Home Buyers Hub

WELCOME TO PRLaw’s HOME BUYERS HUB!

At PRLaw, we are experts in the home buying process. Not only that, but we are passionate about making the journey as fun and stress-free as possible, for you!

We have a team of experts on hand to guide you through the process. We will also work alongside your Mortgage Broker, Bank, and Real Estate Agent to ensure that we all cross the finish line together.

We can work with you, no matter where in New Zealand you are currently based, or you are buying property.

Phone now for an appointment and to get started!

Below, we have collated as much handy info as we can for you. Don’t forget though, that we are here to answer all your questions. If you do have any questions, just pick up the phone! At PRLaw we’re not your typical lawyers and we love to chat. We are approachable and friendly, and most importantly, here to help you!

We charge set fees, so you can rest assured you can ask us all the questions without incurring a huge fee.

Did we mention that our fee includes a simple will?!

Phone us now for an appointment and to engage us as your lawyer on this fun journey.

Check out the first of our Couch Chat short videos on buying your first home:

Kiwisaver

Information Summary on Kiwisaver (PDF, 41.36 kB)

Kiwisaver Withdrawals for Previous Homeowners

Pre-Settlement

Pre-Settlement Inspection Checklist (PDF, 508.00 kB)

Money

Borrowing from your parents


Below are some FAQ’s. If you have any other questions, please reach out to anyone in our Property Law & First Home Buyers team.

Frequently asked questions

What do I do if I want PRLaw to be my lawyer?

Just pick up the phone and give us a call or you can [Enable JavaScript to view protected content].

Does it matter where I live?

Not at all, we work for clients all over New Zealand and beyond.

Who orders the LIM report?

You are responsible for ordering the LIM from the Council. There will be a fee which will range from $150.00 to $300.00. It takes 10 working days to receive the LIM from the date of request. Some Councils will provide an urgent LIM for an extra cost, which only takes 5 working days. Once you receive the LIM I am happy to help you review it and answer any queries you may have.

You should be wary of LIM’s supplied by the Real Estate Agent (“Agent”) or the Vendor as it could be out of date or have important information removed. Further, the Council only has a duty of care to, and contractual relationship with, the person who requested the LIM.

One of the main reasons for obtaining a LIM is to check that all building consents have been obtained for any work undertaken on the dwelling, particularly for dwellings built and work completed after 1992. Building consents came into force with the Building Act 1991 (effective July 1992). Building work carried out before 1992 did not require a Code of Compliance Certificate (“CCC”). It is not unusual for dwellings built before 1991 to have no building permit as records prior to 1991 may have been destroyed or damaged by fire or flood. If there is a fire in the property you should pay particular attention to whether it has consent. Depending on the nature of work undertaken, it may also be necessary to check the scope of a CCC. If you are concerned about the absence of a CCC or permit, please contact me to discuss further.

I want to withdraw my Kiwisaver savings, and apply for a Kainga Ora First Home Grant. What do I do?

Please let us know and we will complete the paperwork to withdraw your Kiwisaver savings. You will need to apply for the First Home Grant online at https://hera.power-business.co.nz/kaingaora/First_Home.nsf. Once you have received your pre-approval letter, please email it to us. Here’s a Kiwisaver Information Summary (PDF, 41.36 kB) and a Homestart Information Summary (PDF, 42.74 kB)

I would like to withdraw my Kiwisaver savings, but I have owned a home before. What do I do?

You will need to make an application to Kainga Ora, who will determine whether you are in the same position as a first home buyer. This application is separate from the application you need to make to Kainga Ora if you also want to apply for the First Home Grant. If you want to apply for approval as a previous home owner and for the First Home Grant, you need to make TWO separate applications online with Housing New Zealand. Please also email your approval as a previous home owner to us. Here is some information on Kiwisaver withdrawals for previous home-owners.

What information do you need from me?

We will require documents confirming your identity.

Who is responsible for arranging insurance?

You are responsible for arranging insurance from the settlement date. If the property was purchased at mortgagee sale, you are responsible for arranging insurance from the date of confirmation of the conditions. You should obtain confirmation from an insurance company that you can insure the property prior to confirming any of the conditions. Some insurance companies may require an electrical inspection to be carried out before they will agree to insure the property, particularly for older properties.

When do I pay the deposit?

In most cases, the deposit is paid to the Agent when you confirm the conditions. In some cases, the deposit is paid when you sign the Agreement. If it is a private sale, you pay the deposit to our Trust Account and we pay it to the Vendor’s lawyer.

What is a pre-settlement inspection?

You have the right to inspect the property on one further occasion prior to settlement - this is called a pre-settlement inspection. Contact the Agent to arrange this and complete it at least three days prior to the settlement date. If any issues arise from the pre-settlement inspection, we must contact the vendor’s lawyer before the settlement date. Check out our handy Pre-Settlement Inspection Checklist

What time will settlement occur?

Settlement will occur any time between 9am and 4pm on the settlement date. Unfortunately, we cannot give you an exact time but we will endeavour to settle as early as possible. If you wish to book movers we recommend that you book for later on in the day (unless you are also selling on the same day). Most settlements take place between 11am and 3pm. If any issues arise preventing us from settling in a timely manner, we will immediately contact you.

If you are selling and buying on the same day, the purchaser of your property is entitled to keys as soon as they have paid us the settlement funds. Accordingly, you may wish to book your movers for earlier in the day. There may be a delay between your sale settling and your purchase settling. Again, we will keep you informed on the day.

Where do I collect the keys from?

When we call you to advise that settlement has been completed, we will confirm where you can collect the keys from.

What if I am borrowing money from my parents?

Obtaining additional funds from Mum and Dad to help purchase your first home – great! But what are the risks and what do you need to be aware of? Here is some basic information on borrowing money from your parents.