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Why It’s Harder to Buy at Auction with Less Than a 20% Deposit (but not impossible!)

Buying your first home at auction can feel exciting—but if you’ve got less than a 20% deposit, it can also be a lot more complicated.At My Mortgage, we often work with first home buyers who are keen to buy at auction but aren’t aware of the extra steps involved. Here’s what you need to know before you head to the auction room....

CASE STUDY: Buying With A Sibling

Buying a home with a sibling can be a smart way to get on the property ladder—especially when you’ve both worked hard to build up savings and KiwiSaver. That’s exactly what we helped these two do as they purchased their first home together in the Waikato....

CASE STUDY: Using Property Equity For Business

Sometimes your home can do more than just give you a place to live—it can help you take the next big step in your career or business too.This client came to us looking to review their lending with a very specific goal in mind: to buy out their business partner and take full ownership of a shared business. With strong equity in their home, we looked at how we could structure lending to make this move as cost-effective as possible—avoiding high commercial rates where we could and keeping the p...

Low equity margins

When you're buying your first home or entering the market with a smaller deposit, you might come across the terms Low Equity Premium (LEP) or Low Equity Margin (LEM). These are extra costs that banks may charge when you have less than a 20% deposit—essentially because there’s more risk involved for them.We're here to help make these terms easy to understand and explain how they could impact your loan structure....

CASE STUDY: Moving On With Confidence

A relationship separation brings a lot of emotional and financial change—and for many, one of the biggest questions is what to do about the property. For this client, it was about finding a clear path forward and creating stability with a new home.They came to us exploring the options of either buying out their ex-partner or purchasing a new home on their own in the Waikato. With an understanding of the process and some equity behind them, they were in a good position to take the next step....

New Vs. existing bank customers

We often get asked: "Is my current bank still the right choice for me?" It's a great question—and one worth exploring, especially when you're thinking about refinancing or re-fixing your loan....

CASE STUDY: An Investment and A Renovation

One of the smartest moves in property ownership is knowing how to make your equity work for you—especially after buying a new home. That’s exactly what this client did when they came to us ready to take the next step with an investment property.After recently purchasing a new owner-occupied home and settling in, they were keen to jump back in and secure an investment property in the Waikato. With low lending still sitting on the new home, it was a great time to figure out what was possible....

CASE STUDY: When You Can't Access Kainga Ora

Sometimes, getting the right lending approval isn’t about waiting for the perfect time—it’s about moving forward when everything aligns just enough.This client came to us looking to buy their first home in the Waikato. They’d looked at properties before, but with interest rates easing and their deposit steadily growing, it finally felt like the right time to make the move. While they didn’t quite meet the criteria for the First Home Loan product through Kāinga Ora, they had found a pr...

CASE STUDY: Kainga Ora Working Its Magic

Getting into your first home with less than a 20% deposit can feel tricky—but with the right lender and product, it can also be totally achievable.Our client came to us looking to purchase their first home and was keen on using the Kainga Ora First Home Loan —a great option available through a select number of banks when you’ve got under a 20% deposit. With a bit of research and the right approach, we were able to get them not just an approval, but a lending structure that was affordable l...

CASE STUDY: One Has Used KiwiSaver and The Other Hasn't

Buying a home is exciting—especially when it marks the first home for one partner and a fresh start for the other. But when there’s also a property on the market, a flexible lending approach becomes essential.This couple came to us ready to buy a home together in Te Awamutu. It would be a new home for one and the first step onto the property ladder for the other. Their plan was to sell the existing property, which was already listed. One had also used their KiwiSaver already, and the other h...

Discharging a mortgage

We often work with clients who have multiple properties or who are restructuring their portfolios. One tool that can be incredibly useful in these situations is something called a discharge of security—or, more simply, discharging a property.This is a term you might not have come across before, but it can offer a lot of flexibility and freedom if used correctly....

How much does a mortgage adviser cost

One of the most common questions we’re asked is, “How much do you charge?” The great news is that working with us won’t cost you a cent. That’s because we’re paid by the bank once a loan is approved and settled—meaning you get the benefit of great advice and support, without having to foot the bill yourself....

Is it a good time to sell?

We’re often asked whether it’s the right time to sell a property. The answer isn’t always straightforward—but it usually comes down to one key factor: your next move....

Using Equity to Get An Investment Property

A lot of the first-home buyers we helped a few years ago are now coming back to chat about what’s next—specifically, how to use the equity in their current home to buy an investment property. And the good news? It’s simpler than you might think once you understand how equity works....

Improving Serviceability & Borrowing

One of the most common things we’re asked is how to improve serviceability—that is, your ability to borrow more money for a home loan. Whether you're buying your first home, upsizing, or investing, understanding how banks assess your financial position can make all the difference.There are several ways to improve your borrowing power, and many of them are simpler than you might think....

CASE STUDY: The Beauty of Having Multiple Bank Options

When you’re buying a home and have a strong deposit behind you, it’s the perfect time to make the banks work for you—not the other way around.We recently worked with a client who was looking to purchase in the Bay of Plenty. With a solid deposit and clear goals, it was all about finding the right bank with the best fit for their situation—not just the sharpest rate....

CASE STUDY: Restructuring lending to save

Sometimes the smartest financial moves aren’t about borrowing more — they’re about structuring what you already have in the right way.We recently worked with a client who had received accounting advice suggesting that moving some of their existing lending into a company name could help them claim interest deductions against their investment property. It’s a smart strategy, but like any good plan, it needed the right lending structure to back it up....

How can I buy my first home with less than 20% deposit?

A lot of first-home buyers think they need a 20% deposit to get on the property ladder—but that’s not always the case.The good news? There are actually several ways you can buy with less, and we’re here to help you figure out which one’s right for you.Here’s a breakdown of how you can get into your first home with less than a 20% deposit......

Using A Guarantee For Your Family

Guarantees used to be a simple way for parents to help their children into a first home. But with changes to responsible lending rules, things have become a lot more complex. If you're thinking about helping a family member buy a home—or you're a first-home buyer yourself—it’s important to understand what’s involved....

Buying in NZ as a non-citizen

New Zealand is an incredible place to live, and it’s no surprise that so many people from overseas want to make it home. If you’ve recently moved here or are planning to settle down, buying a property can be a fantastic next step—but there are a few important things to be aware of if you weren’t born in NZ....

Gift Letters and Loan Letters

For many first home buyers, getting help from family or friends with a deposit is the key to getting into the market. That support usually comes in the form of a gift or a loan—but what’s the difference, and what does the bank need to see?...

Buying at Auction

Buying a property at auction is such an exciting to lock in your dream home or investment—but it does come with a few extra responsibilities, especially when it comes to finance.Here’s a quick breakdown of what you need to have sorted before auction day...

Buying Your First Home in 2025!

Thinking about buying your first home in 2025? We love working with first-home buyers. We keep things relaxed, clear, and easy—but we’re also incredibly good at what we do. Most importantly, we want to make sure your journey is smooth, stress-free, and yes, even fun.So, what does the process actually look like when you work with us?...

Lower Interest Rates: What's Your Next Step?

Yep, interest rates are still coming down! But what does that actually mean for you and your mortgage? Is it time to refix, refinance—or just stay put?We’re working with a lot of clients right now to help them make smart decisions in this ever-changing space. Here’s what we’re focusing on, and how you can use these strategies to improve your financial position....

Sale and Purchase Agreement Deposit Vs. Your Overall Deposit

It’s a question we get a lot:"Are the deposit noted in the sale and purchase agreement and your overall deposit the same thing? Are they different? Do you need to come up with more money?"The short answer is no—they all fit into the same deposit....