For many Kiwis, the family home represents more than a roof overhead - it’s security, comfort and often their biggest financial asset. But what happens when you reach retirement and most of your wealth is tied up in that home? In Lifetime’s latest customer story, we meet Paul*, a retiree who found a way to unlock the value of his mortgage-free home without taking on debt or interest.
By using Lifetime Home, he was able to receive an additional steady income stream paid the same day as NZ Superannuation giving him more financial breathing room while ensuring his home remained his place to live for life.
It’s a refreshing reminder that smart financial solutions can help New Zealanders live well even when life throws up unexpected challenges.
You can read the original article here: Lifetime Home helps Paul live well through life’s challenges. We have also published the full article below too, so please tell us what you think in the comments section.
*Names have been changed to protect privacy. This article is for information purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Homeowners interested in equity release should seek professional advice on whether Lifetime Home or a reverse mortgage is more appropriate for their individual circumstances.
“I caught a glimpse of an interview about the concept. It seemed to me to be the way to meet our commitments without financial strain,” he says.
“I made enquiries with Christchurch finance companies, and one of them eventually tracked down Lifetime for me. None of the local companies had ever heard of anything like it.”
Once Paul found Lifetime Retirement Income, the company behind Lifetime Home, things moved quickly. After years of planning and product development, Paul became Lifetime Home’s first customer.
“Once I’d located Lifetime, it was quick and easy to get the system up and running,” he says. “There were no problems at all.”
That clarity is a cornerstone of Lifetime Home’s design. Every customer receives independent legal advice before signing, and the structure is transparent. The equity exchanged, payments, and costs are all detailed upfront, meaning no surprises down the track.
Lifetime Home turned out to be exactly what Paul needed: a simple, transparent way to draw an income from his home without taking on debt.
“I was immediately interested in Lifetime’s solution as it fitted my situation perfectly,” Paul says.
“While Anne and I could just afford the costs of her care, Lifetime Home made it so easy to live well despite those costs.”
More than a year on, Paul says Lifetime Home has transformed his retirement life.
“I live very well, with no financial concerns. I’ve even been able to develop and improve our family holiday home in the Catlins. That means I can provide a holiday location for the children and grandchildren far into the future.”
“Anne and I had already downsized, and as for a reverse mortgage, forget it!
Why would we pay interest on money that we’d already paid interest on when we were paying off our mortgage!”
Lifetime Home offered something different — regular, predictable income payments based on selling a share of his home’s value, without the burden of accumulating interest. From day one, he knew exactly how much of his home he still owned and how much he’d receive.
Paul spent 37 years working in law enforcement, both in New Zealand and overseas, as well as serving for two decades as a Territorial Force soldier. After retiring, he stayed active in the community for many years through volunteer work with organisations like the Rannerdale War Veterans Home, the Police Credit Union, the Red Cross, and the Canterbury Regimental Association.
“I was happily involved in volunteer work for about 23 years until my wife’s decline in health,” he says. “I’m now trying to re-establish those connections again.”
That return to community life is part of what Lifetime Home has made possible, freeing Paul from financial stress so he can focus on the things that matter most.
Having experienced the ups and downs of retirement life, Paul has some words of wisdom for others approaching that stage.
“Plan well ahead of your retirement date, always remembering that your job is not you,”
“Plan ahead for activities you really enjoy and transition to those the day your employment finishes.”
Lifetime Home was designed for people exactly like Paul; homeowners who’ve worked hard to pay off their mortgage but have limited cashflow to provide a comfortable, secure lifestyle in retirement.
As Lifetime Retirement Income founder and managing director Ralph Stewart says:
“For too long, we’ve thought of the family home as untouchable. But it’s also one of our biggest financial assets. Just as we use money in savings or investments to fund retirement, why not consider our homes in the same way?”
At HealthCarePlus, we understand that wellbeing in retirement isn’t just about health - it’s also about having the confidence and stability to live comfortably in your own home. Lifetime’s approach highlights how thoughtful innovation can make that possible.
By offering retirees the ability to access the value of their homes without getting into debt and still retaining ownership and control, Lifetime Home provides a sense of security that’s often missing from traditional equity-release options. Knowing from the outset exactly how much of your home you’ll still own after 10 years can make a world of difference for planning and peace of mind.
As costs rise and many New Zealanders find that NZ Super alone isn’t enough to live on, solutions like this one give people more freedom to enjoy life on their own terms - in the home they love.
Because at HealthCarePlus, we believe that living well in retirement isn’t just about having enough - it’s about feeling secure, supported and in control of your future.
Have you thought about Lifetime Retirement Income to look after your money in retirement?
If you’d like to find out more about any of our retirement income solutions, including Lifetime Income, Lifetime Home and Lifetime Invest, their locally-based income specialists are on hand to chat.
So click on the button below and contact Lifetime Retirement Income to find out more.