First·Home Buy

Who you'll need

First home lawyer, broker and inspector

Buying a first home involves a few key professionals — some working for you, one working for the seller. Here’s what each one does and how to work with them well.

Also called a mortgage adviser

Mortgage broker

First-home buyers meeting with a mortgage broker

What they do

A mortgage broker compares home loans across multiple banks and lenders, helps you prepare and submit your application, and negotiates on your behalf. Crucially, they work for you — not for any one bank — so they can point you toward the lender most likely to say yes on terms that suit you.

When to engage them

Early — before you start seriously house-hunting, and ideally before you seek pre-approval. A good broker helps you understand your borrowing power and get your paperwork in order first.

Typical cost

Usually free to you

In New Zealand, mortgage brokers are typically paid a commission by the lender, not by the borrower — so their service usually costs you nothing directly. This is a common point of confusion: "free" does not mean unbiased, so it is fair to ask how the commission works.

Questions to ask

  • Which banks and lenders do you have access to?
  • How are you paid, and does that affect which bank you recommend?
  • What's your experience with first-home buyers and KiwiSaver withdrawals?
  • Can you help me qualify for the First Home Grant or Kāinga Ora products?
  • What happens if my application gets declined?
  • Are you a registered financial adviser, and can I see your disclosure statement?

Red flags to watch for

  • Reluctance or vagueness when you ask how they're paid
  • Pushing one lender hard without explaining why it fits you
  • No clear disclosure statement or registration details
  • Pressure to sign before you understand the loan structure

Handles the legal side of the purchase

Property lawyer / conveyancer

First-home buyers meeting with a property lawyer / conveyancer

What they do

A property lawyer or licensed conveyancer reviews the sale and purchase agreement, runs the title and LIM searches, checks for legal issues with the property, manages settlement, and liaises with your bank to move the money on the day. They are your legal safety net.

When to engage them

Before you make an offer or sign anything — not after. Your lawyer should review the agreement and any conditions before your signature goes on it, so problems surface while you can still walk away.

Typical cost

$1,200–$2,500 for a standard residential purchase

No-frills online conveyancing can start lower (around $500) but usually offers less hands-on guidance; complex transactions (trusts, cross-leases, unconsented work) cost more. These are indicative 2026 ranges — always get a fixed quote upfront and confirm what's included.

Questions to ask

  • Is this a fixed fee or an hourly rate, and what exactly is included?
  • What disbursements (LINZ, title and LIM searches) are charged on top?
  • Will you review the sale and purchase agreement before I sign, or only after?
  • How quickly do you typically respond during a live transaction?
  • Who is my direct contact — will I deal with you or a junior?
  • Have you handled purchases like mine (e.g. KiwiSaver, First Home Grant, cross-lease)?

Red flags to watch for

  • No fixed quote offered, or evasiveness about total cost
  • No named, direct contact person for your file
  • Rushed or vague answers about reviewing the agreement
  • Only willing to look at the contract after you've signed

Independent condition assessment

Building inspector

First-home buyers meeting with a building inspector

What they do

A building inspector carries out an independent structural and condition assessment of the property before you commit — checking the roof, subfloor, weathertightness, moisture, and signs of past problems. The written report tells you what you're really buying.

When to engage them

During the due-diligence / finance-conditional window — after your offer is accepted but before it goes unconditional, so a bad report can still let you renegotiate or walk away.

Typical cost

$400–$1,000 for a standard residential report

Most standard pre-purchase building inspections in New Zealand fall in this range, depending on the size and age of the property and the region. Larger, older or higher-risk homes sit at the top end. Indicative 2026 range — confirm the fee and scope when you book.

Questions to ask

  • Are you independent, or do you also quote and do repair work on properties you inspect?
  • What's included in the report — moisture readings, roof space, subfloor?
  • Do you follow the NZ standard for residential property inspections (NZS 4306)?
  • Can I attend the inspection in person?
  • What's your turnaround time for the written report?
  • Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?

Red flags to watch for

  • The inspector also offers to quote or carry out repairs (conflict of interest)
  • No written report — verbal findings only
  • No moisture testing or roof-space / subfloor access included
  • Won't let you attend, or won't confirm what the report covers

A real estate agent who works for you

Buyer's agent

First-home buyers meeting with a buyer's agent

What they do

A buyer's agent is a licensed real estate agent you engage directly to represent you, not the seller. They can search for suitable properties (including off-market ones), assess value against recent sales, and negotiate or bid on your behalf. They're less common in New Zealand than seller's agents, but can be useful if you're short on time, buying in an unfamiliar area, or nervous about negotiating.

