Buying your first home can feel overwhelming – but it doesn’t have to be.
In this episode, Ed and Andrew break down the exact 8-step blueprint to help first-home buyers go from browsing listings to getting the keys.
You’ll learn:
This episode gives you a clear, practical roadmap to buying your first home ... and shows why you don’t need the “forever home” on day one.
For more from Opes Partners:
What do you do when your investment properties suddenly make more money than you need?
In this episode, Ed and Andrew unpack a real listener’s dilemma... and answer the question most investors dream of: What should we do with this extra cash?
You’ll learn:
This episode shows how to make smarter decisions once your portfolio begins paying you back, and how to use surplus cashflow to build wealth or improve your lifestyle with confidence.
For more from Opes Partners:
What if, 20 years from now, your house couldn’t get insurance at all?
In this episode, Ed and Andrew unpack the government’s new National Adaptation Framework – the long-term plan that shifts climate risk from the government to homeowners directly.
You’ll learn:
This episode highlights why climate risk is becoming a property risk, and what every Kiwi property investor should do.
For more from Opes Partners:
Most Kiwis assume they’ll retire at 65 – but what if you could stop working years earlier?
In this episode, Ed and Andrew break down the 8 signs that reveal whether you’re ready to retire sooner than you think (including the one obvious sign everyone forgets).
You’ll learn:
This episode unpacks the real markers of early retirement readiness – from understanding your money like Ronald Read, to knowing what you’ll actually spend, to running the numbers with confidence.
For more from Opes Partners:
When you’re selling your house, should you stick with one real estate agent – or use multiple to “create competition”?
In this episode, Ed and Andrew dig into the data behind sole vs multi-agency listings to reveal whether more agents actually lead to more buyers, faster sales, or higher prices.
You’ll learn:
Ed and Andrew break down the realestate.co.nz data showing that 94% of Kiwi sellers use just one agent – and why multi-agent listings often stay on the market a month longer.
For more from Opes Partners:
Everyone wants to know the best places to buy ... but what about the worst?
In this episode, Ed and Andrew reveal the 6 worst areas to invest in 2026, using brand-new national data to show which towns are overvalued, under-growing, and most likely to trap investors.
You’ll learn:
This episode gives you a data-driven roadmap to avoid the country’s weakest markets and make smarter, safer decisions in 2026.
Also in this episode we mention our Area Analyser tool, check it out for yourself.
And if you want to book a free Wealth Plan session with one of our financial advisers, click the link.
For more from Opes Partners:
What happens when two divorced parents meet, blend families, renovate their way through Auckland – and accidentally become property flippers?
In this Case Study Sunday, Ed and Andrew sit down with Ryan and Candice to unpack how they turned life upheaval, multiple moves, and a talent for renovations into mini-retirements, capital gains, and a whole new career direction.
You’ll learn:
This episode demonstrates how property, when combined with courage and creativity, can transform life’s most challenging chapters into powerful financial momentum.
For more from Opes Partners:
Most Kiwis buy property for capital growth, but what if your goal is cashflow right now?
In this episode, Ed and Andrew walk you through the exact 8-step process to find, analyse, and buy an investment property that puts money in your pocket each week.
You’ll learn:
This episode provides a practical roadmap to buy with confidence, not guesswork, for cashflow.
For more from Opes Partners:
Do property investors really make housing unaffordable for first home buyers ... or is that just an easy story people tell?
In this episode, Ed and Andrew dig into 20 years of buyer data, Treasury research, and international studies to reveal what actually drives house prices … and whether investors are really to blame.
You’ll learn:
This episode provides a clear, evidence-based view of how the housing market actually works, without scapegoating or finger-pointing.
For more from Opes Partners:
Happy New Year! Most of us think we’ve got decades to sort out our retirement … but what if you measured your future in paydays instead of years?
In this episode, Ed and Andrew reveal why your remaining paychecks might be far fewer than you realise – and what that means for your financial freedom.
You’ll learn:
This episode gives you a clear New Year wake-up call: your time is finite, and every payday is a chance to make a better financial decision.
