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40-page NZ-specific guide
Everything You Need to Know to Buy Your First Home in New Zealand.
Our free 40-page guide covers deposits, KiwiSaver withdrawals, the First Home Grant, pre-approvals, and every step of the buying process – written specifically for the NZ market.
5/5 from 100+ readers
“I had no idea what a LIM report was or why I needed a building inspection. After reading this guide I felt completely prepared on settlement day.”
– Priya T., Auckland, first home buyer 2025
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“I had no idea what a LIM report was or why I needed a building inspection. After reading this guide I felt completely prepared on settlement day.”
– Priya T., Auckland, first home buyer 2025
700+
40 Pages
Of NZ-specific advice
Free
No cost, no obligation
Licensed
Written by FAP advisers
What’s Inside
6 Chapters. Every Answer You Need.
Written by licensed NZ mortgage advisers, this guide covers everything first home buyers need to know – from first thought to settlement day.
01
p.6–12
How Much Can You Actually Borrow?
- Calculating your borrowing power
- What banks look at: income, debts, living costs
- Single vs joint application
- Stress-testing your repayments
02
p.13–18
Deposits: How Much You Really Need
- The 20% rule - and exceptions
- Kāinga Ora First Home Loan (5% deposit)
- Gifted deposits from family
- How to save faster with a structured plan
03
p.19–23
Unlocking Free Money
- KiwiSaver first home withdrawal - step by step
- First Home Grant (if any at the application stage)
- Kāinga ora eligibility rules
- KiwiSaver Govt. contributions - are you claiming it?
04
p.24–27
Getting Pre-Approved
- What pre-approval means (and what it doesn't)
- Documents you'll need to gather
- Using a broker vs going direct to the bank
- How long pre-approval lasts
05
p.28–32
Finding & Making an Offer
- Auction vs asking price vs tender
- What is a LIM report and do you need one?
- Building inspection checklist
- Subject-to-finance clauses explained
06
p.33–40
Settlement & Moving In
- What happens on settlement day
- Hidden costs buyers forget (legal fees, rates, etc.)
- Choosing a fixed vs floating mortgage
- Reviewing your mortgage every year
Free. Instant email delivery. No obligation.
Who This Guide Helps
Written for Real Kiwis, Not Finance Professionals.
We have stripped out the jargon and written everything in plain English. If any of these sound like you, this guide is exactly what you need.
First-Time Buyers
Never bought property before and want to understand every step from start to settlement.
This guide helps if you…
- Don't know how much you can borrow
- Unsure if your deposit is enough
- Haven't applied for pre-approval
- Not sure about KiwiSaver withdrawal
Buying as a Couple
Want to understand how joint applications work and what happens if your financial situations differ.
This guide helps if you…
- Different income levels or debts
- One partner self-employed
- Combining KiwiSaver accounts
- Planning for future family costs
Under 35s & Young Professionals
Earning a good income but not sure how to turn savings into a first home deposit fast.
This guide helps if you…
- Want to maximise the First Home Grant
- Looking at Kāinga Ora low-deposit loans
- Comparing new builds vs existing homes
- Planning to use KiwiSaver as deposit
Sneak Peek
A Taste of What's Inside.
These excerpts are just a sample – download the full guide for every chapter, checklist, and calculation tool.
From the guide – Chapter 3
Free Money
The First Home Grant: Who Qualifies and How Much?
The Kāinga Ora First Home Grant gives eligible buyers up to $10,000 (for a new build) or $5,000 (for an existing home) – per person. Couples can combine grants. To qualify you must have been contributing to KiwiSaver for at least 3 years, meet income and house price caps, and the home must be your primary residence. Unfortunately, it has been discontinued.
Full eligibility criteria, income caps by region, and application walkthrough in the guide →
From the guide – Chapter 2
Deposits
What Counts as a Deposit? (It's More Than You Think)
Most people assume a deposit is just savings in a bank account. But your ‘usable deposit’ can include: KiwiSaver savings (after 3 years), gifted money from family (with a statutory declaration), equity from a property owned by a family member (guarantor mortgage), and the First Home Grant…
Full breakdown of deposit types, bank requirements, and LVR rules in the guide →
Ready to Read the Whole Thing?
40 pages of expert NZ advice – free, no strings attached.
Reader Stories
700 Downloads.
Real Results.
