First home guides.
Plain-language guides for first home buyers in New Zealand. General information only, not advice, and not a lender.
What a first home deposit is actually for
A plain look at what your deposit does in a New Zealand first home purchase, and what it does not decide for you.
What to ask a broker before you make an offer
Plain questions first home buyers can take to a home loan specialist before an offer, and a clear line around what a broker does not decide.
A calm checklist for the week you go unconditional
Questions for your lawyer and lender in the week an agreement becomes unconditional. Not a push to waive conditions.
Costs of buying a first home in NZ
The kinds of costs first home buyers meet besides the deposit. No dollar totals on this page.
A finance condition, in plain language
What a finance condition on a first home offer usually means, and how it differs from an unconditional offer.
Home loan declined? What first home buyers can look at next
Why first home loans get declined in NZ, how to check your credit report and what can change before you apply again.
Buying a house with a partner in NZ
How joint names, KiwiSaver and the legal paperwork usually fit together when couples buy their first home.