Image: megawatts86/Flickr One of our Tips For Getting A Yes To Pre-Approval is to show consistently good bank account conduct.  Keeping your bank account in good order is often not considered by first home buyers to be a requirement for getting a pre-approval. First home buyers often wonder ‘Why...

In our experience with helping first home buyers to get into their first home we know that often an initial hurdle is getting rid of debt. Having a plan to tackle this debt has two positive outcomes; firstly reduced debt gives you a better position when it comes to arranging home loan pre-approval; and...

In a recent interview Century 21 national manager, Geoff Barnett made the prediction that “the New Zealand story for 2016 will be more Kiwis buying apartments as their first home option” While this is option is not going to suit all first home buyers, some may find it to be a realistic opportunity...

Here are some quick tips to help you kickstart you on your path to your first home. 1. Make The Most Of KiwiSaver This year saw the Government introduce two schemes to help first home buyers get onto the property ladder.  The KiwiSaver HomeStart Grant can provide you with up to $10,000 per person towards...

KiwiSaver HomeStart Grant Applications In April 2015, the Government launched the KiwiSaver HomeStart Grant designed to help first home buyers into their first home. Here we have compiled all the links you need to successfully apply for your KiwiSaver HomeStart Grant.   KiwiSaver HomeStart Grant Eligibility Checklist There...

We were recently asked about the requirements for using your KiwiSaver HomeStart grant to purchase land for building a new home.  More specifically the question asked was “Is a HomeStart grant still obtainable in the situation of purchasing land now but waiting a period of time before building...

Waiting to buy a home while you work on getting the deposit together is so frustrating. You want to be doing the buying not saving so here’s a practical distraction to use up that energy. Make an action plan and every week take steps that will give you a huge advantage when you do buy. What kind of...

When you’re considering buying a home no doubt you will also consider having one built. For this reason I would like to share with you some of the advantages and disadvantages of building versus buying an existing house. The advantages of building your own home include being able to get what you want...

Working out the price for a house that isn’t advertised with one seems really difficult. If you follow these steps you will be able to assess a market price range without too much difficulty. All it takes is some time and commitment. So what are you waiting for? Start by focusing on one suburb or...

So you want to buy an apartment off a plan? Be careful! Buying off a plan can be rewarding, resulting in a brand new and beautifully finished product. You will be told that the prices will be higher for sales once the apartment building is built, so you can expect a discount for being part of the pre-sale....