The tide has well and truly turned.

We've had analysts forecasting a plateau for much of this year, with rates starting to turn upwards near the end of the year.

One thing is for sure - we're not too likely to see the OCR go any lower than where it already stands.

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Have you ever walked into a home and thought - there was so much potential and it's all been lost.

A room with limited natural light, painted in dark shades and made to look smaller than it is. A poorly shaped couch that throws off the whole room. Or one that we see all too often - old, outdated lighting that can make a gorgeous home immediately look neglected.

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For a long time, the kiwi dream has been to do whatever it takes to get onto the property ladder and work your way up from there, but some investors are moving away from that advice - instead suggesting that it might be a better idea to rent and put your money elsewhere.

It's not just the cost of the property and the mortgage repayments. You're paying to maintain the property in a way you wouldn't be if it were a rental, you're covering rates, insurance, and all the other little costs that add up pretty quickly.

That's money that some investors argue could be spent on investments, or on a rental of your own that would at least bring some return.

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