Buying a property, especially your first home, is a big decision. Together with the Real Estate Authority (REA), we’ve created some useful tips, tools and lists to help guide you through the buying process, from start to moving in.

The settled.govt.nz site provides independent guidance and advice including checklists, tools and videos. Covering everything from the initial thought process of buying (your goals, finances and support) to how you make the offer to settling in.

1. Work out your budget

The first thing you will want to know is what your budget is. To do this you’ll need to get a realistic picture of your finances, i.e. your income vs your spending, and weigh this up against your deposit - how much you've saved for your home and/or how much equity you have in your current property. For help with your budget, check out sorted.org.nz, familybudgeting.org.nz or familyservices.govt.nz.

Need to sell first? Find out how much your home is worth by getting a