Here’s what first home buyers say after reading the guide – and working with our advisers.
SM
Sophie & John Bolders
Auckland · Bought in March 2026
“We’d been putting off buying for two years because we were overwhelmed by the process. After reading Advisenow’s guide we realised we are ready and had enough in KiwiSaver. Three months later we had keys in hand.”
First Home Grant + KiwiSaver withdrawal
TR
Tane Raweti
Wellington · Bought in November 2025
“The chapter on how banks calculate borrowing power changed everything for me. I had a car loan I didn’t think mattered – turns out it was cutting $80k off my borrowing capacity. Paid it off, came back 3 months later and got pre-approved for exactly what I needed.”
Borrowing power optimisation
PC
Penny & Ming Chang
Christchurch · Bought in August 2025
“We both downloaded the guide separately before we even met with an adviser. When we came into Advisenow we already understood LIM reports, building inspections, and what ‘subject to finance’ means. The adviser said we were the most prepared couple they’d seen.”
Fully prepared for settlement
JW
William Matthews
Hamilton · Bought in January 2026
“The guide on Kāinga Ora’s First Home Loan was eye-opening. I had no idea I could buy with just 5% deposit as a single buyer. Saved me another 18 months of saving. The Advisenow team walked me through the whole application after I downloaded the guide.”
5% deposit via Kāinga Ora
AT
Ari Tūhoe
Tauranga · Bought in May 2025
“I’m self-employed and was sure no bank would touch me. The guide has a whole section specifically for self-employed buyers explaining what docs you need and which lenders are more flexible. Completely changed my outlook and I eventually found the right lender.”
Self-employed buyer
OP
Danny & Lily Sinclair
Dunedin · Bought in September 2025
“The hidden costs checklist alone was worth downloading the guide for. We had budgeted $1k for legal fees but the guide warned us it could be $1.5k-5k for a first home purchase, plus LIM, building inspection, and moving costs. We weren’t caught short.”
Hidden costs checklist
FAQ
Common Questions.
Everything you want to know before downloading.
Yes - completely free, no credit card required. We are a licensed mortgage and insurance advice firm and this guide is how we introduce ourselves to first home buyers. There's no obligation to use our services, though many readers do reach out after reading it.
Fill in your name, email, and phone number above and we will email you the guide instantly. The PDF is 40 pages and formatted to print if you prefer a physical copy.
Yes. Everything in the guide is written for the NZ market: Kāinga Ora First Home Loan, KiwiSaver withdrawal rules, LIM reports, and NZ property law. It's not a generic international guide.
Absolutely not. The guide is genuinely free with no strings attached. That said, if you'd like a free 15-minute consultation to discuss your own situation, we're always happy to chat - just call 028 8520 0500.
The Kāinga Ora First Home Grant gives eligible buyers up to $5,000 (existing home) or $10,000 (new build), per person. Unfortunately, this has been discontinued.
Yes - through the Kāinga Ora First Home Loan scheme, eligible buyers can purchase with just a 5% deposit instead of the standard 20%. There are income and property price limits.
Yes - There is a dedicated section for self-employed buyers explaining what documentation you'll need (two years of financial statements, IR3 returns), which lenders are more flexible, and how to present your income most favourably.
As early as possible - ideally 3-6 months before you plan to buy. An adviser can help you figure out your borrowing power, identify any issues on your credit file, and create a savings plan. Our consultation is always free and obligation-free.
Still have a question? Call us on 028 8520 0500 – we’re happy to chat with no obligation.
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40 pages, NZ-specific
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Licensed Financial Adviser supporting Kiwis across New Zealand to secure the right home loan and protect their future with tailored insurance solutions.
- 028 8520 0500
- +642885200500
- support@advisenow.co.nz
- Level 8/139 Quay Street, Auckland CBD, 1010
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Zigi Financial Services Limited (Owners of Advisenow) | FSP Registration No. FSP1007853 | Financial Advice Provider licensed under the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013. We are members of the Kiwi Advisers Network (KAN). Our advisers are registered on the Financial Service Providers Register (FSPR). This website contains general information only and does not constitute personalised financial advice. Lending criteria, terms, conditions, and fees apply. Interest rates are subject to change. All figures are in New Zealand dollars (NZD). Credit subject to assessment.
