How to get a Head Start

A simple guide to the first home buyer Homestart Grant

Your first home loan is likely to be the biggest financial commitment you’ll ever make, so it’s important to do your homework up front to ensure you get the right finance package to suit you now and into the future. You can either shop around for the best deal and consult with your local bank or use the services of a qualified mortgage broker.

Headstart Homes Canterbury have put together a series of homes specifically designed to help you get into your first home utilising the Homestart Grant scheme. Not only do we build quality master-built homes with great inclusions, we also offer a fixed-price contract and invoice you at scheduled stages of construction so that you’re not paying interest on the full loan amount during the building process.

Under the Homestart Grant Scheme, when purchasing a new home or section, you are entitled to $2,000 for each year you’ve paid into the scheme. The most you can get is $10,000 for 5 years. And, if building or purchasing a newly built home with someone else who is also eligible, you could get up to $20,000 between you. The $20,000 grant allows you to build your first home to a combined section and home investment cap of $550,000 here in Christchurch and the immediate area.

Eligibility Criteria:

• You must be 18 or older
• Are a first-time buyer and have been contributing at least the minimum amount of your income (currently 3%) to your KiwiSaver scheme for 3 years
• Your gross income in the previous 12 months has been less than $85,000 for 1 person or $130,000 for 2 or more people
• Have a minimum 10% deposit of the purchase price
• Commit to living in your new home for at least 6 months from when the code compliance certificate is issued on completion of your home.

So where to go from here?

Headstart Homes’ innovative series of house plans, including House & Land Packages Faringdon, are designed and priced to get ahead. We offer flexibility and can tailor our plans to suit your specific needs and budget. Plus, our turnkey options provide you with everything you need to move straight in and start enjoying your new home including lighting, flooring, driveway, landscaping and even the letterbox if you want!

Contact us today, phone 0508 442 556 or visit our showroom ‘The Lochy’ from 12pm to 4pm Thu to Sun to discuss how we can work together to get you into your new home sooner than later!

We also have a great financial advisor that can assist you with all things finance, they can give you a call, ask a few questions, get a little understanding around your personal circumstances and give you a guide as to your lending ability. Then they can seek pre-approval on your behalf with either your bank or another they think might fit you better.