Interest Rates to Rise Mid-Year? + Major Insurance Halt

Описание: Is the property market recovering, or is there a sting in the tail? In this week's Week in Review, we tackle the "tug of war" happening in the headlines. On one side, we’re told 2026 is a "Goldilocks" year for first-home buyers. On the other, the country's biggest bank has slashed its house price forecast, and there are serious warnings that interest rates could rise again by mid-year.

Debbie Roberts (Property Apprentice) cuts through the noise to help you decide who to believe. We dive into the "death" of the DIY dream, the alarming insurance retreat in Westport, and why the window of opportunity for buyers might be closing faster than expected.

In this episode, we cover:

Interest Rate Warning: Why ASB, ANZ, and Westpac are predicting the RBNZ could raise the OCR this year, and what that means for your mortgage.

The "Goldilocks" Year: Why first-home buyers are hitting record market shares despite the economic gloom.

Insurance Retreat: A major insurer freezes new policies in Westport—is this the start of a nationwide trend?

Price Forecast Downgrade: ANZ drops its 2026 growth prediction from 5% to 2%. We explain why.

Death of the Doer-Upper: Trade Me data shows buyers are ditching renovations for turnkey homes. Is the DIY dream over?

📢 FREE EVENT: How to Succeed with Property Investing Confused by the mixed signals? Don't guess your way through 2026. Join us for our free online masterclass where we share strategies to navigate volatility, understand the "lag" in interest rates, and build a portfolio that works in any market. 👉 Register for your free spot here: www.propertyapprentice.co.nz

Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro: The Market Tug of War 1:05 - Interest Rates: Warning! Rates could rise by mid-year (ASB/ANZ Forecasts) 3:20 - First Home Buyers: Why 2026 is a "Goldilocks" year 5:45 - Insurance: Major insurer halts new policies in Westport (Flood Risk) 8:10 - Market Update: ANZ downgrades 2026 house price forecast 10:30 - Renovations: The death of the "Doer-Upper" & the Quality Gap 13:15 - Summary & Free Masterclass Invitation

Sources & Articles:

Good Returns (27 Jan): Interest rates could be higher by mid-year

1News (26 Jan): Why 2026 is a 'Goldilocks year' for first-home buyers

Stuff (29 Jan): Insurer temporarily halts new policies in Westport

RNZ (29 Jan): Biggest bank downgrades house price forecast

Trade Me (29 Jan): Is this the death of the ‘doer-upper’?

Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is for educational purposes only and does not constitute personalized financial advice. We recommend seeking advice from a qualified professional before making any investment decisions.

#NZProperty #InterestRatesNZ #HousingMarket2026 #FirstHomeBuyers #PropertyApprentice #Westport #Renovation #RealEstateNZ #DebbieRoberts #OCR