Buying your first home

Buying your first home

If you want to buy your first home, this is where you start the journey. Our guides have everything you need to take you from building your deposit, getting through the pre-approvals process and house hunting, to finally holding those keys on settlement day.

Buying your first homeMoving home or switching banksBuying an investment propertyBuying from overseas or moving to NZHelping the kids buy a home

Home Loan Basics

Bank Speak and Jargon explained

How do home loans work?

Get familiar with home loan types

Understand Interest and Fees

What type of borrower are you? An Individual, trust or company?

Save for a deposit

Get your deposit together

KiwiSaver, First Home Grant, First Home Partner and First Home Loan

Buy with help (family and friends)

Low deposit home loans

Get ready to borrow

Understand what’s important to the bank

Review your spending and budget

Check your credit score for free

Tidy up your credit card

Find your borrowing power

Getting Pre-approved

Consider timeframes and set your expectations

Pre-approval Document Checklist

Get your home loan pre-approved

Go property hunting

What property type is right for you?

Buying vs Building

Consider building

Relocatable homes 

Understanding property valuations

Buyer Beware: ‘Leaky home’ syndrome

Buyer Beware: Buying older houses

Do your due diligence

Home buyers check list

Checklist: House Hunting

Sign on the dotted line

You've found a house! What next?

Get auction ready

Prepare to negotiate on price

Finding, and working with a lawyer

Conditional vs unconditional offers

Going unconditional

Checklist: Going Unconditional

Checklist: Settlement Day

Settle and move in

Getting ready for settlement day

What happens on settlement day?

Consider writing a will

Understanding your council rates