NZ Home Loans opens doors to an NZ first for home buyers

Media release

For immediate release

Friday 4 October 2013

New Zealand Home Loans opens doors to an NZ first for home buyers

The country’s only mortgage lender to actively engage with its customers for the life of their loan, New Zealand Home Loans, is offering borrowers another first with the opening of its first retail store on Wellington’s Victoria St.

With a company ethos that works with customers to plan for, obtain, and then conquer their mortgage, among other financial services, having a face-to-face environment where people could engage with their consultants was really important.

“We’re about people first and those people are putting their trust in us. It’s important to see the whites of someone’s eyes when they’re asking you to let them help you chart their financial future. It’s not just a transaction,” says CEO Mark Collins.

“Things have changed in real estate quite significantly recently and a lot of people are finding themselves pretty unsettled as to where they stand in all of it. The store will offer new and existing clients somewhere to drop by to discuss their financial needs and get to know us a bit better. They’ll save time, stress and most importantly, money.”

With a unique loan model, combined with hands-on mentoring and advice, New Zealand Home Loans saved its clients over $24 million in interest payments that they would otherwise have paid to the bank.

“To-date, the majority of our new clients have come from word-of-mouth referrals from existing clients,” says Collins. “But having a central hub in the inner city, will afford all clients easier access to our services. It’s important to us that we’re accessible.”

Based in Hamilton, New Zealand Home Loans opened its first New Zealand office in Wellington in 1996, and now has 68 franchises nationwide, including 10 throughout the Wellington region.

Collins says the decision to open New Zealand Home Loans’ first retail branch in Wellington was simple. “In the past year we’ve seen an upsurge of interest from Wellington families who are keen to understand how they can become debt free faster and how we can support them throughout the process.

“We’re thrilled with the location of the new store at 86 Victoria Street, and are looking forward to welcoming clients new and existing.”

The opening of the retail store comes shortly after New Zealand Home Loans secured its second win at the Deloitte Fast 50 Awards, winning the mature category for the second year - the first time in the awards’ history this has happened, while also picking up the Services Business award at the same time.

The Fastest Growing Mature Business gong is awarded to New Zealand businesses with the highest percentage increase in revenue. To qualify, a business needs to have been in operation for over 15 years.

“Growing your business year on year is tougher than ever,” admits Collins. “This award is therefore a very important indicator of the strength of our business, our people and the brand loyalty we’ve developed over the years. We’re growing our business while retaining the satisfied customer base we’ve built up.”

ENDS

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