# First-home couple with a 10% deposit

Home lending · Borrower profiles · P01

A salaried couple buying their first home, with about a 10% deposit and little mortgage experience.

[Back to the study](https://nzbrands.ai/research/banking/home-lending#borrowers)

| Measure | Value |
| --- | --- |
| questions | 18 |
| captured answers | 101 |
| AI platforms | 4 |
| collected | 11 Oct 2026 |

## Read what this borrower asked.

### HL-Q001: Borrower journey

My partner and I want to buy our first home. We both have salaried jobs and about a 10% deposit. Are we ready to start talking to banks, or should we keep saving?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/banking/home-lending/editions/1/questions/HL-Q001.md)

### HL-Q002: Borrower journey

We're buying our first home and have about a 10% deposit. Neither of us knows much about mortgages. Should we start with our bank or talk to a mortgage adviser?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/banking/home-lending/editions/1/questions/HL-Q002.md)

### HL-Q003: Choosing a loan

We're a couple buying our first home. We both have salaried jobs, about a 10% deposit and little experience with mortgages. Which lenders would you suggest we talk to first, and why?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/banking/home-lending/editions/1/questions/HL-Q003.md)

### HL-Q004: Borrower journey

We're buying our first home with about a 10% deposit. We want repayments we can comfortably manage, but we'd also like to pay extra when we can. What should we look for in a mortgage?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/banking/home-lending/editions/1/questions/HL-Q004.md)

### HL-Q005: Borrower journey

My partner and I are getting ready to apply for our first home loan. We're both salaried and have about a 10% deposit. What paperwork should we get together before we apply?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/banking/home-lending/editions/1/questions/HL-Q005.md)

### HL-Q006: Borrower journey

We've got conditional pre-approval for our first home loan and have found a house we like. Does that mean we can make an unconditional offer, or are there more things to check?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/banking/home-lending/editions/1/questions/HL-Q006.md)

### HL-Q008: Borrower journey

We've just bought our first home and don't really understand the rules about extra mortgage payments. If we have a bit left over each month, what's a sensible way to use it?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/banking/home-lending/editions/1/questions/HL-Q008.md)

### HL-Q009: Borrower journey

We're in our first year of owning a home and the mortgage payments are getting tight. We haven't missed any yet. What should we do before it becomes a bigger problem?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/banking/home-lending/editions/1/questions/HL-Q009.md)

### HL-Q100: Choosing a loan

We're a salaried couple buying our first home with about a 10% deposit and little experience with mortgages. Which lenders would you recommend for our home loan, and why?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/banking/home-lending/editions/1/questions/HL-Q100.md)

### HL-Q101: Choosing a loan

What's the best bank for a first home loan if we're a salaried couple with about a 10% deposit?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/banking/home-lending/editions/1/questions/HL-Q101.md)

### HL-Q102: Choosing a loan

best bank for first home buyers with 10% deposit

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/banking/home-lending/editions/1/questions/HL-Q102.md)

### HL-Q103: Borrower priorities

We're a salaried couple buying our first home with about a 10% deposit and little experience with mortgages. What matters most to us is keeping the total cost as low as possible. Which lenders would you recommend for our home loan, and why?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/banking/home-lending/editions/1/questions/HL-Q103.md)

### HL-Q104: Borrower priorities

We're a salaried couple buying our first home with about a 10% deposit and little experience with mortgages. What matters most to us is being able to pay extra or change our repayments when we need to. Which lenders would you recommend for our home loan, and why?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/banking/home-lending/editions/1/questions/HL-Q104.md)

### HL-Q105: Borrower priorities

We're a salaried couple buying our first home with about a 10% deposit and little experience with mortgages. What matters most to us is getting good help and advice when we need it. Which lenders would you recommend for our home loan, and why?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/banking/home-lending/editions/1/questions/HL-Q105.md)

