Who is this Kim Lyons and what does he know about Non Bank Lenders?

As your own personal financial information is generally kept very private, it was only right that I tell you a little about myself so you know who you are dealing with.

My introduction to Non Bank Home Loans and Mortgages came as a result of being approached to join a very experienced businessman who ran an established Residential and Commercial Mortgage Broking business in Remuera, Auckland. This was in January 1999, at a time when New Zealand was in a slump with faltering property prices and floating rates just moving from 6 to 7% pa. having been at 11% only 6 months earlier. Yes, it was with some fear that I left the seurity of ANZ Bank after 23 years of service, to start as a Mortgage Broker in difficult economic times. 

At this time Bank’s were only just starting to deal with brokers and in many instances they would pay only a token commission amount, if any, for business introduced. It was therefore accepted that brokers charged a client for services provided.

The choice of lenders at that stage was very limited being Bank’s, Building Societies, Solicitor Funds, Finance Companies or Private Lenders.

As business started to pick up and property prices started increasing, it became a Lenders dream with Liberty and Bluestone coming to New Zealand from Australia and then a plethora of other new lenders operating in the Non Bank space, with No Doc, Low / Lo Doc Mortgages, most of whom have now shut up shop as a result of the Global Credit Crisis.

What we are seeing now is Banks slowly (very slowly in some cases) starting to relax their credit policy, but there are just so many good clients being turned away, perhaps because the recession hit them pretty hard financially and they need to refinance, consolidate, or alternatively their mortgage deposits, incomes, residency status or business dreams just do not fit the Banks “current lending policy”.

The choice of lenders is once again very limited to Bank’s, Building Societies, Solicitor Funds, Finance Companies or Private Lenders. Sounds familiar to when I first became a broker,doesn’t it?

So to me, the current economic client, is just like when I left ANZ Bank, some 11 years ago!

The key difference now though, is that I have been there before and have had the experience of helping New Zealanders, whether it is first home buyers, borrowers with bad credit, investors, developers or business operators raise the finance they required, often when their current Bank had said No!

I can recall, many years ago, that I arranged one of the first true 100% stand alone Home Loans through the National Bank using a National Bank personal loan as  the clients deposit. This couple had just returned from an OE, had good incomes,  no deposit, and were very keen to buy their first home, but could not find a Bank to help them.

That is why a website for Non Bank Loans, Home Loans, Mortgages and Finance was born, to open up some doors and explain other mortgage and loan options that may help you get where you want to go. In many instances this may also include borrowers who have had bad credit or missed some repayments and their Bank is just not prepared to help them

So that’s a snap shot of the Non Bank vision, but what about me?

Aged 52, married to Fiona, with 2 grown up kids living on Auckland’s North Shore. Moved to New Zealand, from England, at the age of 12 with my parents and just so glad that they came to this great country.

My first School in Auckland was Rutherford High living in Te Atatu South, then we moved to Taupo and I went to Taupo Nui A Tia College and then completed 7th form at Rangitoto College in Mairangi Bay, Auckland.

Then I joined the ANZ Bank having just turned 17 and progressed through the ranks for 23 years, working in Investments, International, Imports / Exports, District Administration, Training, Lending Management and finally, unil I resigned, 3 years in the start up role as ANZ’s first Mobile Home Loan or Mortgage Manager.

My time as a Mortgage Broker included setting up New Zealand Mortgage Finance Limited, which was very successful and part of  New Zealand Finance Ltd, now NZF Money, which purchased outright the Mortgage Broking Companies, Loan Plan & Approved and then 50% of Mike Pero Mortgage Brokers. During my time with NZF we also listed on the NZ Stock Exchange. In 2007 I left this company to start up a new broking business, closer to home, as city traffic and endless corporate meetings all became just too much.

I have always loved playing and watching sports with favorites , from a spectator view point, being Rugby (All Blacks), League (Warriors), V8 Super Cars (Holden fan) & Netball (Silver Ferns) and from taking part in, Golf, Fishing, Boating, off road Motor Bike riding and Tennis.

Mixed in with this are family, friends, socialising, movies, eating out (often Thai), travel and spells of intense exercise and watching the weight! This has been a major success in 2011 and I am very proud to be 12 kg's lighter! That is an old picture, I am the big guy with the Trout! 

With my daughter having a good career in the Travel Industry and my son now on a working holiday in USA and Canada, after completing his degree, Fiona and I run the business and I visit clients as often as possible to provide financial advice.

Our other business interests are First Rate Mortgages Limited, which is a Mortgage Broking Company, accredited with most Bank and Non Bank lenders and  we write all our  finance business through this. It includes the option to review your personal insurances, life cover, income protection, trauma, permanent disability and medical, in case the unexpected were to happen. Allan Nicol works with me as part of the First Rate Mortgages team here in Auckland and focusses on the Howick, Botany, Flatbush, Manukau and South Auckland to the Bombay Hills.  

I have been a member of the New Zealand Mortgage Brokers Association since 2001 and have now completed through Polytech the National Certificate in Financial Services (Financial Advice) (Level 5) for both Residential Property Lending and Insurance Advice. I am also a Registered Financial Adviser, which is a new industry requirement, and includes registration with the Securities Commission. The studies went very well and the qualification is now recognised by both Lenders and Insurance Provders as being a sound way to demonstrate competence when dealing with clients 

The charities which we contribute to on a regular basis are In The Pink Breast Cancer, IHC, Westpac Helicopter Trust and we sponsor 2 children overseas.

Every so often your kids do something that just truly amazes you!

Xmas gift 2010, 5 days in Whistler, where my son was currently working.

Imagine being  given a DVD which explains that your daughter and son had put together a surprise trip for Fiona and I to Whistler Mountain,  Canada, in March for 5 days. Our son Mat was already over there working on the mountain and our daughter Jess, who works at Air New Zealand was travelling over with us.

We had a fantastic time and loved the Mountain Lifestyle with great scenery, activities, restaurants and of course the snowboarding. My son put this together and whilst I am not quick, I thought I looked like I knew what I was doing!

Check this out on YouTube

Spring Powder on Whistler

The holiday passed very quickly and whilst we came home very tired we were very happy with our kids for putting this amazing experience together and have some great photos to remember this very special family event.

Golf, a game of two halves?

If only there were less trees, less water, less sand, wider fairways and the greens had bigger holes!

But then it would not be as much fun. In winter you can add to the mix "pugging", you finally hit a nice shot high in the air and it drops into the soft ground and disappears, often very hard to find and you lose a ball and another stroke. Today was not good, bust through 100 again, but I keep going back, there are always a few shots that you really enjoy playing. 2 weeks ago it was a good front and bad back and today a bad front and only a slightly better back, If you are a golfer and interested check www.dotgolf.co.nz, and search under Kim Lyons at Helensville. Please no feedback requested, I know I should do better!.

21/8/2011. Frost on the ground and started on 11. Best hole 18th, over the trees with a  5 iron and 2 putted for par on a par 5.

Worst hole 6, picked up and walked it.

Kim Lyons wake boarding with Non Bank at Lake Rotoiti, Rotorua

Wake boarding

During January 2012 I spent some time at lake Rotoiti, Rotorua with family and friends. Had a great time and it is good to know I am not too old to get some big air and hang time!

Contact me by Skype