When to engage them

Once your finance is sorted and you know your budget, and before you start making offers. Agree in writing exactly what they'll do and how they're paid before they start.

Typical cost

Fixed fee or 1–2% of the purchase price

Buyer's agents are paid by you, usually through a fixed fee, a percentage of the purchase price, or both, sometimes with an upfront engagement fee. Fees vary widely, so compare the total cost against the time and negotiating value they bring. Indicative 2026 range — always get it in writing.

Questions to ask

  • Are you licensed with the Real Estate Authority (REA)?
  • How exactly are you paid, and is any of it tied to the price I pay?
  • Do you ever receive payment from sellers or listing agents?
  • What areas and price ranges do you know well?
  • Will you attend auctions and bid on my behalf?
  • Can I see your written agency agreement before I commit?

Red flags to watch for

  • Not licensed with the REA, or vague about their licence
  • Any payment from the seller's side (a conflict of interest)
  • Fees tied to a higher purchase price with no cap
  • Pressure to sign a long exclusive agreement upfront

Helps you protect the home and your income

Insurance adviser

First-home buyers meeting with a insurance adviser

What they do

An insurance adviser compares cover across insurers and helps you set up house insurance, contents, and personal cover such as life, income protection and mortgage protection. Banks require house insurance before settlement, so getting cover sorted early avoids last-minute surprises, especially for homes in flood-prone or high-risk areas.

When to engage them

During your due-diligence window, before your offer goes unconditional. Confirm the property is insurable before you commit, then make sure cover starts on settlement day.

Typical cost

Usually free to you

Like mortgage advisers, insurance advisers in New Zealand are usually paid commission by the insurer, so their advice typically costs you nothing directly. You still pay your own insurance premiums. Ask how commission works and whether it affects which insurer they suggest.

Questions to ask

  • Which insurers can you compare for me?
  • How are you paid, and does that affect your recommendation?
  • Is this property insurable, and are there any natural hazard exclusions?
  • What's the difference between sum-insured and full replacement cover?
  • What personal cover makes sense alongside my mortgage?
  • Are you a registered financial adviser, and can I see your disclosure statement?

Red flags to watch for

  • Vague about how they're paid or which insurers they use
  • Recommending lots of cover without asking about your situation
  • Glossing over exclusions or natural hazard limits
  • No disclosure statement or registration details

Not on your side of the table

Understanding the seller’s agent’s role

Unless you’ve hired your own buyer’s agent, the real estate agent selling a home is engaged and paid by the seller, not by you — and that single fact shapes everything about the relationship.

What this means in practice

Their job is to get the seller the best possible outcome. That doesn’t mean they’ll mislead you, but it does mean their friendliness and helpfulness isn’t the same as being on your side. Keep that framing in mind at every open home and phone call.

How to work with them well

  • Get your own LIM and building inspection rather than relying on what the agent tells you about the property's condition.
  • Avoid disclosing your maximum budget or how urgently you need to buy — it weakens your negotiating position.
  • Treat claims like "there's another offer" or "lots of interest" as sales conversation, not verified fact.
  • Put anything important the agent tells you verbally in writing via your lawyer before you rely on it.

What they’re still required to do

Even though they represent the seller, NZ real estate agents are bound by fair dealing obligations under the Real Estate Agents Act and the Real Estate Authority’s code of conduct . They cannot mislead buyers or withhold material facts about a property.

Licensed agents are also legally required to give buyers a copy of the REA sale and purchase agreement guide before you sign — if you haven’t been given one, ask for it.

For further reading, settled.govt.nz is the government’s official guide for buyers and sellers, run by the REA.

Want someone on your side instead? See the buyer’s agent section above. They’re engaged and paid by you directly.

For professionals

Are you a broker, lawyer, inspector, buyer’s agent or insurance adviser?

We keep a small, hand-picked panel of trusted professionals to recommend to first-home buyers — a curated list, not an open directory. If that sounds like the kind of company you’d want to keep, see how listings work and register your interest.

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Before you rely on this

General information, not a recommendation

This page is general educational information only. It isn’t financial or legal advice, and it isn’t a recommendation or referral to any specific individual or firm. Prices are indicative NZ ranges that change over time — always get your own fixed quotes and do your own due diligence before engaging anyone.

Last reviewed February 2026.