027 336 3000Your first home doesn’t have to be the impossible part.
Buying your first home in New Zealand can feel like the goalposts keep moving. Deposit rules, Kāinga Ora, KiwiSaver withdrawal, LVR restrictions, lender quirks. I’ve helped hundreds of Kiwis through it. Let’s make yours straightforward.
Talk to JJSound like you?
Most first home buyers I work with fall into one of these. Whichever you are, the conversation starts the same way: what you’ve got, what you want, what’s possible.
The deposit-saver
You’ve been putting money aside for years. KiwiSaver’s there. Maybe family can help. You want to know if you’re close, and what “close” actually looks like in 2026.
The recently-arrived
You moved to NZ in the last few years (Saffa, Filipino, UK, anywhere). NZ banks look at your history differently. Some lenders are friendlier than others. I know which.
The pre-approval planner
You’re not buying tomorrow but you want to know your number before you start looking. Pre-approval lasts 90 days, gives you confidence at auctions, costs nothing.
The “we got declined once”
A bank said no. That doesn’t mean every lender will. Different banks weight income, credit, deposit, and employment history differently. There’s often a path.
How much deposit do you actually need?
The answer everyone wants is a percentage. The honest answer is “it depends as each one’s situation is different”. Here’s the rough shape of it.
Standard ballpark for first home buyers
- 20% deposit: the comfortable position. Best interest rates, no Low Equity Margin, most lenders welcoming.
- 10-20% deposit: possible with most main banks under Reserve Bank exemptions (New Builds and Turnkey). Low Equity Margin usually applies (a small interest rate loading).
- Less than 10%: much harder, but not impossible. Kāinga Ora First Home Loan accepts 5% deposit for eligible buyers. Income caps apply to these loans.
- Using KiwiSaver: most first home buyers can withdraw their KiwiSaver balance (minus $1,000) toward deposit. You need to have been a member for 3+ years.
These are general guidelines, not advice for your specific situation. Lender criteria and Government support change frequently. We’ll work through the actual numbers for your circumstances together.
What you get when you work with me
First home buyers get the same care and the same lender access as my biggest investor clients. There’s no cost to you for my advice as I get paid by the lender.
- A genuine read of where you are now and what’s realistic
- Access to 25+ lenders (bank and non-bank), not just one
- Pre-approval through the right lender for your situation
- Support through the offer and conditional period
- Loan structure advice (fixed vs floating, split loans, offset accounts)
- Help with documentation: bank statements, ID, proof of income
- Coordination with your solicitor through to settlement
- A relationship for the next loan, refix, or investment property
- Honest answers in plain English. No jargon, no pressure.
What happens after you reach out
From first contact to keys in your hand, here’s the shape of it. Timing varies by lender and property, but most first home buyers move through this in 6 to 10 weeks once they’ve found the right home.
First chat
A 30-min call. Tell me where you’re at. I’ll tell you what’s realistic.
Documents
I send you a checklist. You send back what you have. We fill the gaps together.
Pre-approval
I match you to the best lender, submit, and come back with your number.
Find a home
You go shopping with confidence. I’m on call for any “can I afford this?” moments.
Settlement
Final approval, solicitor coordination, settlement, keys. Then I check in afterwards.
First home buyer FAQ
Does using a mortgage adviser cost me anything?
For the vast majority of home loans, no. The lender pays me a commission when your loan settles. There’s no cost to you for my advice or the application work. On the rare occasion a fee would apply (usually with specialist non-bank lending), I’ll tell you upfront before we proceed.
What’s the difference between using a broker and going straight to my bank?
Your bank can only offer you their products. I have access to 25+ lenders, including all the main banks plus non-bank lenders, so I can match you to the best fit, not just whoever you happen to bank with.
Different banks weight income, deposit, employment history, and credit profile differently. The same applicant can get vastly different answers from different lenders. That’s where I come in.
Can I use my KiwiSaver for the deposit?
Most first home buyers can withdraw their KiwiSaver balance (minus a minimum $1,000 that must stay in the account) toward their first home deposit. You need to have been a KiwiSaver member for at least 3 years.
The withdrawal goes through your KiwiSaver provider and there’s some paperwork. I’ll help you through it as part of the process.
I just moved to New Zealand. Can I still get a home loan?
In most cases, once you have a resident visa we can make things work.
What’s pre-approval and do I need it before I start looking?
Pre-approval is a lender’s conditional commitment to lend you up to a certain amount, subject to the property meeting their criteria. It’s valid for 90 days and gives you confidence at open homes and auctions.
I was declined by my bank. Is that the end?
Not necessarily. A decline from one lender doesn’t mean every lender will say no. Banks have different appetites at different times. Some are tighter on self-employed income, some on recent NZ arrivals, some on certain property types.
The first thing I’ll do is understand exactly why you were declined. From there, we can either find a lender who will say yes, or work on the things that need to change before reapplying.
How long does the whole process take?
From our first chat to having pre-approval in hand: usually 1 to 2 weeks if you have your documents ready. From pre-approval to settlement: depends entirely on when you find the right home. Once you have an accepted offer, settlement is typically 4 to 6 weeks from contract date.
Ready to start the conversation?
A 30-minute chat and you’ll leave with a clear picture of where you stand. No pressure, no jargon, no obligation.
Talk to JJOr call 027 336 3000