First Home Buyers

First home buyers continue to play a strong and growing role in New Zealand’s housing market. In early 2025, they made up around 27 percent of all property purchases, which is well above the long-term average of 21 percent. This sustained activity reflects how well positioned first-time buyers are to take advantage of the current market, especially when it comes to new builds.

We are seeing this trend reflected in our own buyers. Many are using KiwiSaver, working with low-deposit lending, and making the most of the support available when purchasing brand new homes. In fact, new builds now account for over a quarter of all first home buyer purchases.

Several factors are creating real opportunities for first home buyers:

• More affordable prices: Median prices for first home buyers have eased compared to previous years, with lower quartile homes now sitting around 575,000 dollars in some areas.

• Improved lending conditions: Banks continue to support first home buyers, with 75 to 80 percent of their low-deposit lending going to owner-occupiers.

• More options to choose from: A strong pipeline of listings, including new builds, is giving buyers greater choice and negotiating power.

• Better affordability: With interest rates coming down, the cost of servicing a mortgage has decreased significantly. As of early 2025, repayments on a typical first home are around 170 dollars less per week than they were in late 2023.

If you are considering buying your first home, now is a great time to explore your options. New builds often come with the added benefits of lower maintenance, better energy efficiency, and eligibility for low-deposit finance, even with as little as 5 to 10 percent saved.

Our in-house mortgage advisor can guide you through every step of the process, help you understand your buying power, and make sure you are making the most of all available support.

Book a free consultation with our mortgage advisor today and take the first step toward owning a brand-new home.