Home loan guidance by audience
Pick the situation closest to yours. Each page summarises the key rules + ranks active NZ lenders.
Home Loans for First Home Buyers in NZ
Buying your first home in NZ has three financial scaffolds: your KiwiSaver first-home withdrawal, the Kāinga Ora First Home Loan (5% deposit scheme with income/price caps), and lender low-equity loans. The right path depends on your deposit size, household income, and the city you're buying in.
Refinancing Your Mortgage in NZ
Refinancing in NZ usually means rolling your loan to a new lender at the end of a fixed term, or breaking a fixed term early to capture a lower rate. Banks compete with cashback offers ($3,000–$10,000 range), but the decision turns on the breakeven between rate savings and break costs.
Investment Property Loans in NZ
Investment-property mortgages in NZ sit under tighter LVR rules than owner-occupier loans, and most banks apply higher servicing-test thresholds. The Coalition reinstated full interest deductibility for residential investment properties from 1 April 2025, restoring an important after-tax economic factor.
Home Loans for Self-Employed Borrowers in NZ
Self-employed borrowers face a different evidence test from PAYE applicants — typically banks want 2 years of company financials and IR3/IR4 returns, then average the figures. Non-bank lenders run alternative income-verification paths for borrowers with short trading history.
Low Deposit Home Loans NZ (5%–20% Deposit)
Borrowing with less than 20% deposit puts you above the standard LVR threshold. Three pathways apply: the Kāinga Ora First Home Loan (5% deposit, eligibility-capped), lender low-equity margins (typically 0.25%–1.5% above carded), and the RBNZ new-build LVR exemption (no minimum LVR for new builds).