Buying your first home starts before the open home.首次购房，最好在看房前就开始准备贷款。

KiwiSaver first-home withdrawal: what to check before applying

KiwiSaver 首次购房提取：申请前先确认这些事项

If you have been a KiwiSaver member for at least three years, you may be able to withdraw savings towards your first home. You must intend to live in the property, and at least $1,000 must remain in the account after the withdrawal. The withdrawal is handled by your scheme provider.

如果您已经加入 KiwiSaver 至少三年，可能可以提取部分储蓄用于购买首套自住房。您需要计划把房产作为自己的居所，提取后账户至少要保留 $1,000。申请由您的 KiwiSaver provider 负责处理。

Your provider will confirm what you can withdraw under its rules. If you have owned a home before, you may still qualify if Kāinga Ora confirms that you are in a similar financial position to a first-home buyer. The funds are normally paid to your solicitor on or before settlement, and processing times vary between providers.

provider 会按照相关规则确认可提取金额。如果您以前拥有过房产，只要 Kāinga Ora 认定您的财务状况与首次购房者相近，仍可能符合条件。资金通常会在交割前或交割时支付到律师信托账户，处理时间因 provider 而异。

Ask your provider for an up-to-date balance statement close to the purchase date. The balance can change with investment markets while an application is being processed. You will also need your solicitor to confirm the purchase arrangement or your intention to buy a first home.

建议在接近购房时向 provider 索取最新余额证明。申请处理期间，投资市场波动可能使余额发生变化。您还需要律师确认购房安排，或确认您正在计划购买首套住房。

KiwiSaver can form part of your deposit, but the lender may still ask for evidence of genuine savings or other deposit funds. A mortgage adviser can help you work out how KiwiSaver, savings and any family gift fit together for the lenders you are considering.

KiwiSaver 可以计入首付，但贷款机构仍可能要求您提供真实储蓄或其他首付来源的证明。贷款顾问可以协助您把 KiwiSaver、储蓄和家人赠与放在一起评估，再比较适合的贷款机构。

Pre-approval checklist

预批材料清单

Pre-approval gives you an indication of what you may be able to borrow before you make an offer. It is not final approval. The lender will still check the property and confirm that its lending conditions are met.

预批可以在您出 offer 前，先大致了解可能的借贷范围，但它不等于最终批准。找到具体房产后，贷款机构仍会检查物业并确认所有贷款条件。

For income, prepare recent payslips. Self-employed applicants and contractors may need financial statements and IRD summaries for the last two or three years. Bonus and commission income usually needs a longer payment history before a lender will count it.

收入材料通常包括近期工资单。自雇人士和合同工可能需要提供过去两到三年的财务报表及 IRD 摘要。奖金和佣金收入往往需要较长的收款记录，贷款机构才会纳入评估。

For identity and banking, prepare certified identification where required and the last three months of transaction history for your savings, everyday and credit-card accounts. Lenders review spending patterns as well as balances.

身份和银行材料方面，请准备贷款机构要求的身份证明，以及储蓄、日常账户和信用卡账户最近三个月的交易记录。贷款机构会看消费习惯，不只看账户余额。

For the deposit, provide savings history and confirmation of any KiwiSaver withdrawal, family gift or property sale proceeds. Also list credit-card limits, personal loans, car loans, student loans and buy-now-pay-later commitments. Lenders may assess the possible repayment on a facility rather than only the minimum payment.

首付材料包括储蓄记录，以及 KiwiSaver 提取确认、家庭赠与或售房款等资金来源证明。同时列出信用卡额度、个人贷款、车贷、学生贷款和先买后付安排。贷款机构可能按额度对应的潜在还款额评估，而不只看最低还款额。

If you already have a property in mind, the lender may ask for the sale and purchase agreement, LIM, builder's report or valuation. Having the likely documents ready makes the first assessment more focused and reduces avoidable back-and-forth.

如果您已经有目标房产，贷款机构可能要求提供买卖协议、LIM、建筑报告或估值报告。提前整理材料，可以让初步评估更集中，也能减少来回补件。

Low-deposit options

低首付选项

Most standard home loans are assessed around a 20% deposit, but some buyers may qualify with less. The available route depends on the lender, the property, your income and your overall application.

大多数标准房贷会按 20% 左右的首付来评估，但部分购房者可能符合较低首付的条件。具体路径取决于贷款机构、房产、收入和整体申请情况。

A Kāinga Ora First Home Loan can reduce the required deposit to 5% for eligible buyers through participating lenders. Kāinga Whenua is a separate product designed for eligible housing on multiply-owned Māori land. These products have their own criteria, and the participating lender still makes the lending decision.

符合条件的购房者可以通过参与机构申请 Kāinga Ora First Home Loan，把所需首付降至 5%。Kāinga Whenua 是另一项产品，主要用于符合条件的多方共有 Māori 土地住房安排。两者都有各自的资格标准，最终仍由参与贷款机构决定是否放贷。

With a deposit between 10% and 19%, a mainstream lender may apply a low-equity premium or a different interest rate. Some non-bank lenders may accept a lower deposit, but the rate and fees can be higher. A later refinance is not guaranteed, even after a period of on-time repayments.

如果首付在 10% 到 19% 之间，主流贷款机构可能收取低净值费用或采用不同利率。部分非银行贷款机构可能接受较低首付，但利率和费用通常更高。即使之后按时还款，也不能保证一定能转到其他贷款机构。

The Reserve Bank's LVR settings limit how much high-LVR lending banks can do, and those settings can change. First Home Loans are treated separately from the standard LVR restrictions, but the bank or lender still checks affordability, credit history and its own policy.

新西兰储备银行的 LVR 规则会限制银行可以发放的高 LVR 贷款比例，而且规则可能调整。First Home Loan 的处理方式与一般 LVR 限制不同，但银行或贷款机构仍会检查还款能力、信用记录和自身政策。

Even with a lower deposit, lenders may want to see a stable savings pattern and a clear repayment plan. A lower deposit can make the purchase possible, but it also leaves less equity if property values fall.

即使首付较低，贷款机构也可能要求看到稳定的储蓄记录和清晰的还款计划。低首付可以降低购房门槛，但房价下跌时，您可用的净值也会更少。

It depends on lender policy, property type, income, and whether low-deposit options are available. A review can show what is realistic.

这取决于贷款机构政策、房产类型、收入和是否有低首付路径。评估后才能看清现实选择。

Many first-home buyers use KiwiSaver, but eligibility and timing need to be checked early.

很多首次购房者会用 KiwiSaver，但资格和时间安排需要提前确认。

Timing depends on document quality, lender workload, and complexity. Preparing well can reduce delays.

时间取决于材料质量、贷款机构处理速度和案例复杂度。准备充分可以减少延误。

Self-employed, contractor, bonus, or variable income can still be assessed, but lenders may need extra evidence.

自雇、合同工、奖金或浮动收入仍可能评估，但贷款机构通常需要更多证明。

Sometimes yes. The structure matters: gift, loan, guarantee, or co-borrower treatment can affect approval.

有时可以。关键是结构：赠与、借款、担保或共同借款都会影响审批。