YouOwn. A helping hand to home buyers.

YouOwn is a breath of fresh air for New Zealand that helps Kiwis find a house to call home. Through shared ownership, they help first home buyers into their own homes, when before it just wasn’t financially possible.

YouOwn in a nutshell.

Co-ownership is an easy and exciting option for first home buyers where YouOwn partners with you to purchase a home. It gets you a foot on the property ladder and the confidence of your own roof over your head, without the stresses of renting or anxiety as house prices continue to rise.

How does it work?

You buy a portion of the property you can afford now, and YouOwn helps with the rest. You pay a charge on their portion and after five years, you can buy their share when you are able to. With YouOwn’s help it really is possible to step into your own home today and create the future of your dreams.

The key benefit of a co-ownership loan versus a low-deposit loan

The main advantage of a co-ownership loan using YouOwn over a low-deposit loan is that you are able to access the Banks ‘special’ lower interest rates.  Normally with a low-deposit loan, you have to pay the ‘standard’ interest rates as well as a ‘low-equity premium’.  The key benefit of a co-ownership loan is that it saves you money in interest costs.

For a detailed example of the benefit of a co-ownership loan, read this article here

Are you eligible?

With a deposit of just 5% it may be possible to own your own home with YouOwn. As long as you are able to service a mortgage of around $500,000+, which means a combined household income of around $110,000, the numbers should stack up. You must be a New Zealand Citizen or Permanent Resident, have a clean credit history with little or no debt, and be buying the property to live in.

Eligibility criteria for YouOwn

• Combined household income of $110,000+
• Deposit from savings and/or KiwiSaver of at least 5% of the purchase price.
• Be a New Zealand Citizen or Permanent Resident.
• Have a clean credit history.
• Little or no debt (less than $15,000)
• Purchasing a new property in Auckland.
• Be buying the property to live in.

YouOwn Testimonials

Fleur and Alfred brought their first home in 2018 using the YouOwn program.  Here’s their story in their own words.

6 simple steps to home ownership.

01. Apply. Check out the eligibility criteria above and if YouOwn is right for you, register your interest by completing the online application below.

02. Find your property. YouOwn has partnerships with reputable and established New Zealand builders and Real Estate Agents who can help you with the requirements for your home.

04. Plan & Pre-Approval. YouOwn will then introduce you to a bank in the YouOwn programme and help you to obtain a home loan.

04. Purchase. Together with YouOwn, you’ll sign the sale and purchase agreement as co-owners, pay the builder or vendor a deposit and sign a legal agreement that specifies your joint rights and obligations.

05. Settlement. YouOwn will help you complete documentation to withdraw any KiwiSaver funds and you sign the loan documents with the bank.

06. Move in! The balance of the purchase price is paid, the bank issues a mortgage over the property and you move in! While YouOwn are co-owners you pay them a charge on their portion, this is recalculated every five years.

Get the show on the road.

To get the ball rolling, start by completing the online approval form below. YouOwn will be in touch to discuss whether you meet the criteria. If you do, your application will progress to a home loan application. YouOwn will guide you through the process from purchase to settlement.

To find out more about the YouOwn programme, visit their website youown.co.nz

Looking for your dream home? Start here.

Find your ideal YouOwn home

YouOwn has partnerships with reputable and established New Zealand builders and Real Estate Agents who can help you with the requirements for your home.

The sales agents can help you to understand the house buying process, discuss what you want from a house and help you locate what you’re after.

Ready to own your own home? Apply today.

Please register your interest in co-ownership housing with YouOwn by completing this form.