KiwiSaver, First Home Grant, and First Home Loan Information

Are you thinking about buying your first home? There are some pretty cool funds available to help you afford your first mortgage, including accessing your KiwiSaver funds, the First Home Grant and the First Home Loan.

Here's how you can go about assessing if you are eligible for these funds and the process to go through to apply for them.

Please note: There are some changes in eligibility from region to region in New Zealand. So please feel free to contact us to discuss if further details are required.

The information below is for the region of Christchurch.

For first home buyers we’ve created a helpful guide which you can request a copy of here.

KiwiSaver

Whilst anyone can use their KiwiSaver funds to purchase their first home regardless of income and the properties cost, there are rules around when and how much you can withdraw.

• You must have been been contributing to your KiwiSaver for at least three years to be eligible.
• You can withdraw your KiwiSaver savings, but not the $1,000 kick-start government contribution or any tax credits received.
• KiwiSaver funds can only be used to purchase a property to live in and cannot be used to purchase a rental property.

If you've owned a home before, you may be eligible to access your KiwiSaver funds for a second time - it's a little detailed so call us on 0508 466 356 to chat if you'd like advice on the process.

At Advanced Mortgage Solutions we work with several KiwiSaver providers to ensure you get the best outcome. Call us to discuss or Click Here to see what Koura KiwiSaver can offer.

You can learn more about how to use your KiwiSaver to buy your first home and get your application started here.

First Home Grant

The First Home Grant can be applied for when purchasing either a pre-loved home or a new build if you have been contributing to Kiwisaver for more than three years and you are under the following caps.

• A single applicant doesn’t earn over $95,000 a year.
• A dual applicants’ income isn’t over $150,000 a year.

There are no exceptions to these caps.

• A purchase of a pre-loved property cannot be higher than $575,000.
• A build cannot be above $775,000.

If you're building or purchasing a new build, then your HomeStart Grant doubles compared to purchasing a pre-loved property to a maximum of $10,000 for individuals or $20,000 for dual applicants.

You can read more and apply here.

First Home Loan

The First Home Loan is designed specifically to help Kiwi’s or people holding a Permanent Residency visa that are looking to purchase their first home to live in.

The same income caps and purchase price caps apply as when applying for your First Home Grant (see above).

There are opportunities to use the First Home Loan a second time if you've owned a home before. It can be a detailed process, so call us on 0508 466 356 to discuss your ability to gain a second chance.

You can read more and apply here.

If you'd like any advice or help with applying for the above, our team are Registered Financial Advisors and our advice to you is free.