Buying a first house necessitates careful preparation and, most importantly serious budgeting! These first home buyer tips can assist you in budgeting for the total cost of purchasing a home, which includes the building report, valuation, legal bills, and other expenses. If you have KiwiSaver you may be eligible for assistance for your first home via the First Home Scheme run via Kainga Ora on behalf of the Government.
Putting money aside for your deposit on your first home
Setting a savings target is the first phase toward saving for a house deposit.
With recent increases in house prices across New Zealand, there could be opportunities to borrow with as little as a 10% or even 5% deposit. So, if you’re purchasing a $600,000 home, you’ll need to save $60,000 for a 10% deposit or maybe $30,000 for a 5% deposit.
However, the smaller the deposit, the higher the risk for the lenders. Loans that are for more than 80% of a property’s valuation usually have higher fees and interest rate to reflect the higher risk These fees may differ greatly. Some banks levy a fee for mortgage repayment insurance, while others raise interest rates to compensate for the risk, some do a combination of both!
Lenders have traditionally required a minimum deposit of at least 20% of the house price for a home loan. As a result, a deposit of at least $120,000 will be needed for that $600,000 home., however, keep reading as there may be some further options you can consider.
Tools to save your down-payment for your first-home
When you’ve determined how much you need to save for a home, create a budget using a budget planner. It can mean sacrificing non-essentials for a while, but the joy of owning your first home will be well worth it!
If there’s a gap between what you’d spend in interest payments versus what you’re now spending in rent, it’s a smart idea to start setting the money aside on a regular basis. It can provide you (and your lender) an indication of how well the household expenditure will handle the situation. Use this sorted.org.nz FREE savings tracker to see how much money you will save in a short period of time.
Kāinga Ora: Government assistance for your first home deposit
Under the government’s First Home Loan Scheme, you may be able to purchase a first home with as little as 5% deposit. However, you will need to have NO other debt and your account conduct with the bank and your credit record has to be excellent with no unpaid accounts or late payment charges.
You may be considered for a First Home Grant if you’ve been contributing to a KiwiSaver scheme for at least three years. You can get $1,000 per year for each year you have been contributing up to a maximum of $5,000 for an existing home or $10,000 for a new home.
If you have a partner or a friend or family member who wishes to purchase the home with you this can mean that you can both get the grants and you will have up to $10,000 for an existing home or $20,000 for a new home. Each region in New Zealand has maximum buying limits which are set by the Government. Other residency requirements must be met, as well as area house price limits.
After three years in KiwiSaver, you may be able to take all, apart from $1,000 of the funds in your KiwiSaver account to support the purchase of your first house. This is referred to as a KiwiSaver withdrawal. Learn more about the KiwiSaver withdrawal scheme on their official page
Deciding when to buy your first home
It’s likely that your first house would not be your perfect home because it’s your first home, not your last home. It’s pointless to buy a house if you can’t afford to make your mortgage payments. So the key here is to – “Buy a home you can afford and make it into a home you love!”.
If you want to purchase an apartment or a townhouse? Check with your mortgage adviser to see how much money you may be able to borrow against an apartment. There is usually some minimum square footage rules that apply and it’s important that you understand what this will mean for you. Apartment living is becoming an increasingly good option for first home buyers and I think this trend will continue in order to help address the housing supply issues currently in New Zealand.
Securing your financial future
If you are thinking beyond your first home purchase and are looking to secure your financial future as soon as possible. It may be relevant to consider what opportunities exist for you to live in your first home for a few years, pay down the mortgage and then use the equity you have built up to purchase a new home for yourselves. You could then rent out your existing home and use the income from the rent to cover the mortgage cost.
Think about stuff like:
- Is the house near public transportation?
- Is it possible to cycle to stores and schools?
- Is the rental demand in the neighbourhood robust?
Obtaining a first-time home mortgage
Your first mortgage is likely to be the most significant financial investment you’ll ever make.
