Buying your first home comes with a lot of moving parts, and the legal side is the one most people have never seen before. This is the plain-English checklist of what actually needs to happen, in roughly the order it happens.
You won't do all of this yourself. A good chunk is your conveyancer's job. But knowing the shape of it means nothing catches you off guard.
Before you make an offer
- Get your finance pre-approval sorted. Know what you can borrow before you fall in love with a place.
- Check your KiwiSaver. Confirm you've been a member for three years and roughly how much you can withdraw. See our KiwiSaver withdrawal guide.
- Line up your conveyancer. Get one ready before you sign anything, so they can review the contract the moment you need them.
When you've found the one
- Send the Sale & Purchase Agreement to your conveyancer before you sign. This is the big one. Get advice before you're committed, not after.
- Agree your conditions. Finance, LIM, builder's report, due diligence. These are your safety net during the conditional period.
- Sort your deposit. Usually 10%, paid into the agent's trust account when you go unconditional.
During the conditional period
- Order and read the LIM. Or have your conveyancer do it. Check for unconsented work and hazards. See our LIM guide.
- Get a builder's report if your offer is conditional on one.
- Confirm your finance in writing with the bank.
- Let your conveyancer check the title for cross-lease, easements or anything unusual.
Going unconditional
- Confirm all conditions are met before the deadline.
- Start your KiwiSaver withdrawal straight away. It takes 10 to 15 working days. Don't leave it.
- Pay your deposit if you haven't already.
In the run-up to settlement
- Verify your identity and sign the Authority and Instruction form with your conveyancer.
- Sign your bank's mortgage documents.
- Arrange house insurance effective from settlement day. Your bank won't release the loan without it.
- Confirm your settlement date and have your final funds ready.
Settlement and after
- Settlement happens. Your conveyancer moves the money and registers the transfer. See what happens on settlement day.
- Collect the keys. The good part.
- Keep all your paperwork. Title, insurance, the contract. You'll want it one day.
The one thing people get wrong
If there's a single item on this list that derails settlements, it's the KiwiSaver withdrawal. It takes two to three weeks and people start it too late. Kick it off the day you go unconditional.
Everything else on this list is the kind of thing a conveyancer is supposed to chase for you. At Kemba it all sits on one dashboard with a clear "here's what's next," so you're never wondering whose turn it is. Fixed $2,000 + GST, real NZ-qualified people doing the work.
Frequently asked questions
What does a first-home buyer need to do legally?
You need a conveyancer or lawyer to review your contract, check the title and LIM, verify your identity, handle your KiwiSaver and bank paperwork, and settle the purchase by transferring the money and registering the title in your name.
When should I get a conveyancer?
Before you sign anything. The most valuable thing a conveyancer does early on is review your Sale & Purchase Agreement before you're committed, so line one up while you're still house-hunting.
What's the most common thing that delays a first-home settlement?
The KiwiSaver first home withdrawal. It takes 10 to 15 working days to process, and starting it late is the number one cause of delayed settlements. Begin it as soon as you go unconditional.