Thinking about buying your first house?
Buying your first home can be a complex and stressful experience. We've put together this guide to make it easy to get your place sorted!
- The guide
- Should you buy?
Should you buy?
Pros and cons of buying a house
What can you afford?
How far can your money go?
Getting pre-approved
How much the bank will lend you?
Saving
Get your deposit sorted.
- Finding a house
Location
Find the right place
What do you want in a house?
Make a checklist
Real estate agents
Handy tips for dealing with agents
Open homes
What to look for when you visit
- Making an offer
Getting a lawyer
Legal advice and services
Checks and reports
Common property checks
Ways to make an offer
Tenders, auctions, offers
Conditions
How to set conditions
- Getting a home loan
Structuring your loan
Fixed, floating, offset, and revolving loans
Important documents
Your mortgage and home loan agreement
Insurance
Organising your house and contents insurance
- Moving in
Before you move in
Organising your move, talking to the previous owners, changing your address
Settlement day
Getting the keys and moving in!
- Understanding the jargon
We'll lend you up to 95%
At Kiwibank, you don't have to have a 20% deposit to get into your first home – we'll lend you up to 95%, just like we've always done.
Show moreA house-warmer from us
For a limited time, we’ll give you a house-warming present – $500 to help with those initial moving day expenses.
Apply now6 year price guarantee
We'll better the price you would have paid for an equivalent home loan from any other bank with branches nationwide.
Show moreCalculators
Work out the numbers – how much could you borrow, and what would your repayments be?
Calculators and toolsHome loan rates
| Offset Mortage | 5.50% p.a. |
| Variable | 5.65% p.a. |
| 6 month fixed | 5.25% p.a. |
| 1 year fixed | 5.25% p.a. |
| 2 year fixed | 4.99% p.a. |
| 3 year fixed | 5.65% p.a. |
Understanding the jargon
- LIM Report
- A LIM (Land Information Memorandum) is available from the local council, and highlights any potential problems such as flooding, potential erosion, zoning issues, hazardous substances on the property, and other useful information.
Kiwibank Home Loans are guaranteed to save you money on the overall cost of your home loan over the first six years compared with any equivalent home loan from any other bank with branches nationwide. Or we’ll beat the difference.
For a limited time, if you’re buying your first home you’ll receive $500 when you draw down your home loan, which will be deposited into your Kiwibank bank account on settlement day. If you’re borrowing over 80% we may require that lender’s mortgage insurance be taken out, with the insurance premiums paid by you. Kiwibank Limited.