Missing Millions | The Playbook for Retirement with Property

Missing Millions: The Playbook to Build a Property Portfolio for Retirement

Discover how everyday Kiwi homeowners can use equity, leverage and time in the market to build a property portfolio for retirement. Learn the strategies that create options, freedom and long-term wealth.

Who Is This Playbook For?

This playbook is for Kiwi homeowners who want to avoid the retirement shortfall highlighted in the Massey NZ Retirement Expenditure Guidelines 2025, where many New Zealanders face a gap ranging from hundreds of thousands of dollars to more than one million dollars. It is designed for people who want more certainty about their financial future and understand that NZ Super and KiwiSaver alone will not deliver the lifestyle they expect.

It is also for homeowners who have worked hard, paid down their mortgage, and contributed to KiwiSaver, yet may still fall short without taking proactive steps. If you want a clear and achievable plan to bridge this gap and ensure your retirement years feel rewarding rather than restricted, this guide is for you.

Who Designed This Playbook?

This playbook was created by equiti, independent new build property specialists who help Kiwi homeowners prepare for a stronger financial future. Their experience in new build investment and retirement planning shaped this clear and realistic approach.

equiti are licensed under the REAA 2008 and focus on providing objective guidance. Their buy and hold strategy is designed to help everyday New Zealanders build a stable property portfolio that supports long term retirement goals.

Our 3 Step Proven Process

Introductory
Call

This 15-minute call determines if property investment aligns with your financial goals. If it's a match, we'll book a Discovery session. If not, we'll guide you on your next steps.

Step 1:
Discovery Call

In this 45-60 minute video call, we'll review your finances and goals to map out your retirement "gap." You'll leave with a clear retirement plan based on your financial reality.

Step 2:
How-To Meeting

This 45-60 minute session demonstrates how a tailored property strategy can close your retirement gap. We'll cover key concepts and show you what a personalised portfolio could look like.

Step 3:
Asset Selection

In this 60-minute meeting, we present three data-backed investment options tailored to your profile. After reviewing cash flow forecasts and answering your questions, you can select a property with confidence.

The numbers speak for themselves

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Other Great Resources

The Retirement Riddle Guide

Download the guide and learn how you can take advantage of the equity in your home to build your retirement nest egg through verified and secure new build investment homes.

What Type of Property Should You Buy?

Take our assessment to help you identify the ideal type of property investment based on your unique goals, risk appetite, and personal strengths.

Designed to help you understand your next investment property purchase in just a few minutes you’ll have a clear picture of the investment path that best suits your profile.

How Much Could You Borrow?

Use our Usable Equity Calculator to see how you can leverage your existing home to build a property portfolio.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is property investing risky?

Like any investment, there are risks—but with the right property, in the right area, and a clear plan, those risks can be managed. New builds help reduce many of the typical issues like maintenance costs or compliance headaches, making them a safer, more predictable option for long-term investors.

Do I have to manage the property myself?

Not at all. Most of our clients use professional property managers to handle tenants, maintenance, and paperwork. It’s a completely hands-off approach—so you can focus on your career and lifestyle while your investment works for you in the background.

How many properties should I own for retirement?

While everyone’s goals are different, we believe many Kiwis are just three well-bought properties away from a financially secure retirement. The key is quality over quantity—owning the right type of properties, in growth areas, with the right support behind you.

How do you make money with investment property?

You earn in two main ways: rental income (which provides ongoing cash flow) and capital growth (as the value of the property increases over time). If you’re leveraging with a mortgage, your returns are based on the total property value—not just your deposit—helping you grow wealth faster.

What’s the minimum deposit for an investment property?

For new build investment properties, the minimum deposit is typically 20%, compared to 30% for existing homes. This lower barrier to entry is one of the key advantages of investing in new builds—allowing you to get into the market sooner and use your capital more efficiently.

Testimonials

Ben and Anna

Investors

A massive thank you to Hamish (and Jordan) for supporting us (very patiently!) with the purchase of our investment property. We have appreciated your great comms throughout, your honesty, humour and dedication to help us onto the investment ladder.

Hayden

Investor

Hamish and Equiti made our property buying process seamless. They aided in finding the right new build for our portfolio from a reliable developer. Their expertise and dedication were top-notch. Highly recommend!

Amanda

Investor

Hamish and the team demonstrated exceptional knowledge in property investment and were incredibly professional and communicative throughout the entire process. They were attentive to my needs, showed genuine care guiding me meticulously through every step, I am extremely satisfied with the service I received and would highly recommend

Juila and Mark

Investors

Working with Hamish and the team at equiti was a fantastic experience. He responded quickly to all of our queries and ensured nothing was ever a problem. Thanks to their dedication and expertise we secured a great deal. Better than going direct to the developer. Highly recommend!

Dean and Kelly

Investors

We had a brilliant experience navigating the purchase of our first investment property. Given we were novices, they gave us a great understanding of the things we needed to consider before making a decision and was very responsive when we had questions. We really appreciated the honesty and transparency that Hamish and the team provided throughout the process.

Mark and Genevere

Investors

equiti made the process of purchasing our investment property simple and stress-free. Hamish’s regular check-ins, willingness to share his time and expertise, and proactive support were invaluable. When an unexpected change arose just before going unconditional, Hamish helped us promptly and proactively find a solution that exceeded our expectations. We’ve been very happy with the level of service and follow-up afterwards.

Tina and Gary

Investors

Buying an investment property was a new experience for Gary and I and also a very scary one. However, your professional manner and knowledge shone through. I would certainly not hesitate to recommend you to my friends or family. Surrounding myself with good people like you is the one recommendation I would give to others who were interested in buying an investment property. Thank you again, and I hope to work with you in the future

Ryan

Investor

I recently bought my first investment property through equiti and worked with Hamish throughout. He provided excellent advice, great service, and made the whole process stress-free. I was able to leverage equiti’s strong relationships with developers and builders, securing the best deal and making things much easier than going direct. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Hamish and the team, and I’ll definitely work with them again.