First Home Loan Eligibility Calculator NZ

This calculator gives you a quick, indicative check on whether you might meet the headline criteria for low-deposit first home lending support in New Zealand, the kind of scheme that can let eligible buyers purchase with as little as a 5% deposit instead of the usual 20%. You enter the property price, the deposit you have saved, your household income, the income cap that applies to you, and the house price cap set for your area, since both caps vary by region and change over time. The calculator works out your deposit as a percentage of the price and checks it against the 5% minimum, compares your household income against the income cap, and checks the property price against the regional price cap. It then returns a clear verdict, either that you may be eligible to apply or that one or more criteria are not met, alongside a breakdown showing your deposit percentage, whether your income sits within or over the cap, and whether the price sits within or over the cap. Because the deposit minimum, income and price caps are set by the scheme and revised periodically, confirm the current figures before relying on the result. This is an indicative guide only, not a guarantee of approval; a lender will still assess your full situation, so use this tool to gauge your position and seek advice before applying.

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You may be eligible to apply
indicative check against the headline criteria
Your deposit5.4% (ok)
Income vs capwithin cap
Price vs capwithin cap

This is an indicative check against a minimum 5% deposit, an income cap, and a regional house price cap, all of which change and are set by the scheme. It is not a guarantee; a lender assesses your full situation. Confirm the current rules and seek advice. Estimate only.

How it works

The calculator checks the three headline criteria for low-deposit first home support: that your deposit is at least 5% of the price, that your household income is at or below the income cap, and that the property price is at or below the regional house price cap. If all three pass, you may be eligible to apply. The thresholds change and vary by region, so they are entered as inputs for you to set to the current figures.

Worked example

On a $650,000 home with a $35,000 deposit, that is about 5.4%, above the 5% minimum. A $120,000 income under a $150,000 cap and a price under an $875,000 cap means all three criteria pass, so you may be eligible to apply, subject to the lender full assessment.

Related calculators

Data sources: the rates and thresholds on this page are maintained against Kainga Ora. Figures are checked twice monthly.

Frequently asked questions

Can I buy a first home with a 5% deposit?

Low-deposit first home lending support can allow a 5% deposit if you meet income and house price criteria. This calculator gives an indicative check; confirm the current rules and caps before relying on it.

What are the criteria for first home loan support?

Typically a minimum deposit, an income cap, and a house price cap that varies by region. The thresholds change, so the calculator takes them as inputs and you should confirm the latest figures.

Is this a guarantee of approval?

No. It is an indicative check against the headline criteria. A lender still assesses your full situation, and rules change, so use it as a guide and seek advice.