Who you'll need
Your team
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
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
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
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
Not on your side of the table
Understanding the real estate agent’s role
Unlike the professionals above, the real estate agent 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.
Buyer’s agents do exist in New Zealand as an alternative — engaged and paid by the buyer directly — but they’re far less common here, and this isn’t a deep dive on that option.
For professionals
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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.