong? In this episode, Ed and Andrew share the "what if I'm wrong" test – a simple way to stress-test any property before you buy. You'll learn: The five things to check The renovation that missed its target price by $180k Why the goal isn't "does it look great," but "could I survive this" If you stress-test hard enough, no property is perfect. The real question is whether you could get through the rough patches. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Sign up for the weekly Private Property newsletter Instagram TikTok
We analysed 57,114 rental properties... to find the highest and lowest rental returns. In this episode, Ed and Andrew count down the five highest-yielding areas, then rank every city from worst to best. You'll learn: The five areas with New Zealand's highest rental yields Why do the big cities consistently have the lowest yields The catch with high-yield small towns, and why gross yield can mislead A high yield isn't the whole story. This episode shows you the trade-off, plus a free tool to see where your own property ranks. And you can check out the Rental Yield Percentile Calculator here For more from Opes Partners: Sign up for the weekly Private Property newsletter Instagram TikTok
Sarah bought a home-and-income in South Auckland back in 2006, and years later turned it into a five-townhouse development.So, how did she become a property developer, and what did it really take? In this Case Study Sunday, Sarah shares how she built a seven-property portfolio, even while living overseas. You'll learn: How this investor turned one property into five The challenges she faced when she turned herself into a property developer Her biggest regret from investing in property The lesson? Fortune favours the bold... and the patient. Sarah's story is a reminder that the real money in property is made over the long term. Want to share your story on Case Study Sunday? Send us a message, email ed@opespartners.co.nz For more from Opes Partners: Sign up for the weekly Private Property newsletter Instagram TikTok
The selling agent doesn't work for you. So, what should you say and what should you never give away? In this episode, Ed and Andrew run through the five biggest mistakes buyers make in front of agents, and how to avoid them. You'll learn: Why telling the agent your budget or your "why" costs you money The research-backed power of silence in a negotiation Whether you should ever bid your absolute maximum The agent isn't your enemy, but they're not your friend either. Knowing the rules is how you keep the upper hand. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Sign up for the weekly Private Property newsletter Instagram TikTok
Am I behind? It's the question everyone wonders, and almost nobody can answer. So, we paid Stats NZ to crunch the net-worth-by-age data that no one else publishes. In this episode, Ed and Andrew reveal the median wealth at every age and what the numbers really mean. You'll learn: What the typical Kiwi is worth in their 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond Why whatever you build by 60 is roughly what you retire on How a single good asset can move you two decades up the table The honest takeaway? You're probably less behind than you think, but the early decades matter most. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Sign up for the weekly Private Property newsletter Instagram TikTok
A new road or railway sounds like a green light for property prices. But not all infrastructure is equal. Some projects open up whole new suburbs. Others just smooth a commute. n this episode, Ed and Andrew run through New Zealand's biggest projects, testing each one against a simple question: Does it open new land? You'll learn: Which projects actually unlock new suburbs, and which just ease traffic What the research says infrastructure really does to nearby prices The Picton cautionary tale about buying into the infrastructure story Follow the roads and rail... but only when they actually create new places to build. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Sign up for the weekly Private Property newsletter Instagram TikTok
