Buying guide
Q&A: Saving for a deposit to buy a home
Our experts give advice on budgeting, investing and growing your savings to help with your deposit goals.
AI summary
Financial experts Mikey Smith and Hannah McQueen share key strategies for saving a house deposit. They advise creating a strict budget, automating savings, and using accounts that penalize withdrawals. Breaking your goal into smaller milestones can help maintain motivation.
For growing your savings, consider low-risk options like term deposits. Parental help can come as a gift or a formal loan like a Deed of Acknowledgment of Debt. First home buyers should also investigate the Kāinga Ora First Home Grant.
What you’ll learn:
You’ve decided to start saving for a house. How can you start accumulating savings that you won’t and can’t touch?
Hannah McQueen, enable.me founder and financial adviser
How can buyers calculate what their savings goal should be to buy a home?
How are future home buyers looking after their house savings as they go?
What if parents want to help with the deposit? What’s the best way they can do this?
How long does it take people to save for a home?
Mikey Smith, Managing Director of Guardian Smith
Should your first house cost about 6 times your income? Or is that unrealistic?
What deposit will you need in the current market to get finance to buy?
How much of your KiwiSaver fund can you use for a house deposit? And is there an age limitation?
If you tell your lender that you plan to have flatmates to help pay your mortgage, will they lend you more?
If you’re a first home buyer who isn’t getting any help from their parents, who else can you partner with?
Author
Discover More
Coast to Coast founder went for a walk one morning in his pyjamas. He came home having bought a house
Robin Judkins bought a rundown Sumner home on a whim and transformed it into a creative retreat.
Four ovens, multiple fridges and a 13-metre wall: Inside NZ’s best new kitchen
Explore NZ’s award-winning Te Arai kitchen, with a sculptural island and 13m wall of oak joinery.
Search
Other articles you might like
