Renting

The following is a selection of articles mainly from January 2005 to the present. To explore this topic in more depth and access earlier columns, please use the search box.

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Articles

Syndicated column 24 April 2010 - Home ownership doesn't always beat renting

The Investor Column - Embargoed until Saturday April 24 2010.


I was a little surprised the other day when I asked a couple of hundred young university students whether they wanted to buy a home in the foreseeable future. Everyone said yes - despite the fact that we'd just been considering why home ownership is not necessarily all it's cracked up to be.

NZ Herald April 11 2009

Q&As: Tips on how to ease back into investing in share funds.
Have I been too upbeat about the outlook for shares?
If the Dow Jones index is so bad, how come so many in the news media highlight it?
Auckland couple on $60,000 could buy a home if they really want to.

NZ Herald June 21 2008

Q&As: 2 Q&As on whether homeowners should sell and be renters for a while, to cash in on falling house prices?
Should 62-year-old buy a rental property or join KiwiSaver?

NZ Herald April 12 2008

Q&As: Monkey story a great yarn, but it's not about the share market.
Reader's concerns about banks' exposure to foreign exchange risk are unfounded.
61-year-old should think hard before selling her house and enjoying some of the proceeds.
Man about to retire can still get plenty from KiwiSaver.

NZ Herald March 15 2008

March 15 Q&As: Two readers sound off about ring fencing rental property tax losses, and a third puts it all in historical perspective.
Another reader worries about the difficulties of making tax payments online.

NZ Herald February 9 2008

Q&As: Calculator tells reader to stop saving and live it up a bit.
Reader who finds KiwiSaver nauseating has a scary list of things that could go wrong....
...But another one applauds KiwiSaver, while sitting on the home ownership sidelines.

NZ Herald May 5 2007

Q&As: Auckland houses may be unaffordable, but apartments aren't.
One man is happy with is inexpensive home.
Homeowner feels anything but smug about being in the housing market.
War is declared between the baby boomers and the younger generation.
Last time New Zealand tried to control rents, it was disastrous.

NZ Herald April 7 2007

Q&As: Rent control would do more harm than good.
The cost of staying out of the housing market.
Reader insists it's worthwhile to try to time foreign exchange movements. It's all his!

Syndicated column April 17 2007: Obsessed with property? Not us

New Zealanders are not as property mad - or as mortgage mad - as we've been led to believe, recent research shows.

NZ Herald April 14 2007

Q&As: A tax on house sales, to subsidise first home owners, is a lovely idea that wouldn't work.
Renting and saving elsewhere can leave you better off than home ownership.
Semi-retired couple who sold their home and rent are probably doing fine.

NZ Herald February 24 2007

Seeking your questions about KiwiSaver
Q&As: Woman in mid 50s, who is renting, explores options for buying a home
2 Q&As about the $50,000 threshold in the new regime on taxation of international shares

Holm Truths summer 06-07

The other B word: While some people find it easy to follow a budget, others struggle. Here are some tips for the latter group.
Also in this issue: From the Mailbox - Couple who sold their house save heaps by renting. But should they wait for a price fall before buying again?

Syndicated column August 1 2006: Readers' questions on renting v home ownership

My last column - which said that you may do just as well renting as owning your home, provided you are disciplined about saving elsewhere - brought interesting questions from two readers.

The first one is 40 and planning to return to New Zealand with his family. "I would be happy renting until I retire whilst growing our capital in areas other than property," he writes. "At some time later I might buy a small place to live in. However, do you think in 25 years that ownership of property might be out of reach?"

Syndicated column July 18 2006: Owning your home not always the best option

Most New Zealanders grow up expecting to own their own home, but soaring house prices have made it harder for people to get into the market. Does that matter? Is home ownership all it's cracked up to be?

NZ Herald December 17 2005

Q&As: Should newly separated woman buy a house or rent?
Our total tax rate depends on whether we spend or save.
End of year message.

Syndicated column October 18 2005: Home ownership not the only road to wealth

Shock, horror! Home ownership is falling and will continue to fall. But is that so bad?

NZ Herald July 9 2005

Q&As: Is geared rental property right for everyone?
Perhaps the woman last week should wait befoe buying a house.

NZ Herald July 2 2005

Q&As: Should woman buy a home now, despite Economist warnings?
A couple explores housing options.
House prices falling in Australia.

NZ Herald June 11 2005

Q&AS: Paying extra for using a credit card.
Distortions when considering how good an investment your home is.
First home buyers should probably wait.

NZ Herald June 4 2005

Q&As: 2 on renting v home ownership - including the psychology of the choice.
The professor who set last week's question gives me a grade, and notes that house prices have fallen lots elsewhere.

NZ Herald May 28 2005

Q&A: Is home ownership always good?

Holm Truths autumn 05

Moving the goalposts: Working part-time in retirement makes a huge difference to how much you need to save

Also in this issue: From the Mailbox - Is home ownership so great?

NZ Herald March 26 2005

Q&As: Man in mid 50s can afford to drop out - but what about emotionally?
Is reader silly to stick with renting?

NZ Herald February 26 2005

Q&As: Should single Mum renovate, rent our her house and move elsewhere, or move to a cheaper house?
Share trader's early success won't last.

Holm Truths summer 01-02

Pay yourself first: A way to make it easier to save

Also in this issue: Great Debate - Renting v home ownership