RBNZ to clobber first-home buyers with new LVR restrictions

High LVR lending to first-home buyers increased sharply after restrictions were removed last year. (Image: Deposit Photos)

Jenny Ruth

Tue, 21 Sep 2021

The tighter loan-to-valuation ratio restrictions the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) is proposing will clobber first-home buyers most, at odds with finance minister Grant Robertson's oft-stated desire to encourage more first-home buyers into homeownership.The RBNZ plans to reduce the amount of high loan-to-valuation ratio (LVR) lending each bank can do to no more than 10% of new lending from Oct 1, halving the current restriction of 20% of new lending.Consultation on the proposal closed last Friday.RBNZ's own data, table C31, shows t...

Subscribe to BusinessDesk

Stay informed on business, government and financial developments across New Zealand.

Deeply researched, twice-edited and fact-checked news
Annual subscribers also receive a complimentary subscription to The Wall Street Journal
Personalised email news alerts, plus gift up to 5 stories a month to non-subscribers

You can cancel anytime with two clicks, an email or a phone call.
Find out more.

We are serious about journalism.

Name {{ registerForm.errors.get('name') }}

Email address {{ registerForm.errors.get('email') }}

Phone Number {{ registerForm.errors.get('phone') }}

Job Title {{ registerForm.errors.get('title') }}

Password Minimum password length of 8 characters.
Require at least one upper and lowercase, numeric, and special character. {{ registerForm.errors.get('password') }}

Repeat password {{ registerForm.errors.get('password_confirmation') }}

We had trouble validating your card. It's possible your card provider is preventing us from charging the card. Please contact your card provider or customer support.

Credit Card

Cardholder's name

{{ __(plans[index].name) | capitalize }} {{ plans[index].attributes.old_price | currency }} {{ plans[index].price | currency }}

All subscriptions auto renew but are easy to cancel.

I Accept The Terms Of Service

{{ registerForm.errors.get('terms') }}

Tax: {{ taxAmount(selectedPlan) | currency }}

Total Price Including Tax: {{ priceWithTax(selectedPlan) | currency }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerSeat ? '/ '+ spark.seatName : '' }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerTeam ? '/ '+ __('teams.team') : '' }} / {{ __(selectedPlan.interval) | capitalize }}

Economy

NZ dollar benefiting from ‘sell US’ trade, more to come

The kiwi is at a five-month high.

Rebecca Howard 11:55am

Markets

Fed, tariff fears send Dow down over 900 points

Blue-chip index heads for its worst April since 1932.

The Wall Street Journal 10:30am

Fed, tariff fears send Dow down over 900 points

The Quiz Free

QuiznessDesk, Thursday, April 22

What type of animal is a sidewinder?Where in the human body would you find the Island of Reil?Where in Europe is Nicosia the capital of?Which city did the Romans call Eboracum? Originally called 40/50, what did Rolls-Royce's 1907 car later become known as?What was the surnam...

The Quizmaster 9:15am

Sponsored

Bayleys Total Property Issue 3 out now

Backed by Bayleys’ national strength and global reach

Bayleys

Sponsored

Go beyond reporting zero emissions

Clean energy that helps businesses and communities thrive

Meridian Energy

More Finance

Finance

FNZ extends controversial catch-up offer

Fintech FNZ has extended its deadline for “catch-up” equity offers, as employee shareholders say discontent grows.In March, the global fintech offered its class B shareholders a “catch-up” offer after it revealed their holdings could be massively diluted following its August capi...

Victoria Young 16 Apr 2025