NZ First Home Buyer Information 2025: Your Complete Guide to Available Support

What's Changed in First Home Buying for 2025

The New Zealand housing landscape keeps evolving, and so do the ways to get your foot in the door. The old government schemes might be gone, but they've been replaced by more flexible, accessible options. No more jumping through endless hoops or trying to squeeze under income caps. Instead, you've got straightforward paths to build your deposit and get into your first home faster.

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Current Support Options for First Home Buyers

‍Aera Credits: Your Fast Track to $10K

Think of Aera Credits as your reward for being smart about your first home journey. Every step you take towards home ownership builds your credit balance, and these credits convert to cold, hard cash for your deposit.

The best part? Getting started is as easy as your morning coffee run:

• Join Aera: $100 in credits
• Get the app: Another $100
• Open your account: $100 more
• Fill out your profile: $100 again

That's $400 in credits before lunch. But we're just getting started.

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How Aera Credits Work

Here's where it gets interesting. Most first home buyers end up paying multiple middlemen – a real estate agent, a mortgage broker, and various other players who all take their cut. Aera flips this model on its head.

We bring everything in-house:

• Your savings platform
• Your real estate team
• Your mortgage specialists

By cutting out the middlemen, we can split those savings with you. These become your Aera Credits – up to $10,000 towards your deposit. No income caps, no regional restrictions, just straightforward rewards for choosing a smarter path to home ownership.

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Developer Cashbacks: The Hidden Advantage

New builds unlock another layer of support. Developers often offer cashback incentives that can give your deposit an extra boost. While these vary by developer and project, but sometimes they’re up to $15,000 and are definitely worth exploring – especially when combined with Aera Credits.

A smart play? Let Aera connect you with developers offering the best incentives. We know where to find them and how to maximize your benefits.

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Bank Cashbacks: Your Settlement Bonus

While bank cashbacks come after settlement (meaning they can't help with your deposit), they're still worth factoring into your plan. These typically range from $2,000 to $5,000 and can help with:

• Moving costs
• New furniture
• Initial maintenance
• Building your emergency fund

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Your KiwiSaver Power Play

Your KiwiSaver remains a cornerstone of your first home strategy. With three years of contributions, you can withdraw almost everything except $1,000. This includes your contributions, your employer's contributions, government contributions, and all those juicy investment returns.

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Getting Bank Fit: Your Success Strategy

Think of getting bank fit like training for a marathon – except instead of a medal, you get a house at the finish line. Banks want to see you're a financial athlete, not just someone who showed up on race day. Here's your training plan:

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Clean Up Your Bank Statements (3-Month Sprint)

Banks look at your last three months of statements like they're judging your financial Olympics. Here's what gets you gold:

Your Regular Income Story:

• Consistent paycheck deposits
• Side hustle income (properly documented)
• Regular income from flatmates or boarders
• Investment returns

Your Savings Game:

• Automatic transfers to savings on payday
• Growing balance month-on-month
• Emergency fund building
• No dipping into savings for everyday spending

Red Flags to Eliminate:

• Buy-now-pay-later purchases
• Online gambling transactions
• Bounced payments
• Frequent overdrafts
• Regular takeaways (yes, they actually look for this)

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Credit Score Bootcamp

Your credit score is like your financial fitness rating. Here's how to pump it up:

Immediate Actions:

• Pay every bill on time
• Clear any overdue payments
• Close unused credit cards
• Reduce credit card limits

Long-term Gains:

• Keep old credit accounts open (length of credit history matters)
• Space out any new credit applications
• Check your credit report for errors (it happens more than you'd think)

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Documentation Heavy Lifting

Time to flex those organizational muscles. Get these sorted:

Essential Documents:

• Valid passport or driver's license
• Recent payslips (last 3 months)
• Employment contract
• IRD tax summary
• Bank statements (all accounts, last 3 months)
• KiwiSaver statements
• Proof of address (utility bill or government letter)

Self-Employed Extra Reps:

• Ideally 2 years of tax returns
• Ideally 2 years of financial statements but some can get away with 1 if you have a strong track record
• GST returns (if registered)
• Current year-to-date trading position
• Statement of position

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Your Financial Victory Routine

Make these habits part of your daily workout:

Money Management Moves:

• Track every dollar with a budgeting app
• Review your spending weekly
• Set up automatic payments for bills
• Keep receipts for large purchases
• Monitor your credit score monthly

Building Your Savings Strength:

• Set up an automatic savings transfer on payday
• Put any windfalls (tax returns, bonuses) straight into savings
• Look for high-interest savings accounts
• Consider term deposits for longer-term savings

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Pro Tips from the Aera First Home Coach Team

These insider tips can give you the edge:

Smart Account Structure:

• Separate accounts for spending, saving, and bills
• No transfers between savings and spending
• Name your accounts clearly (banks love organization)
• Keep a buffer in your bill payment account

Income Optimization:

• Consider taking on overtime if available
• Document any side hustle income properly
• Get rent/board payments set up as regular transfers
• Keep payslips for any extra work

Remember, getting bank fit isn't just about looking good on paper – it's about building sustainable financial habits that'll serve you well beyond buying your first home. The Aera team will help you by providing you a personalised game plan that gets you over the finish line faster.

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Your First Home Timeline

The journey to your first home is a sprint, not a marathon. Here's how it typically breaks down:

1. Day 1: Start earning Aera Credits
2. Weeks 1-4: Document gathering
3. Weeks 4-7: Pre-approval process
4. Weeks 8+: House hunting
5. Final 4-6 weeks: Settlement

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FAQ: Quick Answers to Big Questions

"Are Aera Credits actually real money?" You bet! They convert directly to cash for your deposit when you buy through Aera. But you can only redeem them when you use certain Aera services to buy your home, up to certain limits. Check out Aera’s Credits page at www.aera.nz

"Can anyone earn Aera Credits?" Absolutely. No income caps, no complicated criteria. If you're buying your first home, you're eligible.

"Can I stack different types of support?" Smart thinking! Yes, combine your KiwiSaver withdrawal with Aera Credits and potentially developer cashbacks for maximum impact.

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Your Next Move

The path to your first home is clearer than ever. Download the Aera app today and start earning credits immediately. Every day you wait is money left on the table.

Book a chat with our First Home Faster team, and let's map out your journey to home ownership. With up to $10,000 in Aera Credits up for grabs, your first home might be closer than you think.

Ready to make your move? Get the Aera app now and start turning those credits into your first home deposit.

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