### HL-Q106: Support after purchase

We're a salaried couple who recently bought our first home with about a 10% deposit, and we're still learning how our mortgage works. Which lenders are best at looking after mortgage customers in our situation, and why?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/banking/home-lending/editions/1/questions/HL-Q106.md)

### HL-Q107: Support after purchase

We bought our first home last year with about a 10% deposit and we're both on salaries. Our bank is hard to get clear answers from about our mortgage. Are some banks better at helping first-home owners, and would it be worth moving?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/banking/home-lending/editions/1/questions/HL-Q107.md)

### HL-Q108: Support after purchase

Which bank has the best mortgage customer service for first-home owners who bought with about a 10% deposit?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/banking/home-lending/editions/1/questions/HL-Q108.md)

### HL-Q109: Support after purchase

best bank mortgage support first home owners 10% deposit

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/banking/home-lending/editions/1/questions/HL-Q109.md)

## Which lenders AI put in front of this borrower

The national loan-choice and support answers, with the lenders each assistant recommended.

| Lender or party | Answers | Total |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kiwibank | 22 | 30 |
| BNZ | 21 | 30 |
| ANZ | 18 | 30 |
| ASB | 17 | 30 |
| Westpac | 16 | 30 |
| SBS | 15 | 30 |
| Co-operative | 10 | 30 |
| TSB | 3 | 30 |
| Unity | 1 | 30 |

## Which lenders AI recommended for the loan.

National choice answers for this borrower. Open a lender to read the evidence.

| Topic | Lender or party | Recommended or named answers | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| First home · 10% deposit | ANZ | 16 | 16 | 27 | 14 | 3 | 3 |
| First home · 10% deposit | Kiwibank | 16 | 16 | 29 | 21 | 0 | 2 |
| First home · 10% deposit | BNZ | 15 | 16 | 22 | 13 | 4 | 1 |
| First home · 10% deposit | Westpac | 14 | 16 | 22 | 22 | 2 | 4 |
| First home · 10% deposit | ASB | 13 | 16 | 20 | 17 | 1 | 3 |
| First home · 10% deposit | SBS | 7 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| First home · 10% deposit | Co-operative | 3 | 16 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| First home · 10% deposit | TSB | 1 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| First home · 10% deposit | Unity | 1 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |

## Who AI recommended for ongoing support.

National support answers for this borrower, after the lending decision.

| Topic | Lender or party | Recommended or named answers | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| First home · 10% deposit | SBS | 8 | 14 | 26 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| First home · 10% deposit | Co-operative | 7 | 14 | 19 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| First home · 10% deposit | BNZ | 6 | 14 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 1 |
| First home · 10% deposit | Kiwibank | 6 | 14 | 21 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| First home · 10% deposit | ASB | 4 | 14 | 8 | 9 | 1 | 2 |
| First home · 10% deposit | ANZ | 2 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 2 |
| First home · 10% deposit | TSB | 2 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| First home · 10% deposit | Westpac | 2 | 14 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 1 |

## The reasoning behind the recommendations.

The recommendation starts with access to lending. AI discusses whether the deposit and household income fit a lender's assessment, what extra pricing may apply, and how to navigate a first mortgage. ANZ and Kiwibank are included in every national choice answer. BNZ is close behind, so this is a broad mainstream route rather than a single-bank instruction.

The support comparison creates a different story. After the home is bought, the relevant questions become understanding repayments, getting accessible help and managing the mortgage as equity changes. SBS leads the support table, followed by Co-operative. The smaller banks gain favourable positioning through education, personal attention and the first-home relationship.

The implication is that first-home acquisition and first-home ownership need separate explanations. A lender can be widely suggested as a place to apply without receiving the same prominence as a place to seek help once the mortgage exists.

ChatGPT: “My recommendation is to compare ANZ, BNZ and Kiwibank first, then check whether you qualify for a Kāinga Ora First Home Loan through a participating lender.”