Before purchasing a house, most of us look at many options. It’s a smart idea to exercise the same caution when selecting a mortgage. It’s important to understand how being smart with your repayments could potentially save you tens of thousands of dollars over the life of the mortgage.
There are many options and it’s important you understand how to structure your loan so that it works for you and is fit for purpose. There are several different kinds of mortgages, each with its own interest rate, costs, and affordability. These factors will all have an effect on how quickly you repay your mortgage and how much interest you pay over the term of the loan.
Taking to a good mortgage adviser (broker) will assist you to achieve a great result. It is part of my role as a Mortgage Adviser to keep abreast of all lenders policies and what they offer so that when I assess the information for a mortgage application.
I know who will be the best lender to submit to loan application to in order to get it approved quickly and then I negotiate on your behalf to get a good package for you.
One important point to note is if you are applying to each lender yourself a credit enquiry is made on you. This includes the type of credit applied for, the amount of credit and the number of credit enquiries over a period of time can all have an impact on your credit score.
One of the biggest impacts of credit enquiries that often catches people unaware is “shopping around for credit”.
If you make a number of credit applications in a short space of time, it can result in a number of credit enquiries being listed on your credit report. This can have a negative impact on your score and the way lenders see you. As a result of a credit check, your application for the mortgage will be recorded on your credit report. This is regardless of whether the lender accepts your application, or you decide to proceed with the loan.
The credit enquiry will stay on your credit report for five years from that date. Consequently, is not appropriate or in your best interest to submit an application to all lenders. Mortgage Advisers know this and they will be well aware of which lender is best for your personal situation. So, keep this in mind.
Fees charged by lawyers
If you want to get a mortgage, you need to have a lawyer as lenders will only use lawyers to register a mortgage and sign the loan documentation. Look for a good property lawyer, shop around for fee comparisons, but remember – you pay for what you get!
LIMs and builder’s reports
A builder’s report may reveal some potential issues with the home you’re considering purchasing. A qualified building inspector will notice details that the untrained eye will overlook, potentially saving you thousands of dollars. Your mortgage adviser will let you know if the lender requires a building report. However, if you are buying an existing home it is always wise to get one done.
A Land Information Memorandum (LIM) recognizes any problems with the land on which the house is constructed, such as drainage and the possibility of landslips. Your lawyer will arrange to get this for you as it needs to be done just before settlement to ensure there are no potential issues.
Costs in relocating
When you purchase your first house, the mortgage is only one of the expenses you’ll have to deal with. You’ll need to budget for expenses such as:
- Truck rental for moving
- Fees for cellular, power, and Internet connections
- Repairs or decorating
- Advertisements for roommates or tenants?
Other expenses
In your new life as a homeowner, you’ll need to account for more than just mortgage payments. So be sure to factor in home insurance, rates and other reoccurring expenses.
Insurance for your home, its contents, and your mortgage
When you have a mortgage, the lender will want you to have it properly insured as they have their interest noted on the insurance policy.
You will need to consider life and mortgage repayment insurance in addition to the home and belongings insurance. Keep in mind that Lenders Mortgage Insurance protects the bank, not you if you default on your loan.
Local Council Rates
When you become a first home buyer, you automatically become a ratepayer too so you will need to include these in your budget. A good mortgage adviser will have included this in your budget so you should not get any surprises!
City Councils levy rates to offset the costs of services like bridges, electricity, sewerage, and parks. You can look up a property’s rates on the website of the local government. Your mortgage adviser will be happy to provide you with this information.
Fees charged by the body corporate
If you purchase an apartment or townhouse it may have a ‘unit title’. There may be further fees called ‘body corporate’ fees. This will cover things like maintenance and common room cleaning. Your lawyer will ensure you are fully aware of any costs and obligations with regard to these fees and your mortgage adviser will have discussed this with you as your lender needs to know about any ongoing fees being charged.
Where to go for help
If you would like a “no obligation” discussion around your options for buying a first home, or just need someone to run your budget by, feel free to reach out at 027 436 8367 or click here
