George Love - Harcourts Real Estate Kapiti

29/09/2026

School holiday vibes!
Took the kids to a private viewing, the rest of the day we have been swapping between meetings 😃🌞🏖

29/09/2026

What “Unless Sold Prior” Really Means In New Zealand Property Sales

In this podcast episode, I talk with Zebunisso Alimova about what it means when we advertise a property as “Auction next Thursday, unless sold prior.” Those four words can speed up a sale, bring a deadline forward, and surprise buyers if they’re not ready.

In this episode I translate the phrase into plain English and explain how it plays out in real New Zealand property campaigns, whether the method is auction, tender, or deadline sale.

We talk about why vendors like the flexibility of considering a strong pre-auction offer and why it can actually help buyers who need certainty fast.

We also unpack what happens behind the scenes when an early offer arrives: negotiating with the vendor, deciding whether to notify other interested parties, and setting a new, earlier deadline so everyone gets a fair chance without revealing confidential price or conditions.

I share what best practice looks like, including the reality of ringing dozens of buyers so nobody feels left out.

Then we switch hats to the mortgage side, because “unless sold prior” can cause instant havoc for finance timeframes. If the date gets brought forward, buyers may need approvals, paperwork, solicitor checks, and conditions sorted far sooner than expected. We share a rapid-fire story where an auction was brought forward and the whole journey from getting ready to settling happened in about 10 days, plus what makes that kind of sprint possible (and what can make it much harder when banks slow down).

If you’re buying, selling, or advising clients in the New Zealand housing market, hit play, share this with someone who’s house-hunting, and leave a review.

What’s your take: do you understand “unless sold prior” or do you need help preparing to move fast?

29/09/2026

Interesting article in the Kapiti News (29 July 2026).

There is so much help for first home buyers but the article discusses important considerations for people downsizing for financial reasons.

This is something George and I feel passionate about because we see many people in this position of financial worry. Being able to help give peace of mind means a lot to us and our clients.

29/09/2026

Beautiful day for open homes!

109a Hillcrest Road, Raumati Beach
1.30pm - 2pm
BEO $675,000

60a Aorangi Road, Paraparaumu
2.30pm - 3pm
BEO $585,000

29/09/2026

An auction can make a perfectly sensible person forget everything they promised themselves before walking in.

You know your budget.
You know the number you said you wouldn’t go past.

Then someone else bids. And suddenly you’re thinking, “Okay... one more.”

That was one of the things George and I got into in this week’s episode of That Home Loan Hub.

We talked about the psychology of auctions, why having a firm number matters, whether it’s better to bid early or hold back, and how having someone beside you can help keep you grounded when things start getting emotional.

We also got into something first home buyers might not think about until it’s too late: the costs that can come with buying at auction, including valuations and building reports.

And there was one thing I found particularly interesting: you don’t necessarily lose all your options just because a vendor says no to your pre-auction offer.

There’s more to auctions than standing in a room and calling out numbers.

🎙️ A First Home Buyer’s Guide To New Zealand Property Auctions is out now on That Home Loan Hub.
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1YIB3AP8FdXLPCYVAx9t4E?si=af07d3006b8c48e2
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-first-home-buyers-guide-to-new-zealand-property-auctions/id1771165429?i=1000792042806
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzHUk7rZyiY

If you’re thinking about buying at auction, this is one worth having a listen to before you get there.

This is Part 1 of our First Home Buyer Q&A series with George.
👇 Part 2, How To Make A Conditional Offer More Appealing, is in the comments.

Have you ever been to an auction? What was the most stressful part?

29/09/2026

27/09/2026

In this podcast episode we answer a question from a first home buyer about how to make an offer more attractive while still remaining safe and meeting the needs of the lender.

Losing out on homes because your offer looks “too hard” is brutal, especially when you’re a first home buyer trying to tick every box the bank and your lawyer require.

We kick off with a real question from Facebook: finance condition (15 working days), KiwiSaver, valuation, builder’s report, and a LIM report, then multiple declined offers with the hint that the conditions are the problem. So what can you change without putting yourself in danger?

We get practical about KiwiSaver timing, because this is where many buyers accidentally make their offer slower than it needs to be. If KiwiSaver is needed for the deposit when you go unconditional, the withdrawal process and lawyer undertakings matter, and that can shape your deadlines.

We also talk about why having an adviser or mortgage broker can make a massive difference compared with trying to piece it together from a busy bank conversation.

From there we move into what really tightens an offer: strong pre-approval, fast finance sign-off, and realistic planning for the slow bits like valuations and LIM reports.

We share typical timeframes, where you can pay for urgency, and what banks actually care about versus what your lawyer is focused on. We wrap with a reminder that vendors sometimes take a lower cash offer simply for certainty and speed, and how you can compete by being prepared rather than reckless.

If this helped, subscribe, share it with a first home buyer mate, get in contact for a chat!

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7aZUWkpusnE2mE7QcuiZGw?si=fqNroJTrTU2Eg87qJeiUeg&utm_source=copy-link

26/09/2026

86a Winara Avenue, Waikanae
Open home!
📞 George 021 169 9402
📞 Megan 027 699 1732

26/09/2026

Some guests just keep coming back, and George Love is one of them.

George is back on That Home Loan Hub, bringing another conversation and more of his experience and perspective to our listeners.

As a Licensed Real Estate Consultant with Harcourts Paraparaumu, George has a wealth of experience in property and working with people through different stages of their home journey.

I always enjoy having George on the podcast because there’s always something different to talk about and more for our listeners to take away.

So, here we go again! Keep an eye out for George’s next episode of That Home Loan Hub, coming soon.

🔗 Connect with George Love:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GeorgeLove.Harcourts
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/georgeloverealestate/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-love-wellington/
Website: https://harcourts.net/nz/office/paraparaumu/people/george-love

There's plenty to listen to while you wait for our next episode.
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/6U8SCUtK307iHtoHqGrvRC?si=8788a005dae64035
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/that-home-loan-hub/id1771165429
YouTube: www.youtube.com/

Or simply search 'That Home Loan Hub' on your favourite podcast platform.

Have questions about your mortgage, investment property, or insurance? Let's have a chat and see how we can help.
027 731 0713
www.mikepero.co.nz/mortgage-broker/wellington/zebunisso-alimova

26/09/2026

Want to learn more about moving to Kapiti?
📞 George 021 169 9402
📞 Megan 027 699 1732