Diana Clement

1 week ago | oneroof.co.nz | Diana Clement

- Putting greens are becoming a status symbol in luxury Auckland homes, with two recently listed. - Lindsay Aitken’s Whenuapai home features a $15,000 green, pool, and $7m RV. - A Belmont home with a waterfront view and putting green is priced at $8.495m. Putting greens are becoming the new upmarket home status symbol for golf lovers. In a little over a week, two luxury Auckland homes with putting greens have been listed for sale, one in Whenuapai and the other in Belmont.

1 week ago | oneroof.co.nz | Diana Clement

- A derelict miner’s cottage in Westport tripled in value after a renovation by James Kane and Kimberley Grant. - The couple bought it for $118,000 and sold it for $330,000 after extensive work. - Kane, with a building background, spent significant time on the project before moving to Australia. A derelict miner’s cottage in Westport has tripled in price after the vendors carried out a stunning renovation. Start your property searchFind your dream home today.

1 week ago | oneroof.co.nz | Diana Clement

- David Mooyman built an off-grid home in Kūmara Junction using bartered materials and labour. - The property, surrounded by native trees, features a solar system and recycled materials. - Listed for over $399,000, the one-bedroom home has generated significant interest from potential buyers. The owner of an off-grid home on the West Coast bartered and begged for almost all of the materials he used in the build - and for much of the labour too. Start your property searchFind your dream home today.

1 week ago | oneroof.co.nz | Diana Clement

- Builder Darren Harrison transformed a 1960s watchtower into a home at Waitarere Beach. - The project faced challenges, including a rugby injury to his son, leaving Harrison to complete it. - Harrison and his partner, Maria Wehipeihana, now live in the tower but plan to sell it. Builder Darren Harrison likes a real estate challenge, but this one was almost the end of him. Start your property searchFind your dream home today. He told OneRoof it all started with a trip to a demolition yard in Levin.

1 week ago | nzherald.co.nz | Diana Clement

Interest and margin fees can often be avoided. Photo / 123RFOpinion by Diana ClementDiana Clement is a freelance journalist who has written a column for the Herald since 2004. Before that, she was personal finance editor for the Sunday Business (now The Business) newspaper in London. Learn moreTHREE KEY FACTSBanks profit from fees, interest, and margins that can often be avoided with simple changes. Paying with Eftpos and negotiating fees can save money on transactions and credit card costs.