Planning
The first stage of buying a home involves reviewing your finances to understand what you can afford to spend.
Know your buying power
It's good to know how much you can afford to spend before you start house hunting or planning your build. Use our online calculators to get an idea of how much you may be able to afford. When you're ready, you can apply for pre-approval online or an ANZ Home Loan Coach can help you work through the process.
Building a new home
See our more detailed building and renovating information to help you plan your build.
Consider the costs
It's important to factor in all of the costs of buying and owning a home. Below are some you might need to consider. Your ANZ Home Loan Coach can help you understand the costs and help you set your budget. You can also find tips and a budget calculator to help plan your spend our financial wellbeing hub.
Buying costs – one off
- Solicitor fees.
- LIM reports.
- Property files.
- Building inspections.
- Moving costs.
- Utility set and reconnecting services.
Owning costs – ongoing
- Home loan repayments.
- Council rates.
- Insurance – Home and Contents.
- Utilities and maintenance.
- Body corporate fees (if buying a Unit Title).
Your support team
Aside from your ANZ Home Loan Coach you'll need:
Solicitor
There are a number of legal matters associated with purchasing a home, so it's important to involve your solicitor before you make an offer or bid at an auction. If you need to find one check out propertylawyers.org.nz. Legal fees vary, so ask around and get an estimate.
Building inspector
A building inspector can tell you about the condition of a property, which might help you decide whether it's the one for you. You can find a list of building inspectors in your area at boinz.org.nz.
Family and friends
Family and friends can help you throughout your home buying journey, whether that be giving their honest feedback on potential properties, supporting you at an auction or celebrating with you once you've bought your new home.
Assessing your insurance needs
Once you've found a new home you'll need to insure it before you can draw down your home loan, so it's a good idea to think about insurance early. Buying a home can mean a new chapter in your life, so you may also want to consider how other insurances could help protect you and your family's lifestyle.
Your ANZ Home Loan Coach can help you assess your insurance needs.
Protecting your new home
House insurance protects you if your house gets damaged or affected by things like a fire, flooding or natural disaster. You must have adequate house insurance in place before settlement day. Your Coach can help you understand what you need to do and potential insurance costs for the house type and location you're looking for.
Protecting your valuable possessions
Contents insurance covers the things you own (other than your house), such as furniture, clothes, appliances, etc. If you don't have contents insurance, it's a good idea to get this in place so you have peace of mind should something happen to your belongings. Your Coach can help you understand the options.
Protecting your lifestyle
What would happen if you suffered from an accident or illness that prevented you from working, were made redundant or passed away? Life & Living Insurance can help ensure that you and your family are protected. Your Coach can help you put together the right combination of insurance options for your situation – and your budget. For example:
- Life Cover helps ensure your family will be looked after financially if the worst should happen to you.
- Critical Illness cover helps provide financial security for you and your family if you're diagnosed with one of 12 serious conditions, including cancer, stroke or a major heart attack.
- Living Expenses Cover provides help with your living expenses if you can't work due to accident or illness.
- Redundancy Cover can be taken with Living Expenses Cover and helps ensure you can keep paying the mortgage and other bills if you're made redundant.
Important notice: Chubb Life is not accepting new applications for Redundancy Cover until further notice.
Next steps
Ready to apply?
Important information
ANZ lending criteria, terms, conditions, and fees apply. Interest rates and fees are subject to change.
This material is for information purposes only. We recommend seeking financial advice about your situation and goals before getting a financial product. To talk to one of our team at ANZ, please call 0800 269 296, or for more information about ANZ’s financial advice service or to view our financial advice provider disclosure statement see anz.co.nz/fapdisclosure