FIRST-HOME BUYER CHECKLIST

First-home buyer checklist

Break the preparation into practical steps. Tick, save and print your progress; it stays on your own device.

Reviewed 26 July 2026

Goal and timing

Define the home, broad budget and preferred timingNote whether you are viewing, preparing an offer or attending an auctionList plans in the next two to three years that may affect cash flow

Deposit and source of funds

Organise savings, term deposits and other deposit fundsConfirm KiwiSaver membership dates and likely withdrawal amountPrepare an explanation if family will provide a giftCheck whether First Home Loan may be relevant

Income, debt and spending

Gather recent payslips, an employment agreement or income evidenceList credit-card limits, vehicle finance, student loans and other debtsReview regular living costs and commitmentsIf self-employed, prepare recent financial statements and tax records

Application documents

Prepare current identity and address evidenceDownload recent account and loan statementsKeep a clear record of how the deposit accumulated and explain large creditsCheck that names, addresses and dates are consistent

Property and legal checks

Ask a lawyer to review the agreement and titleConsider valuation, building inspection, insurance and the LIM reportIdentify conditions for apartments, townhouses or unusual titlesPut key dates and finance conditions in your calendar

Before an unconditional offer or auction

Obtain lending confirmation for the specific propertyCheck every pre-approval condition, amount and expiry dateUnderstand the deposit, settlement funds and related costsDo not treat pre-approval as final approval without professional confirmation

Your ticks are stored only in this browser. Nothing is sent to Sophia or any lender.

This is a preparation aid, not a complete lender or legal checklist. Requirements vary by lender, property and circumstances.

Kāinga Ora: preparing and applying ↗IRD: KiwiSaver first-home withdrawal ↗