[Read the answer](https://nzbrands.ai/research/banking/home-lending/editions/1/questions/HL-Q102.md) · Answer ID: e1bb84a3-312f-40f0-94fa-206d3c1c2835

Gemini: “This means banks (including Kiwibank, Westpac, ANZ, and BNZ) are often much more flexible with 10% (or even smaller) deposits if you are purchasing a brand-new property.”

[Read the answer](https://nzbrands.ai/research/banking/home-lending/editions/1/questions/HL-Q102.md) · Answer ID: b1e0f5d1-3bba-4e96-a844-245f1bd325f3

Google AI Mode: “If your combined salaries give you a high surplus income serviceability test, they will frequently match or negotiate low-equity rates to win your business.”

[Read the answer](https://nzbrands.ai/research/banking/home-lending/editions/1/questions/HL-Q101.md) · Answer ID: 09ffed91-9ae0-40e0-bcb8-88a49a1d17f2

ChatGPT: “Why consider it: A particularly good candidate if feeling listened to and getting helpful advice are your priorities.”

[Read the answer](https://nzbrands.ai/research/banking/home-lending/editions/1/questions/HL-Q108.md) · Answer ID: df900785-c60b-4634-8294-6d3b5aa80507

Gemini: “Lenders with a community or building-society background (like SBS or The Co-operative Bank) sometimes take a more holistic view of your actual spending habits compared to rigid algorithms at major banks.”

[Read the answer](https://nzbrands.ai/research/banking/home-lending/editions/1/questions/HL-Q106.md) · Answer ID: 4e2bc803-0364-4660-99f2-bd9d33f3d734

Google AI Mode: “Recognized as a leading institution for first-home buyers (including taking out top industry accolades like the Canstar Bank of the Year First Home Buyers Award)”

[Read the answer](https://nzbrands.ai/research/banking/home-lending/editions/1/questions/HL-Q106.md) · Answer ID: d6bfa53a-e4c4-4408-9658-381e237727e4

## Where the answers to this borrower came from

The websites each assistant drew on, and what kind of publisher they are. Pick a question group to compare the websites.

### ChatGPT

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| bnz.co.nz | 17 |
| rbnz.govt.nz | 15 |
| kiwibank.co.nz | 13 |
| kaingaora.govt.nz | 11 |
| anz.co.nz | 10 |
| asb.co.nz | 8 |
| canstar.co.nz | 7 |
| westpac.co.nz | 7 |
| sorted.org.nz | 5 |
| consumer.org.nz | 4 |

### Gemini

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| moneyhub.co.nz | 15 |
| kiwibank.co.nz | 7 |
| westpac.co.nz | 6 |
| asb.co.nz | 5 |
| globalfinance.co.nz | 5 |
| mortgagemanagers.co.nz | 5 |
| bnz.co.nz | 3 |
| calculate.co.nz | 3 |
| canstar.co.nz | 3 |
| kaingaora.govt.nz | 3 |

### Google AI Mode

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| kiwibank.co.nz | 10 |
| moneyhub.co.nz | 10 |
| canstar.co.nz | 4 |
| globalfinance.co.nz | 4 |
| kaingaora.govt.nz | 3 |
| westpac.co.nz | 3 |
| become.nz | 2 |
| bnz.co.nz | 2 |
| facebook.com | 2 |
| mortgagelab.co.nz | 2 |

### AI Overviews

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| moneyhub.co.nz | 15 |
| canstar.co.nz | 12 |
| kaingaora.govt.nz | 10 |
| westpac.co.nz | 10 |
| kiwibank.co.nz | 9 |
| facebook.com | 8 |
| asb.co.nz | 7 |
| bnz.co.nz | 6 |
| finchmortgages.co.nz | 6 |
| mortgagemanagers.co.nz | 6 |

A website counts once per answer, however many claims cite it. 96 of 101 answers have recorded sources.

[Next: Solo contractor buying a first home](https://nzbrands.ai/research/banking/home-lending/borrowers/p02)