Skip to content

Learn

The things nobody sits you down and explains.

Short modules, plain English, New Zealand rules. Every one carries the date we last checked it against official sources.

Stage 112 min read

The Whole Process in 12 Minutes

Start to finish: what happens, in what order, and who does what. Read this first.

Read the module

Get Clear · Last checked 1/08/2026

Stage 28 min read

KiwiSaver for First Homes: What You Can Actually Take Out

Three years' membership, $1,000 stays in, funds go to your solicitor. Allow ten working days.

Read the module

Get Your Deposit Sorted · Last checked 1/08/2026

Stage 29 min read

The 5% Deposit Route: How the First Home Loan Works

Underwritten by Kāinga Ora, issued by eight participating lenders, exempt from LVR and DTI limits.

Read the module

Get Your Deposit Sorted · Last checked 1/08/2026

Stage 37 min read

The Two Rules That Decide Your Limit (LVR and DTI)

Owner-occupier DTI is capped at 6 with a 20% speed limit. Banks can write 25% of new lending above 80% LVR.

Read the module

Get Finance Ready · Last checked 1/08/2026

Stage 36 min read

What the Bank Sees When It Looks at Your Bank Statements

Three months of statements, read line by line. What matters and what genuinely doesn't.

Read the module

Get Finance Ready · Last checked 1/08/2026

Stage 410 min read

Titles Explained Without the Legalese

Freehold, cross-lease, unit title, leasehold — what each one means for your lending and your Saturdays.

Read the module

Get Searching · Last checked 1/08/2026

Stage 48 min read

Auction, Deadline Sale, Tender or Negotiation — Which Suits You

Why an auction is hard on a 5–10% deposit, and which methods leave room for conditions.

Read the module

Get Searching · Last checked 1/08/2026

Stage 59 min read

Conditions Are Your Safety Net

Finance, LIM, builder's report, title and due diligence — what each one buys you, and the dates that matter.

Read the module

Make the Offer · Last checked 1/08/2026

Stage 411 min read

The Weathertightness Question: Buying a 1994–2004 Home

What to check, what evidence to ask for, and when to walk away.

Read the module

Get Searching · Last checked 1/08/2026

Stage 26 min read

The True Cost of a Small Deposit

Low-equity margins in dollars per fortnight, not percentages.

Read the module

Get Your Deposit Sorted · Last checked 1/08/2026

Stage 67 min read

Insurance and Natural Hazards Cover

What Natural Hazards Cover does and doesn't cover, and when your policy has to start.

Read the module

Settle & Move In · Last checked 1/08/2026

Stage 55 min read

The Most Expensive Mistake First Home Buyers Make

Signing a sale and purchase agreement before your solicitor has read it. Don't.

Read the module

Make the Offer · Last checked 1/08/2026

Every module is written for New Zealand rules and re-checked against official sources each quarter. Signed in, you can tick modules off as you read them and they count towards your readiness score.