The legal stuff, explained.
Buying your first home comes with a pile of words nobody ever taught you. KiwiSaver withdrawals, LIM reports, going unconditional. Here are the plain-English versions, written by the people who do this for a living.
The bright-line test: does it actually affect first-home buyers?
The bright-line test taxes profit on property sold within 2 years. Here's what it actually is, and why it barely touches most first-home buyers.
Updated 7 September 2026
Does New Zealand have a cooling-off period when buying a house?
Short answer: no, not for a standard resale. Here's why New Zealand has no cooling-off period on house purchases, and what protects you instead.
Updated 7 September 2026
Cross-lease vs freehold vs unit title, explained
Freehold, cross-lease or unit title: the three main ways NZ properties are owned, what each means for a buyer, and why cross-lease needs the closest look.
Updated 7 September 2026
What does a conveyancer actually do?
A conveyancer handles the legal side of buying a house: title checks, the contract, KiwiSaver, settlement. Plain English, for NZ buyers.
Updated 11 June 2026
Auction vs tender vs deadline sale: what's actually different?
Auction, tender, deadline sale or a straight negotiation. Each one changes what you can offer and when you're locked in. Here's how to prep for each.
Updated 7 September 2026
Building insurance before settlement: what your bank actually needs
Your bank won't release mortgage funds without proof of insurance. What cover you need, when to arrange it, and what a certificate of currency is.
Updated 7 September 2026
Building inspections in New Zealand: do you need one, and what do they cost?
A building inspection checks the physical state of a house before you commit. What it covers, what it costs, and how it differs from a LIM.
Updated 7 September 2026
Joint tenants vs tenants in common: how should you hold the title?
Buying with someone else? You have to choose how you hold the title: joint tenants or tenants in common. What each means, in plain English.
Updated 7 September 2026
Unit titles and body corporate disclosure, explained
Buying a unit title property? Here's what the body corporate does, what disclosure a seller must give you by law, and what to check before you commit.
Updated 7 September 2026
The first-home buyer's conveyancing checklist
The legal side of buying your first home in NZ, as a simple checklist: from getting your conveyancer sorted to picking up the keys. Free and FHB-friendly.
Updated 11 June 2026
How the KiwiSaver first home withdrawal works
How to use KiwiSaver for your first home: who qualifies, how much you can take, and the 10 to 15 working day timeline that catches first-home buyers out.
Updated 11 June 2026
Your Sale & Purchase Agreement, explained
The Sale & Purchase Agreement is the contract that buys your house. What conditional vs unconditional means, and when you're locked in.
Updated 11 June 2026
What actually happens on settlement day
Settlement day is when the money moves and the house becomes legally yours. Here's the order things happen in, who does what, and when you get the keys.
Updated 11 June 2026
What's a LIM report, and do you actually need one?
A LIM is the council's record of a property: consents, drainage, flood and contamination risk, rates. What's in one, and whether you need it.
Updated 11 June 2026
What happens if your house sale falls through?
Finance falls through, a condition isn't met, or someone defaults after going unconditional. What actually happens next, and how the two situations differ.
Updated 7 September 2026
How much does conveyancing cost in New Zealand?
Conveyancing in New Zealand typically costs $1,000 to $2,500 plus disbursements, but quotes can be murky. Here's what you actually pay for.
Updated 11 June 2026