The First-Home Buyer’s Guide

A practical start to buying your first home

Buying your first home can involve several decisions at once: finance, property checks, the sale agreement, and whether a particular address suits your plans. This guide is a starting point for questions to discuss with your own lender, lawyer, building inspector, insurer and other qualified advisers. It is not financial, legal, building or insurance advice.

Understand your finance

Ask a bank or mortgage adviser what you may be able to borrow, what deposit and costs to plan for, and what conditions apply to any pre-approval. If you may be eligible to use KiwiSaver for a first home, contact your scheme provider early to confirm the current rules and timing. Government lending or assistance schemes can change; check current eligibility and terms directly with Kāinga Ora before relying on them. Do not assume a particular deposit percentage, grant, payment, interest rate, property price or lending outcome.

Check the property and agreement

Before making an offer, read the sale and purchase agreement with your lawyer. Discuss the conditions and deadlines that fit your circumstances. Depending on the property, you may want a building inspection, title review, council property file or LIM, insurance confirmation and other specialist advice. Check who will arrange each item and allow enough time for the relevant condition. Ask your lawyer what an auction or other unconditional offer means before you bid or sign.

Check the address for your needs

Visit at different times if practical. Consider sun, access, noise, maintenance, boundaries, drainage, hazards, transport and the services you use. These factors differ by address. A school-zone map is a lead for further checking, not a guarantee of enrolment eligibility, travel time or future property value. Confirm eligibility directly with the school and check Education Counts’ enrolment-zone information.

Use market information carefully

A council rating valuation is prepared for rating purposes and is not a current market appraisal. Online estimates and past sales are reference points only. Compare properties with similar location, land, condition, size and sale timing, and ask a salesperson to explain what the examples do and do not show. Tasman District Council explains the purpose of its rating valuations.

Your checklist

1. Confirm your budget and likely purchase costs with your adviser.
2. Ask your KiwiSaver provider about eligibility and processing time if relevant.
3. Shortlist properties and review their documents with your lawyer.
4. Arrange inspections and insurance enquiries appropriate to the property.
5. Decide with your adviser which conditions you need.
6. Keep a copy of the signed agreement and track every deadline.

For help finding a property or arranging a viewing, contact the Ray White Richmond sales team. Contact details and current listings are on this site. The team can explain the property information it holds and the next steps in the sale process; your independent advisers should confirm matters within their expertise. You can also read the Real Estate Authority’s sale and purchase agreement guidance.