Ed McKnight: Economist at Opes Partners on the number of first-home buyers turning to their parents for financial assistance

Almost half of first-home buyers in New Zealand expect help from the Bank of Mum and Dad, according to a new report.  OneChoice's Kiwi Housing Trends survey of more than 500 Kiwis found that 48% needed financial assistance from family to get onto the property ladder.  But of those who did receive support from their parents, 70% said they were worried about the pressure it placed on them.  Opes Partners’ Ed McKnight told Mike Hosking first-home buyers are really keen to get onto the ladder right now, as houses are more affordable than they were before the Covid-19 pandemic.  The main thing he’s been seeing, he says, is parents getting a loan against their paid-off house and passing it along to their kids to use as a deposit – in many cases the kids are taking responsibility for paying off that loan as well.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.