First Home Buyers
Your Guide to Buying Your First Home in New Zealand
Buying your first home is exciting — and it can feel overwhelming. Nexa is here to make it simple. We guide you through every step, from deposit to doorstep, with free, expert advice.
Your step-by-step first home journey
Save Your Deposit
Most lenders require a minimum 10–20% deposit. A Nexa adviser can show you exactly how much you need and help you understand KiwiSaver withdrawal eligibility.
Get Pre-Approved
Pre-approval (also called conditional approval) tells you how much you can borrow before you start house hunting. It gives you confidence and makes your offers more credible.
Find Your Home
With pre-approval in hand, you can search within your price range and move quickly when you find the right property.
Formal Approval & Settlement
Once your offer is accepted, we finalise your loan and work with your solicitor to get you to settlement. Then you get the keys.
Government schemes & deposit boosters
KiwiSaver First Home Withdrawal
If you've been contributing to KiwiSaver for at least 3 years, you may be able to withdraw most of your savings to put towards a first home deposit. Your adviser can help you apply.
First Home Loan (Kāinga Ora)
The First Home Loan scheme allows eligible buyers to purchase with as little as a 5% deposit, with the government supporting the lending. Income and purchase price caps apply.
Low Deposit Lending
Some lenders will consider deposits as low as 5–10% outside of government schemes, particularly if you have a strong income and credit history. We know which lenders are most flexible.