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Evidence · Home lending

The questions and original answers

Explore every question and captured response in the home-lending study, including answers asked nationally and from four cities.

questions
193
captured answers
1,094
AI platforms
4
collected
11 October 2026

01

Every question, with its answers

Each question was written as a voter would ask it and went to all four assistants. Some were also asked from a town. Open a question to read every answer to it in full.

Showing 20 of 193 questions

Show all 193

02

The tables behind the study

Every figure on the study page comes from these tables. They are CSV files, which open in any spreadsheet.

  • Question catalogue

    questions.csv

    One row per question.

    Question ID, borrower, exact question, group and collected answers

    193rows

    Download question catalogue (CSV)

  • Answers

    answers.csv

    One row per answer, with its full text.

    Answer ID, question ID, borrower, assistant, city, words, coded recommendations, showed a link and full text

    1,094rows

    Download answers (CSV)

  • Sources by answer

    sources.csv

    One row for each website recorded as a source of an answer.

    Answer ID, question ID, assistant, city, website and publisher type

    4,574rows

    Download sources by answer (CSV)

  • Checks against official sources

    checks.csv

    One row per statement checked.

    Check, answer ID, assistant, what the answer said, verdict, what the source says, source and date

    4rows

    Download checks against official sources (CSV)

  • Recommendation coding

    recommendation-coding.csv

    One row per coded national loan-choice or support answer.

    Answer ID, question ID, borrower, assistant, question group, recommended lenders and supporting passages

    360rows

    Download recommendation coding (CSV)

  • Platform comparisons

    platform-recommendation-counts.csv

    One row per platform, lender and question group.

    Matched panel, recommended answers, denominator and supporting answer IDs

    105rows

    Download platform comparisons (CSV)

  • City comparisons

    city-recommendation-counts.csv

    One row per city, lender and question group.

    Matched panel, recommended answers, denominator and supporting answer IDs

    112rows

    Download city comparisons (CSV)

Use these tables to trace findings back to the original questions and answers. The full text of each answer is also on this page, under its question.

03

Read in full and checked

Some answers were read in detail or checked against official sources. Those appear on the study page, beside the findings they support.

ChatGPT · National

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?

Congratulations on buying your first home! It's a big milestone, and it's completely normal to find the mortgage rules confusing at first.

If you have a bit of money left over each month, putting some of it towards your mortgage can be a great way to save interest and become mortgage-free sooner. But in New Zealand, the best approach depends on whether your mortgage is fixed or floating, what your bank allows, and whether you've built up enough savings for unexpected expenses.

The key is to balance three things: keeping some cash available, avoiding unnecessary mortgage interest, and making extra repayments without accidentally triggering bank fees.

1. First, understand what type of mortgage you have

In New Zealand, there are two common mortgage types, and the rules for extra payments can differ.

Fixed-rate mortgage

Your interest rate is locked in for a set period. Banks often limit how much extra you can repay during that period without an early repayment charge. Some allow small additional regular payments or a limited lump sum each year.

Floating-rate mortgage

Your interest rate can change. You can generally make additional repayments more freely, although the exact terms depend on your loan. The trade-off is that floating rates are often higher than fixed rates.

Some homeowners split their mortgage between fixed and floating portions to get a mix of rate certainty and repayment flexibility.

Important: Don't assume that you can pay any extra amount into a fixed loan without a fee. Check your specific loan agreement first.

2. A sensible order for using your spare money

For most first-home owners, I'd suggest working through these steps in order.

Step 1: Build an emergency fund

Start with a small buffer, perhaps $1,000, then gradually work towards a few months of essential expenses. Owning a home brings unexpected costs, from plumbing repairs to replacing appliances. Keep this money accessible in a separate savings account. Start your emergency fund – preparing for life’s unexpected turns » SortedHow to get out of debt quickly » Sorted

Step 2: Clear expensive debt

If you have credit-card balances, buy-now-pay-later debt or personal loans with high interest rates, these will often be a better priority than extra mortgage payments. Keep making your required mortgage payments, of course.

Step 3: Make extra mortgage payments where allowed

Once your emergency fund is underway and expensive debts are under control, extra mortgage payments can be an excellent use of spare cash. They reduce the balance on which interest is charged and can shorten the loan term.

Step 4: Keep some flexibility

Don't commit every spare dollar to the house. You may need money for maintenance, insurance excesses, rates, or simply enjoying your new home. You can also consider longer-term savings and KiwiSaver goals.

3. How much difference can extra payments make?

Even modest extra repayments can add up because they reduce your outstanding loan balance, which means less interest is charged over time.

For illustration, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand gives an example of a $200,000 mortgage over 25 years at 6% interest. Paying an extra $50 per month could save around $17,500 in interest and clear the mortgage roughly two years earlier. Your own result will depend on your rate, loan balance and repayment terms. I want to learn about saving - Reserve Bank of New Zealand

4. What if you're on a fixed rate and can't pay extra yet?

You still have options.

  • Check your annual extra-payment allowance. Some lenders allow a certain amount of additional repayments without a fee. The limit varies by bank and loan product.
  • Save the surplus in the meantime. Put the money in an accessible savings account or suitable term deposit, then reassess when your fixed rate expires. Compare the after-tax interest you earn with the mortgage interest you could avoid. I want to learn about saving - Reserve Bank of New ZealandEarly repayment charges
  • Ask about offset or revolving-credit mortgages. These can let you use spare cash to reduce the interest charged while retaining access to funds, but they have different rates, conditions and spending risks. They aren't automatically the best option for everyone.

