Moved across the ditch and ready to buy your first home in Australia? As a New Zealand citizen living here, you can often buy sooner than you think — in many cases with just a 5% deposit and without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance.
- ✅ Buy with as little as a 5% deposit under the federal Home Guarantee Scheme — NZ citizens are eligible
- ✅ Skip Lenders Mortgage Insurance, a cost that commonly runs into the tens of thousands
- ✅ Access 30+ Australian banks and lenders, including those with Kiwi-friendly policy
Buy with a 5% deposit — without paying LMI
New Zealand citizens living in Australia are treated like locals where it matters most: under the federal Home Guarantee Scheme, eligible Kiwi first home buyers can purchase with a 5% deposit while the government guarantees the rest — so no Lenders Mortgage Insurance applies. Depending on your purchase price, that typically saves somewhere between $10,000 and $30,000. Price caps apply by region and eligibility rules apply, so have your situation checked against the current policy before you commit.
How we help Kiwi homebuyers
Lender policy that works for NZ citizens
Not every lender treats a Special Category Visa (subclass 444) holder the same way. We compare 30+ banks and lenders and put your application to the ones whose policy treats NZ citizens like Australian citizens — on deposit, rates and borrowing power. For the full picture, read our guide to home loans for New Zealand citizens.
Straight answers on KiwiSaver
KiwiSaver generally can’t be used to buy a home in Australia, and it catches a lot of Kiwi buyers off guard. Before you plan your deposit around it, read what you can and can’t do with KiwiSaver in Australia — and what your alternatives are.
A team that does this every day
We’re Brisbane-based and help buyers Australia-wide. A 97% loan approval rate across the applications we process and 2,400+ five-star Google reviews come from doing the preparation properly before anything goes to a lender.
What happens from here?
- Schedule a free home loan assessment. Pick a time that works for you to chat with one of our expert brokers — we’ll give you a call.
- We research the market and find the best deal for you. We make the banks compete for your business and get you the best possible rate, rebate and structure for your situation.
- You’ll know your best option within 48 hours. We’ll present all the options available to you and help you decide what’s best.
- Get your loan approved and start saving. Once you’re happy with the loan, we submit for approval and stay with you through every step to settlement.
Kiwi buyer FAQs
Do I need permanent residency to buy a home in Australia?
Most New Zealand citizens live in Australia on a Special Category Visa (subclass 444), and lenders generally treat 444 holders like permanent residents for home loans. NZ citizens who ordinarily live in Australia are also generally exempt from foreign-buyer (FIRB) approval. Rules differ by lender and state, so get your specific situation checked.
Can I really buy with only a 5% deposit and no LMI?
Under the current Home Guarantee Scheme rules, New Zealand citizens are eligible alongside Australian citizens and permanent residents. Buy with a 5% deposit and no LMI, subject to the scheme’s price caps for your area and its eligibility criteria. Read our Home Guarantee Scheme guide for the current caps and rules.
Can I use my KiwiSaver for the deposit?
Generally no — KiwiSaver first-home withdrawals are for New Zealand property. There are limited transfer options and alternatives worth knowing about; our KiwiSaver guide covers them in detail.
Secure your free assessment today
Tell us where you’re at and we’ll map out your fastest path to a first home in Australia — deposit, scheme eligibility, lender choice and all. It’s free, and the lender pays us, not you.