Helping Kiwi home buyers make confident decisions about their mortgage

A mortgage adviser who provides personalised advice, clear steps and ongoing support – without the jargon.

Start your first-home journey

Working alongside the team at

Capital Advice

I’m ready to purchase!

Let’s talk about your goals, your situation and what options are available to you.

Book a chat with Caleb

How much can I borrow?

Use Caleb’s easy calculator to find out where you sit in the market!

Find out now

Find out how to prepare

Not ready to purchase just yet, but want to be prepared for when you do?

Book a chat with Caleb

Hey! I’m Caleb

I work with everyday Kiwis who are ready to take the next step in their home ownership journey but aren't sure where to start.

For most people, getting a mortgage isn’t something they do every day – so it’s completely normal to have questions. My job is to make the process straightforward, explain your options in plain English and help you feel confident about the decisions you’re making.

You don’t need to have everything figured out before we talk – that’s what I’m here to help with.

How it works

Say hello

Fill in a short form or book a chat – just tell me where you’re at.

Get your plan

I review your situation and give you a clear plan: what you can do now and what to work on.

Lender strategy

I find and recommend suitable options from multiple lenders, not just one bank.

Support all the way

I stay in touch through pre-approval, house-hunting, and settlement – and beyond.

    
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Nikkie Abella 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Caleb is extremely professional and knowledgeable. Good communication answered all our questions and doubts. Very reliable and organise. thank you so much for help Caleb🥰
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Andrew Anglem 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. **Big shout-out to Caleb Rikihana from Traditional Finance Guy on IG! 🙌🏽🏡**

Caleb was our mortgage broker and worked with us right through the purchase of our home.

I actually came across Caleb on the First Home Buyer Page after seeing so many good recommendations about him, and after dealing with him myself, I can 100% agree with everything that was said.

From the beginning, the communication was easy, fast, there were no barriers or unnecessary mucking around, and overall he was just a genuinely good guy to deal with. He listened to what we wanted, understood our situation and worked alongside us to get it done.

We’re based in Auckland and Caleb is in Wellington, but honestly, the distance made absolutely no difference. Everything was handled easily, and within about three weeks we were unconditional on our home 🥳

Buying a house can be stressful enough as it is, so having someone who communicates well, knows what they’re doing and actually makes the process feel straightforward makes a massive difference.

So if anyone is looking for a really good mortgage broker, regardless of where in NZ you’re looking to purchase, I would 100% recommend Caleb Rikihana.

Thanks again Caleb — really appreciate everything you did to help get us into our home! 🏡❤️
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Ashleigh Horton 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Caleb was great to work with. He communicated well and made the whole process of buying our first home straightforward. He took the time to explain everything clearly, he was quick to respond and answered all our questions. We would recommend Caleb to anyone looking for a mortgage advisor. He is professional, knowledgeable and great to work with.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Allan Jacob 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had an absolutely fantastic experience with our mortgage broker Caleb Rikihana from Capital Advise he helped us from very beginning, incredibly helpful, professional, and genuinely committed to helping us achieve our goal of purchasing our home.

The whole mortgage process felt so much easier because he explained everything clearly, kept us updated throughout, and were always available whenever we had questions. He worked extremely hard to find the right option and best interest rate for us in the market.

What impressed us most was their patience, knowledge, and personal approach. We never felt like just another client — He genuinely cared about getting the best outcome for us.

We are extremely grateful for all his hard work and support. If you’re looking for a mortgage broker who is trustworthy, knowledgeable, responsive, and truly goes the extra mile, we highly recommend Caleb!

Thank you so much for helping make our home-buying journey possible! 🏡❤️
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Jess B 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Can’t recommend Caleb enough! From the very first chat to now settling on our home in a few weeks, he has been extremely helpful and attentive the whole journey. Constant follow ups with us whether it was emails or calls, we were always updated with our progress. Anytime I needed help or had questions, he was more than happy to assist! We began knowing nothing about first home buying but Caleb is extremely knowledgeable and taught us so much, super easy to work with online and in person. Would recommend him to anyone and everyone in NZ!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Jason Hatfield 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. If you are needing someone to help you navigate a mortgage I highly recommend Caleb.  From our first meeting through our final signing he was an excellent communicator, extremely knowledgeable, timely, and made the entire experience stress free. He took the time listen to what our situation and goals were to then provide us personalized recommendations and options. If we ever had any questions he was available to provide us the support we needed.  He is such a genuinely wonderful person who is gifted at what he does and clearly really enjoys. We highly recommend him!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Lennon Fleet 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I have had an amazing experience with Caleb. As a first home buyer who has always grown up in rentals it was quite intimidating to start the process of purchasing my first home. Caleb has made this experience so easy for me and explained in depth the process and has given me updates daily while we were awaiting preapproval and we have now gone unconditional on a home I never thought would be in my budget as a solo purchaser! I don't think I could praise him more!! He has made such a stressful process so easy. Thanks so much Caleb :)
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Sapphire Huijbregts 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Well where to start, Caleb is amazing at what he does. I got in touch after being turned down by one mortgage broker just to see where we were at and what we needed to do to get our ducks in a row. Caleb rung and said its looking pretty good so filled out the paper work and a week later we were pre approved. Caleb was very helpful always kept in touch by email or phone. Broke down every step so we could understand and now we just put the SOLD sticker on our first home. If you are unsure about anything get in touch with Caleb today he's the man.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Ethan Herbert 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We've been working with Caleb (the Traditional Finance Guy) for six weeks now and we couldn't recommend him enough.

