Buy Your First Home

Jump on the property ladder with expert guidance

In brief

A first-home mortgage adviser helps you understand your deposit, borrowing position, KiwiSaver withdrawal options, lender requirements and pre-approval before you make an offer. Mortgage Lab advisers can compare options from participating lenders, explain the trade-offs and manage the application through to settlement.

Mortgage Lab helps first-home buyers in New Zealand understand borrowing power, deposits, KiwiSaver withdrawals, pre-approval, and lender options before making an offer.

Buying your first home is one of the most exciting – and sometimes overwhelming – experiences you'll have. There's so much to learn: deposits, pre-approvals, LVRs, fixed vs floating rates, and more.

That's where we come in. Our mortgage advisers specialise in helping first home buyers navigate the process from start to finish. We'll help you understand what you can afford, which lenders are right for your situation, and guide you through every step.

We manage the finance process for you while keeping you informed and involved every step of the way. And the best part? Our service is usually at no direct cost to you.

Let's Have a Chat!

Information sources

Information checked 28 July 2026. Lending and eligibility criteria can change.

How We Can Help

Calculate how much you can borrow and what properties are in your price range

Help you access your KiwiSaver for your first home deposit

Guide you through the First Home Loan scheme for deposits as low as 5%

Compare suitable options from our panel of 27+ participating lenders

Explain the entire process so you feel confident and informed

Handle all the paperwork and negotiations with lenders on your behalf

Frequently Asked Questions

Almost all of our services are provided at no direct cost to you. We're paid by the lenders when your loan is settled. In some cases, fees may apply (e.g., if you discharge your loan within 27 months), but we'll always discuss these upfront.

Typically, you'll need at least a 20% deposit. However, first home buyers may qualify for the First Home Loan scheme with as little as 5% deposit. Your KiwiSaver savings can also be used toward your deposit. We can help you explore all your options.

Beyond your deposit, plan for legal work, due-diligence reports, property inspections, valuations where required, insurance and moving costs. The exact services and prices depend on the property and your lender, so obtain current quotes before making an offer.

Approval time depends on the lender, application complexity, property and whether all required documents are available. Your adviser can explain the likely timeframe for your application, but allow extra time before an offer or auction and do not assume pre-approval makes a property automatically acceptable to the lender.

Yes! If you've been contributing to KiwiSaver for at least 3 years, you can withdraw most of your savings (minus $1,000) for a first home. We can guide you through the withdrawal process and help you understand how much you can access.

Tips and insights to help you on your journey

28 Sept 2025

What Our Clients Say

“Now that the loan restructure on my Auckland property has settled, I wanted to put in writing how much I appreciated your work. The property had been running at a narrow cash position, and your assistance and guidance on reviewing the loan structure struck exactly the right balance between reducing the repayments and keeping flexibility for extra repayments. You walked me through the interest implications of each option carefully and didn’t push me toward anything that didn’t make sense for my situation. What I valued most was the precision - as someone who likes to check the figures myself, I appreciated that your numbers held up and that you were happy to talk through the detail rather than gloss over it. Coordinating all of this while I’m based in Australia could easily have been difficult, but you kept it simple and well-communicated throughout. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend you to anyone looking to refinance or restructure a New Zealand mortgage, particularly from overseas. Thank you for the care you brought to it.”

S Bhatt