First Home Loans from just 5% deposit

Your journey to homeownership starts here.

First Home Loans from just 5% deposit

Your journey to homeownership starts here.

First home buyer special*

6.20% p.a.

12 months fixed

$5,000

Cash Contribution

See all home loan rates.

*Available for new lending to First Home Buyers from $250,000. Minimum 20% equity required. Offer also available for Kāinga Ora First Home Loan. This offer is subject to change and could be withdrawn at any time and without notice. Cash contribution terms and conditions apply.

Special eligibility and lending criteria apply. Fixed interest rates from 5.79% - 6.85% p.a. Floating interest rate of 8.64% p.a. T&Cs and a one-off lenders mortgage insurance premium of 0.5% of total amount borrowed will apply. View rates, fees and T&C’s.


First Home Loan eligibility

To be eligible for a Kāinga Ora First Home Loan with Unity, you need to meet the following criteria:

  • Be at least 18 years of age
  • Be a New Zealand Citizen, Permanent Resident Visa holder, or Resident Visa holder who is ‘ordinarily a resident in New Zealand’.
  • Be a first-home buyer, or a previous homeowner in a similar financial position to a first-home buyer
  • Have a before-tax income from the last 12 months of:
    • $95,000 or less for an individual buyer without dependants; or
    • $150,000 or less for an individual buyer with one or more dependants; or
    • $150,000 or less (combined) for two or more buyers, regardless of the number of dependants
  • Have a minimum deposit that is at least 5% of the purchase price of the home you are interested in buying (inclusive of all savings, grants, first-home withdrawals, and gifts)
  • Be purchasing a home for you to live in as your primary place of residence
  • Not own any other property or land, this does not include ownership of Māori land
  • Be purchasing a property of less than 1 hectare
  • Pay a 0.50% Lender’s Mortgage Insurance premium

For more information on Kainga Ora’s First Home loan, visit the Kainga Ora website

If you don’t think you are eligible for a First Home Loan, you may still qualify for a Home Loan with Unity.

Help with your deposit

If you’re struggling to save enough for a deposit, there are options available to help you get there faster.

  • Gifting - Many Kiwis turn to their family members (or the ‘bank of Mum and Dad’ as its sometimes referred to!) to build a deposit for their first home. Not all lenders will accept a fully gifted deposit, as they generally prefer that you are contributing at least 5% yourself through saving or the sale of an asset in addition to the gifted sum. With that said, gifting is a great way to help build your deposit faster. After all, every bit helps. You’ll need your gifter to sign a declaration as evidence that these funds do not need to be paid back. 
  • KiwiSaver - If you’ve been contributing to KiwiSaver for more than three years, you may be eligible to withdraw your KiwiSaver savings to purchase your first home. You must intend to live in the property, be a first home buyer, and purchase a property within New Zealand. Provided you meet the eligibility criteria, you can withdraw all but $1,000 of your total KiwiSaver balance to put towards buying your first home. For more information, check out this video.

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Home buying made easy

No matter what stage you're at in your home-buying journey, we can help you navigate the process. 

From preparing to buy to making an offer, find the path to your property goals with our step-by-step- First Home Buyers Guide.

Download

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Ready to make the move?

If you're ready to complete a home loan application, let's get started.

  1. Simply download our full pdf application form below.
  2. Complete with your details. 
  3. Email to homeloans@unitymoney.co.nz to apply. Easy.            

Apply now

             

Member discounts

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10% off property valuations

All Unity members and home loan applicants are eligible for a 10% discount on residential property valuations with Property InDepth.

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$50 off building inspections

Unity has negotiated a $50 discount on the cost of pre-purchase property inspections from Betta Inspect It.

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Discounted legal fees

Unity members can benefit from a special rate of $1,350 inc GST for home purchase legal fees with Gifford Devine.

Helpful guides

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How much deposit do I need to buy a house?

Saving a deposit can be the biggest hurdle when it comes to buying your first home. So, how much deposit do you need to buy your first home in NZ? And what help is available? Let's find out.

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As a first home buyer, where do I start?

Applying for your first home may seem complicated, but it doesn't have to be. From deposits to financial assistance, we're here to help you understand the ins and outs. Check out our guide to buying your first home in NZ.

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What happens if I can't make my repayments?

We understand that sometimes your situation can change, but it's important to keep up with your loan repayments. Discover what happens when payments are missed and steps to prevent it.

FAQ 

Have any questions?

You may find the answer on one of the pages below:

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