We have compiled a list of frequently asked questions and hope this gives you the additional information you seek.

If you have a question that is not answered here, please contact us on 0508 2468 37 or email your question for a prompt answer.

Q) What safeguards are there for Investors who invest in Contributory Mortgages?
A) The contributory mortgage regulations are designed to protect the interests of the contributors (investors).
The regulations prescribe the way that information must be presented to intended investors to allow them to assess a potential investment.
Contributory Mortgage Investments are defined by the Securities Act (Contributory Mortgages) Regulations 1988. The Regulations are administered and enforced by the Financial Markets Authority (FMA)

Q) Do you offer cars, boats or household items as security?
A) No. All security offered to investors are only against property and secured by a registered first mortgage over the land and buildings.

Q) How is my investment secured?
A) Your investment is secured by a Registered First Mortgage; just like a bank would take when they lend money on a mortgage.

Q) What happens if the borrower stop's paying the interest?
A) Should the borrower default on their payments we have set management procedures we follow.
We take immediate action to bring the payments up to date followed by legal action that is entitled to be take under the mortgage agreement should the payment not be brought up to date within 30 days. We keep you informed of the process throughout.
Interest payments are dependent upon payment by the borrower although in some circumstances SCFL Management Ltd may continue to make the monthly interest payments to you.

We can also exercise the right to sell the property. Mortgage Securities will only be released when ALL monies have been received to enable full repayment to Investors.

Q) Who do you lend to?
A) Our preferred borrowers are present homeowners or rental property investors.
These families and individuals have existing equity in their homes and require short term funding for a wide variety of reasons.
After a period of time they may be in a position to return to mainstream bank lending or have sold the property.

Q) Why don't they borrow from a bank at cheaper rates?
A) There are many different circumstances that the banks have become very unsympathetic to and will not lend if their stringent criteria cannot be met.
For various reasons the self-employed or people who have had unforeseen financial setbacks along with elderly people needing to downsize can find traditional bank funding very hard to obtain.
Southern Cross Finance Ltd provides the short term solution to help everyday New Zealanders over their hurdles.

Q)How are the borrowers introduced to Southern Cross Financial ?

A) Southern Cross Financial sources 98% of their borrowers through a network of Mortgage Advisor's.Most borrowers are referred to us because they have a need for funds and their advisor has ascertained that they would be unable to qualify for bank funding at that time.

A mortgage advisor must discover what the borrowers needs are and source a suitable solution. The advisor gathers information about the borrower and sends to Southern Cross Financial to assess the application. These include a statement of the borrowers financial position, employment details, credit check and I.D.

In most cases Southern Cross Financial is used as a short term solution until the advisor can place them with a main stream lender.

 

Q) What are my Risk's?

A) The borrower is unable to pay and the property is sold at mortgagee sale; because the mortgages offered to investors remain at a maximum of 2/3rds of the value of the property, we ensure there is enough equity to realize the full amount of the secured mortgage funds.

Q) Is SCFL Nominees Ltd and SCFL Management Ltd independently audited?
A) The auditors of the Southern Cross Group are Staples Rodway, Auckland who are part of a large multi-national accounting network. Staples Rodway are required to examine the accounting records quarterly and conduct an audit annually.

Q) What information do I get to help me decide whether to invest?
A) Prospective investors are provided with the following;
• A copy of the registered valuation report
• The interest rate and term of the mortgage.
• Relevant information about the borrowers.
• Information on the contributory mortgage broker (SCFL Management Ltd) and fees paid to the broker.