First Home Buyer's Guide to Mortgages in Wellington & Kapiti

Buying your first home in Wellington or the Kapiti Coast is one of the biggest financial decisions you'll make. This guide walks you through each step — from understanding how much you can borrow to picking up the keys.

Step 1: Understand your borrowing power Before you start house hunting, get a clear picture of what you can afford. A mortgage adviser will assess your income, expenses, and deposit to calculate your borrowing capacity across multiple lenders.

Step 2: Save your deposit While 20% is the standard, options exist from 5% for new builds and through a Kāinga Ora First Home Loan. KiwiSaver members may withdraw most of their balance after three years of membership, leaving $1,000 in the account. The First Home Grant closed in May 2024.

Step 3: Get pre-approval Pre-approval gives you confidence when making offers and shows sellers you're a serious buyer. It typically lasts 60–90 days.

Step 4: Find your home and make an offer With pre-approval in place, you can search with a clear budget. Your adviser helps structure the offer and coordinates with your solicitor.

Step 5: Settlement Once your loan is approved, we manage the final steps with your solicitor and lender. Welcome home!