The practical paperwork before the paperwork.
Free first-home-buyer packs for New Zealand buyers: what to check, what to ask, what to prepare, and when to bring in a qualified professional. Information only — not financial or legal advice.
Use these as a prep layer, not advice.
FHBG helps you get organised before you speak to a mortgage adviser, lawyer, insurer, building inspector, or KiwiSaver provider. We keep the packs practical and conservative because buying a first home is too expensive for vague hype.
Pick the pack that matches your stage
Free packs built around buyer decisions.
These are currently web-based packs you can print or save as PDF from your browser. The next iteration will package the same checklists into downloadable PDFs once we have enough usage data to see which stages buyers actually use.
Start here
First Home Buyer Starter Pack
The plain-English map from “can we buy?” to “keys in hand”. Best for buyers still working out the order of steps.
Inside this pack
- Buying journey map: budget → pre-approval → search → offer → due diligence → settlement
- Who you need and when: broker/adviser, lawyer, building inspector, insurer, KiwiSaver provider
- Common first-home-buyer mistakes to avoid before you talk to a bank
- Information-only decision checklist so you know when to get regulated advice
Finance ready
Mortgage Pre-Approval Pack
A document and question checklist before you speak with a bank or mortgage adviser.
Inside this pack
- Income, expense, debt, deposit, KiwiSaver, and ID document checklist
- Questions to ask a mortgage adviser before you rely on a pre-approval
- Low-deposit and LVR points to check if you have under 20% deposit
- Repayment stress-test prompts for higher-rate scenarios
Viewing homes
Open Home Inspection Pack
A practical walkthrough checklist for viewing houses without getting swept up by staging and pressure.
Inside this pack
- Exterior, roofline, drainage, moisture, heating, insulation, and services prompts
- Questions to ask the agent before paying for a building report
- Red flags that should trigger a lawyer, builder, insurer, or council record check
- Photo/note structure for comparing multiple homes later
Before auction day
Auction Prep Pack
A risk checklist for going into an unconditional auction with your finance, legal review, and limit set first.
Inside this pack
- Auction timeline and “must be done before bidding” list
- Finance, LIM/title, insurance, and building report checks
- Bidding-limit worksheet so emotion does not set your price
- What unconditional means and why legal/finance checks cannot be left until after
Making an offer
Offer & Lawyer Pack
Questions and conditions to discuss with your lawyer before signing a sale and purchase agreement.
Inside this pack
- Finance, LIM, building inspection, title, insurance, and settlement condition prompts
- Questions to ask your conveyancing lawyer before you sign
- What to clarify with the agent without treating FHBG as legal advice
- Offer-day checklist: deposit, dates, conditions, chattels, settlement, and expiry
Using KiwiSaver
KiwiSaver Withdrawal Pack
A practical checklist for checking timing, eligibility, provider requirements, and solicitor involvement.
Inside this pack
- What to ask your KiwiSaver provider before relying on withdrawal funds
- Typical document flow between buyer, solicitor, provider, and lender
- Timing risks if auction or settlement dates are tight
- Official-source links to check current rules yourself
Almost there
Settlement Pack
The final-week checklist: insurance, final inspection, funds, lawyer confirmation, utilities, and moving day.
Inside this pack
- Final inspection checklist and what to record before settlement
- Insurance, utilities, funds transfer, and keys handover prompts
- Questions for your lawyer if settlement is delayed or conditions are unresolved
- Post-settlement admin: rates, mail, maintenance, emergency fund, and documents
Get the whole pack sequence
Send me the free first-home action plan.
Use the form if you want the full pack sequence and a plain-English next-step plan. If you ask to be matched, the lead is stored first-party and marked information-only before any partner matching.
Advisor Matchmaking
Stop navigating the mortgage maze alone. We'll match you with a vetted first-home specialist who speaks your language.
Context kept for reply
We'll route this as general match and keep the source with the lead record.
Official sources to check
FHBG is a guide, not an official agency. Use these links to verify current rules and talk to a qualified professional before relying on anything for a purchase decision.
Partner note
Mortgage advisers, lawyers, inspectors, and insurers can apply for founding regional slots. We are not claiming mature lead volume yet; founding partners help validate the flow and only receive leads when the buyer has asked for help.