There is a lot of mortgage advice out there that is confidently wrong.And the cost of following it isn’t just money, it’s time. Sometimes years of your life spent under pressure you didn’t actually need.In this episode of Making Cents, we’re cutting through the biggest mortgage myths that trip people up both before they buy a home and long after they’ve signed the papers.From “cleaning up” bank statements and chasing the lowest interest rate, to misunderstood rules around deposits, credit scores, extra repayments, and offsets, this is the stuff that sounds smart on paper, but can cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars over time.Mortgage Man Aaron Cattell is a mortgage adviser on the front lines, working with real borrowers, real numbers, and real lending rules, and he’s ready to let you peek behind the curtain.We break down:What banks actually care about when approving a mortgage (and what they don’t)Common mortgage-ready myths that no longer apply in New ZealandWhy loan structure matters more than chasing the cheapest interest rateThe simplest ways to cut years off your mortgage, without needing a windfallWhen extra repayments, lump sums, offsets, or revolving credit actually make senseThe tactics that sound clever, but Aaron would ban tomorrowIf you’re buying your first home, refixing soon, or just want more control over the biggest debt most people will ever take on, this episode will help you avoid mistakes that quietly steal time from your future.Follow me everywhere!Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZInstagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknzTikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknzJoin the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribeThis podcast was filmed & produced by FanaticalsVideo editing & content production by Lana ByrneAudio engineering by Tash ChittockAaron’s references mentioned in the episode: - https://www.themortgageman.co.nz/links#MakingCents #FrancesCookChapters00:00:00 Introduction00:02:37 Meet Aaron Kital: the mortgage man on the front lines00:04:00 Busting the deposit myth: you don't need 20 percent00:05:30 The clean bank statements myth and what banks actually care about00:09:25 Auctions, valuations, and the first-time buyer obstacle course00:12:40 Is buying your own home actually a good investment?00:15:00 Myths from overseas: credit scores and payment frequency00:19:03 Should you pay off your mortgage early or invest elsewhere?00:23:48 Three ways to smash your mortgage faster00:26:06 Offset accounts and revolving credits: when they work and when they don't00:34:42 Fixed versus floating: why structure beats interest rates every time00:41:24 When mortgages keep you awake at night: hardship options00:43:43 The easy win: one simple change that saves years00:44:14 Outro