Although we're based in Auckland we've been working with him virtually, as we really rated his videos on social media (thetraditionalfinance_guy on Instagram) where he breaks down so much of the lending process in a digestible format.

We've really valued his advice, and how he really goes to bat for us when the process can be so frequently overwhelming. Cannot overstate how helpful it is having a friendly face (more often voice) who understands the whole lending process from both sides, who is our representative negotiating with the bank. He's saved us at least $1750 so far.

My partner and I move into our first home in two weeks, and we both feel we couldn't have done it without Caleb. If you need a mortgage and you want someone who is on your side, strongly recommend getting in touch.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Shanan McKeown 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We were initially dealing with a bank directly and getting really frustrated. Caleb stepped in and made life so much easier!

Why use a mortgage adviser ?

Buying a home can feel like there’s a lot to get your head around – different banks, interest rates, lending criteria and plenty of paperwork along the way. A mortgage adviser helps simplify the process, working through the options with you and helping you understand what’s realistic for your situation.

Rather than trying to navigate it all on your own, you’ve got someone in your corner who deals with lenders every day. My goal is to make the whole process feel clearer, easier and a lot less overwhelming.

Why Caleb?

I’m big on keeping things simple. No unnecessary jargon, no making finance feel more complicated than it needs to be – just clear advice, honest conversations and a plan that makes sense for you.

Keep up with the Traditional Finance Guy

If you’ve owned your home for more than 3 years, t

My first home buyers are heading to auction this S

First home buyers heading to auction this Saturday

Already got a mortgage? I can still help. My serv

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Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the first step in buying my first home?

Fill in our form — it takes 2 minutes. From there we’ll give you a call, talk through your situation, and give you a realistic idea of what you can borrow. Then we take care of the rest.

Who is Capital Advice?

Capital Advice is an established Wellington-based mortgage advisory firm that I operate under as a self-employed adviser. Think of it like a franchise model — I run my own business, The Traditional Finance Guy, but I’m part of the Capital Advice network which provides the compliance, licensing and support structure behind the scenes.

This means you get the best of both worlds — the personal, dedicated service of working directly with me, backed by the credibility and infrastructure of an experienced advisory group that has been helping Kiwis with mortgages since 2004.

My FSP licence, professional indemnity insurance and compliance obligations all sit within this structure, so you can have full confidence that the advice you receive meets New Zealand’s financial services regulations.

How much deposit do I need?

Most banks require at least 10% of the purchase price. So if you’re buying an $800k home, you’ll need $80k. This can include KiwiSaver, savings and in some cases a family gift. Get to 20% and you’ll unlock better rates and avoid low equity fees.

How long does pre-approval take?

Once we have everything we need from you, typically 2–5 working days. The more organised you are with your documents, the faster we can move. Pre-approvals are usually valid for 60–90 days

Should I go to the bank directly or use a mortgage adviser?

We’ll go to the bank for you. We know which lenders have the best rates and products for your situation — and different banks have different rules. Going direct means you only see one option. We give you access to many.

How much do mortgage advisers’ cost?

In most cases, nothing. We get paid by the bank when your loan settles. Very rarely, for unique situations, a fee may apply — but we’ll always discuss that with you upfront before anything happens.

Which bank and non-bank lenders do you work with?

We have access to over 30 lenders in New Zealand — from the main banks you already know, to non-bank lenders who have different rules that may suit your situation better.

Do I need to be in the same city as you?

Nope. Most of our work is done remotely via phone calls and video calls. Wherever you are in New Zealand, we can help.

What are the benefits of refinancing?

A lower rate, better loan structure, access to equity, or simply making sure you’re not paying more than you need to. Your mortgage should work for you — if it’s not, it’s worth a conversation.

Market updates & resources

Helping you make sense of the property and lending market.