For more from Opes Partners:
Most people think that getting a mortgage approved takes a week or so – but the actual timeline is quite different.
In this episode, Ed and Andrew break down how long mortgage approvals actually take, why banks quote 5–10 days, and what really happens behind the scenes before the money lands in your account.
You’ll learn:
This episode provides a clear roadmap for getting your mortgage approved faster and avoiding common mistakes that can slow down buyers.
For more from Opes Partners:
Most Kiwis have a table mortgage, but few truly understand how they work.
In this episode, Ed and Andrew break down the numbers behind New Zealand’s most common mortgage type, including why your repayments barely seem to make a dent in the early years.
You’ll learn:
This episode provides a clear and simple framework to help you finally understand your mortgage and take control of it.
And here is the Epic Guide To Mortgages which was mentioned in this episode.
For more from Opes Partners:
How much money does a $600k investment property actually make – after growth, cashflow, and the real costs?
In this episode, Ed and Andrew crunch the numbers on a recently sold-out new build and reveal what investors can realistically expect over the next 15 years.
You’ll learn:
Ed and Andrew walk through real rent figures, real costs, and real investor scenarios to show how to judge any deal with clear eyes.
For more from Opes Partners:
How does a DIY builder go from late-night renos to becoming a lifestyle investor with a cash-flowing minor dwelling?
In this Case Study Sunday, Ed and Andrew sit down with Lawrence from Auckland to unpack his journey – from gutting a smelly two-bedroom “dump” to building a family home, navigating bridging finance, and eventually adding a two-bedroom unit in his own backyard.
You’ll learn:
This episode shows what’s possible when you back yourself, stay hands-on, and keep moving toward your next project.
For more from Opes Partners:
Buying your first investment property can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be.
In this episode, Ed and Andrew break down the entire process into eight clear steps, from choosing your strategy through to signing the contract and doing proper due diligence.
You’ll learn:
This episode gives you a clear roadmap to follow ... so you don’t start by scrolling Trade Me at random, but instead buy your first investment property with a proven, structured process.
Here are the tools we mentioned in the episode:
For more from Opes Partners:
Renovating your own home can be one of the best ways to build equity, but it can also turn into a financial (and emotional) nightmare if you don’t know where to start.
In this episode, Ed and Andrew are joined by Peter Wolfkamp, The Resident Builder and host of Newstalk ZB’s Sunday morning show, to reveal how to DIY the smart way.
You’ll learn:
Peter also shares real stories, including how overconfidence (or ignoring consents) can cost you thousands.
For more from Opes Partners:
What do property investors really want for Christmas?
In this special holiday episode, Ed and Andrew unwrap last year’s wish list to see what Santa delivered … and which of them ended up with nothing but a lump of coal from the Reserve Bank.
You’ll learn:
This light-hearted episode wraps up the year with insights, reflection, and a festive look at what investors are hoping for next.
You’ve listed your property … the first offer comes in … but is it really the best one you’ll get?
In this episode, Ed and Andrew dig into the old real estate saying “the first offer is often the best” – and whether you should trust it or hold out for a higher price.
You’ll learn:
Ed and Andrew unpack real case studies and give you a practical framework to judge any offer confidently and avoid leaving money on the table.
For more from Opes Partners:
“Buy the worst house on the best street” – classic Kiwi advice … but is it actually good in 2025?
In this episode, Ed and Andrew delve into the data behind this old property mantra, revealing when it works brilliantly and when it can turn into a costly mistake.
You’ll learn:
This episode highlights situations where buying a fixer-upper makes sense … and why many investors are better off choosing properties with stronger yields and fewer maintenance headaches.
For more from Opes Partners:
Do property investors really need a financial adviser – or can you just DIY it?
In this episode, Ed and Andrew give an honest breakdown of what advisers actually do, what they cost, and the situations where you genuinely need one … and the ones where you absolutely don’t.
You’ll learn:
This episode gives you a clear, practical way to decide whether an adviser will genuinely add value to your journey – or whether you’re already on the right track without one.
For more from Opes Partners: