WOMENINBUSINESS 9 THE CONVEYANCING COMPANY HEBE VICKIE PICKERING From left: Chevelle Beattie, Dani Burkhart, and Karen OF THE CONVEYANCING COMPANY – PROVING THAT BUYING A HOUSE IS NOT AN IMPOSSIBLE DREAM DANI BURKHART Mortgage broker Vickie Pickering has some good news for people wanting to buy their first home – raising the necessary deposit may be easier than you think. If you have been in the scheme for five years or more, those figures are $5,000 and $10,000 respectively. To qualify, a house — in the Wairarapa — can cost up to $350,000. The secret is using your Kiwisaver savings plus the Kiwisaver HomeStart Grant which the government has just introduced. You may also have access to a Welcome Home Loan. This is offered by certain lenders and underwritten by Housing New Zealand. Looking chic and yet comfortable in a Arielle Mermin Rodeo Dress, Dani Burkhart is the embodiment of the philosophy of Hebe function + fashion = win. Together these can potentially raise a deposit of between $30,000 and $50,000, enough for a good quality existing or new home in the Wairarapa. With a Welcome Home Loan you need a 10 percent deposit, rather than the usual 20 percent required by most lenders. This is designed to assist first home buyers who can afford to make regular repayments but have trouble saving a large deposit. Vickie is a Registered Financial adviser who is hugely experienced in the property market. She has seen it from all angles over her 26 years in the finance industry, including 2IC at ANZ Petone, buying investment properties herself, and helping her children into their first homes. Vickie points out that if you are a first home buyer and have been a member of Kiwisaver for three years or more, you can use your savings, employer contributions and all returns towards a deposit. The only money you can’t use is your original $1,000 kickstart. More recently, the government has introduced the Kiwisaver HomeStart Grant. Anyone who has been in Kiwisaver for three years or more can apply for this. The grant varies depending on whether you are purchasing an existing home or building a new one. As an example, if you have been in Kiwisaver for three years you can get a grant of $3,000 for an existing home or $6,000 for a new build. A single purchaser can earn up to $80,000 before tax, and a couple up to $120,000 before tax. This means that a person, or couple, wanting to buy a home worth $350,000, may only need a deposit of $35,000. This is completely achievable for anyone who has been in Kiwisaver for five years and gets the $5,000 or $10,000 grant, Vickie says. For those who have joined Kiwisaver more recently, it may be a case of planning ahead. Vickie is able to help with that as well. Vickie points out that she is also able to help people in other financial circumstances, from “second chancers”, people who have previously owned a home as part of a relationship but who have to start out all over again after a break up, to asset rich but income poor retired people who want to tap into the value of their homes for a more comfortable lifestyle. PUTTING “STYLE” INTO WAIRARAPA LIFESTYLE AT HEBE Dani grew up in Masterton, graduating from St Matthew’s Collegiate and then going on to study fashion design at Bay of Plenty Polytechnic where she won the Supreme Design Award. She started her label “My Boyfriends Back” in Wellington before moving back to the Wairarapa where she married Johnny. The couple bought the boutique fashion store in Kuripuni nine months ago, with Johnny continuing as a commercial fisherman and the couple raising young son Jett. Johnny has used his practical skills and a surprisingly high level of creative talent to design some very smart fittings for Hebe such as the natural timber cube shelving where Dani now displays accessories including jewellery and bags. “I network with people in the industry and can appreciate everyone else’s brand and what they are offering.” The labels on display within the attractive surroundings have been chosen to appeal to a broad range of tastes, Dani says. “I’ve tried to create a balance between everyday wear that appeals to most Wairarapa women, while also catering to the woman who wants something a bit more directional. “But even with everyday wear I’ve tried to stock brands that you won’t find anywhere else in Masterton.” One of the newest is Coop by Trelise Cooper which relates to a fun-loving woman with sense of flair and a love for fabric and colour. Plus French brands Zoe and 2ND Day. Hebe also has Jacki Peters and TOBY by David Pond in sizes 16 to 22. Metallic hangers allow Dani to colour block some of the latest fashion trends which the eye immediately catches as you enter the store. A nifty wardrobe designed by Johnny contains newly introduced organic cotton brands Kowtow and Commoners. Dani has kept the fashion foundation that made Hebe popular when it opened three years ago, but has continued to evolve the store into what she eloquently describes as a “curated space.” “I’m really grateful that I get to do what I love. It’s rewarding and exciting and fun.” “I select everything for the shop, and I’m really supportive of New Zealand brands. Dani admits to “living and breathing” fashion. Dani is assisted by Karen McBride and Chevelle Beattie. “We make a great team as we all represent different sides of Hebe.” Free Home loan advice - Call Vickie 027 230 6091 New Kiwisaver rules – ?( != K<49 D976 #<>( 7<<=(9 6#A= K<4 6#<4%#6 ;<77!?N(& – 5ANN >( E2. 6< D=* <46 ><9(C 0.4323/,3-1 – H ,A= %(6 K<4 A %9(A6 *(AN& when it comes to home finance – knowledge is everything – /!,P!( 1!,P(9!=% BEAUTIFUL CLOTHING FOR EVERY WOMEN 0(%!76(9(* D=A=,!AN A*3!7(9 M ><96%A%( ,<=74N6A=6 8BJO @$ )"Q Q-'' G F