Answers to the questions we get asked the most

A mortgage adviser (referred to in the past as a broker) acts as your personal guide to the lending market, working on your behalf to secure the right home loan for your situation. Instead of working for one specific bank, we partner with multiple lenders across New Zealand. We answer your questions, handle the heavy lifting of the application process, and help you easily compare rates, structures, and options to ensure your mortgage works for your long-term goals.

For standard residential home loans, our service is typically 100% free for you. We are paid a commission by the bank or lender only after your loan settles. In specific situations where a fee may apply—such as for complex business lending, commercial loans, or non-bank lenders, we will explain this clearly upfront and get your written agreement before proceeding. There are never any hidden surprises. See our Fees Free Guarantee for more info.

Going directly to your bank limits you to only their specific products and criteria. By using an adviser, you gain access to a wide network of lenders, ensuring you get a competitive deal that suits your unique needs. We save you hours of time and confusion by handling the legwork, negotiating with lenders, and translating the financial jargon. Furthermore, if you are self-employed or have a less-than-perfect credit history, we know exactly which lenders are most likely to approve your application.

No, we help clients all across New Zealand! We even have clients in the Chatham islands! Modern mortgage advising can be done entirely remotely. We handle everything securely over the phone, Zoom, WhatsApp, and email.

We work with over 20 different trusted banks and lenders to match you with the best available options. Our panel includes:

Major Banks: ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Kiwibank, Westpac

Other Banks: Co-operative Bank, Heartland Bank, SBS, TSB, Bank of China

Specialist & Non-Bank Lenders: ASAP Finance, Avanti, Basecorp, CFML loans, Cressida Capital, DBR, First Mortgage Trust, Liberty Finance, Nelson Building Society, Pepper Money, Prospa, Southern Cross, Unity‍

We can assist with almost any type of borrowing you need. This includes first home loans, property investment lending, top-ups for renovations, commercial and business loans, personal loans, asset finance, and vehicle loans.

Absolutely. We guide you from your very first question right through to the day you get your keys (and beyond). We are also happy to connect you with our trusted network of professionals, including lawyers, real estate agents, property valuers, builders, and insurers. There are no silly questions, and we are here to support you at every stage of the journey.

Yes, we are fully qualified and regulated. Home Loan Factory advisers are registered on the Financial Service Providers Register. This means we are bound by strict professional duties to always prioritize your interests and provide compliant, ethical advice.

Your borrowing capacity depends on your income, expenses, and the specific lending criteria of different banks. Our online borrowing power calculator is a great starting to point to see how much banks may lend, and we will come back to you within 2 working days with a much more accurate picture of your borrowing power.

Your repayments will depend on your loan size, interest rate, and the term of your mortgage. You can get a rough estimate using our Home Loan Calculator. For a more personalized breakdown, or for help understanding how different structures affect your cash flow, give our team a call.

A pre-approval is a conditional offer from a lender stating how much they are willing to lend you. It gives you the confidence to start house hunting and making offers. Pre-approvals typically last for 60 to 90 days, but we can easily help you roll them over or re-apply if you need more time to find the perfect property.

There is no single "best" option; it depends on your financial goals and need for certainty. Fixed rates give you a guaranteed repayment amount for a set period, protecting you from sudden rate hikes. Floating rates offer more flexibility to make extra repayments without penalties. Often, a "split" approach—fixing some and floating some—works best. We will help you build a strategy that fits your lifestyle.

While a 20% deposit is the ideal, we can frequently help clients secure a home loan with much less. Depending on your situation, you might be eligible to buy with as little as a 5% deposit using the Kāinga Ora First Home Loan scheme, or a 10% deposit for a new build property. Let's chat about your specific goals to see what pathways are open to you.

Yes! If you have been contributing to KiwiSaver for at least three years, you can likely withdraw your savings (leaving a minimum balance of $1,000) to put towards your first home deposit. Because we specialize in both mortgages and KiwiSaver, we can help you optimize your fund setup now to ensure you maximize your deposit when it's time to buy.