Helping you buy your first home

Thinking about buying a home? From loan applications to LIM reports, insurance terms to ever changing interest rates – the behind the scenes admin can seem daunting.

Having a licensed mortgage adviser on your side means having someone to guide you through the process and support you at each step.

Here are 6 steps I’ll support you through on your home buying journey.

1. Map out your goals and a plan to get there
   We’ll meet (either in person or online) to chat about you, your goals and the kind of home you’d ideally like to buy. We’ll map out a plan to get you there. You might be ready to roll tomorrow, or we might work on tidying up your finances and building your savings so you can plan to buy in 6 or 12 months. It’s a partnership and journey we’ll work on together.
   
   
   

2. Do the math
   Next, we’ll get an understanding of what you may be able to borrow. As well as your cash savings and Kiwisaver balance, I’ll help you to explore any additional support you might be eligible for. For example, the Kainga Ora First Home Grant or First Home Loan. We can chat about other possibilities, like a cash gift or loan from family or having a guarantor. This should give us a ballpark figure to work with.
   
   
   

3. Put together an application that gives you the best shot at approval
   Putting together a good loan application is about more than filling out paperwork. Your application needs to tell your story to the bank. They want to understand what makes you a responsible, sensible person to lend (potentially) hundreds of thousands of dollars to. A good mortgage adviser knows how to present you in the best light possible, while providing an accurate, honest picture of why you’re a safe bet to lend to.
   
   
   

4. House hunt with confidence
   Once your application is approved, you’ll know exactly how much you can borrow from the bank. However, finding the right home is about more than just money. I can connect you with my trusted network of professionals, like lawyers and building inspectors, and work through a due diligence checklist to ensure you’ve crossed off things like a LIM report from the council and checking the insurability of the property. I’ll be there at each step to answer questions, and make sure you feel like you’re house hunting with confidence.
   
   
   

5. Secure the property, and make a plan to get rid of the mortgage
   Ultimately, your goal isn’t to get a mortgage – it’s to get rid of it! I’ll support you to put together the home loan structure that works best with your long-term financial goals. That could mean breaking up your loan to combat fluctuating interest rates, having a revolving credit loan or the option to pay back extra chunks of money over time, making a plan to purchase an investment property in the coming years – or simply having a goal to get debt-free as soon as possible.
   
   
   

6. Home loan health check ups
   The average homeowner will have a loan for 30 years. That’s a long time, and certainly not something you should “set and forget”. Every year or couple of years, we’ll do a check up on your home loan, ensuring the structure, interest rates, repayment plan and more align with where your life is now at. Your goals and circumstances will change over time, and your home loan should change along with you. Whether it’s refixing your loan, moving banks, upsizing/downsizing homes or borrowing for renovations, I’m here to help.
   
   
   

   Want some professional support on your home buying journey? Get in touch with me today.

Note this article is not intended as personalised advice, and should not be acted upon without seeking independent personalised financial advice from a qualified professional.