For example, BNZ's Standard fixed-rate home loan allows extra repayments of up to 5% of the loan balance each year without an early repayment charge, subject to its terms. Other lenders and products have different rules, so don't assume that allowance applies to your loan. Paying off your home loan fasterHome loan types

5. Let's work out what's sensible for your mortgage

I can help you compare whether to make extra payments now, build savings first, or wait until your fixed term ends.

We'll start with what you have available rather than assuming you need to throw every spare dollar at the mortgage. The goal is to get ahead financially while keeping enough breathing room to enjoy your first home.

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 11 October 2026

Gemini · National

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?

Congratulations on buying your first home! Navigating a mortgage for the first time can feel overwhelming, but figuring out how to use extra cash flow is one of the most powerful ways to build long-term wealth and reduce financial stress.

In New Zealand, how extra mortgage payments work depends heavily on whether your loan is on a fixed rate or a floating (variable) rate.

Understanding the Rules in New Zealand

  • Floating Rate Mortgages: These offer maximum flexibility. You can usually make lump-sum payments or increase your regular repayments at any time without facing financial penalties.
  • Fixed Rate Mortgages: Most banks in New Zealand allow you to increase your regular repayments by a certain percentage (often up to 5% or 20% depending on the specific bank) or make small lump-sum payments each year without incurring break fees. However, exceeding these limits can trigger early repayment adjustments if wholesale interest rates have dropped since you fixed.
  • Revolving Credit / Offset Accounts: If part of your mortgage is structured as a revolving credit facility or an offset account, any surplus cash sitting in that account automatically reduces the principal balance on which daily interest is calculated.

A Sensible Framework for Your Extra Money

When you have surplus cash left over each month, a balanced approach focuses on building an emergency buffer, tackling high-interest debt, and then optimizing your mortgage structure.

Consider the following step-by-step approach:

  1. Build a Dedicated Emergency Fund

    • Action: Set aside 3 to 6 months' worth of essential living expenses (including mortgage payments, rates, and insurances) in an easily accessible savings account.
    • Why: Homeownership comes with unexpected costs (like roof leaks, plumbing issues, or appliance breakdowns). Having cash buffer prevents you from needing to rely on credit cards or expensive personal loans.

  2. Check Your Fixed-Rate Allowances

    • Action: Review your home loan agreement or contact your bank to check your specific unscheduled principal payment limits if your mortgage is currently fixed.
    • Why: Staying within your bank's allowable limits ensures you won't accidentally trigger break fees while still chipping away at your principal.

  3. Increase Regular Repayments or Set Up Offset/Revolving Credit

    • Action: If you are on a floating rate (or a portion of your split loan is floating/revolving), redirect your monthly surplus directly into the mortgage. Alternatively, increase your automatic fortnightly or monthly payments.
    • Why: Extra payments reduce the principal balance. Because mortgage interest is calculated daily, lowering the principal reduces the total amount of interest you pay over the life of the loan, shaving years off your mortgage term.

  4. Balance Mortgage Paydown with Other Financial Goals

    • Action: Once your baseline mortgage strategy and emergency fund are secure, evaluate other goals—such as contributing to KiwiSaver (especially to capture employer matches and government tax credits) or building a diversified investment portfolio.

To help tailor this specifically to your situation, what is your current mortgage structure (e.g., is it fully fixed, floating, or split), and do you currently have an emergency savings fund set aside?

Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 11 October 2026

Google AI Mode · National

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?

Congratulations on buying your first home! Sorting out what to do with a little extra cash each month is one of the best ways to get ahead, but how you do it depends heavily on whether your mortgage is fixed or floating.

Here is a breakdown of how extra repayments work in New Zealand and a sensible way to approach your spare cash.

1. Know Your Mortgage Structure

  • Fixed-rate loans: Banks in New Zealand usually let you increase your regular payments or make extra lump-sum payments up to a certain limit each year without penalty (for example, an extra $250 a week or a percentage of the remaining loan balance). Exceeding these limits while fixed can trigger break fees (early repayment recovery costs).
  • Floating-rate, offset, or revolving credit loans: These typically allow unlimited extra payments or let your everyday savings directly reduce (offset) the principal balance on which you are charged interest, with complete freedom to redraw the money if you need it.

2. Sensible Ways to Use Leftover Monthly Cash

If you have a bit left over consistently, consider these options ordered from most flexible to most aggressive:

  • Build an emergency buffer first: Before throwing every extra dollar at the mortgage, make sure you have $3,000 to $5,000 (or 3 months of essential expenses) sitting in an accessible savings or offset account. Homeownership comes with unexpected costs like plumbing or roof repairs.
  • Switch to fortnightly payments: If you currently pay monthly, ask your bank to split it into fortnightly payments matching half your monthly total. Because there are 52 weeks in a year (26 fortnights), paying fortnightly results in the equivalent of 13 full monthly payments a year instead of 12—shaving years off your mortgage without you really feeling the pinch.
  • Utilize offset or revolving credit (if applicable): If a portion of your mortgage is on a floating or offset facility, keeping your leftover monthly cash in that linked account immediately lowers the daily interest charged on your home loan, while keeping the cash accessible if an emergency pops up. [Finance.co.nz]
  • Increase regular payments within bank limits: If your loan is fixed, check with your lender (or via your internet banking app) to see your annual threshold for extra payments. You can set up an automatic extra payment each payday that sits safely under that limit to aggressively chip away at the principal.

To help narrow down the best move, are your current mortgage portions fixed, floating, or a split of both , and do you happen to have an offset or revolving credit facility set up?

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026

AI Overviews · National

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?

AI Overview

Congratulations on buying your first home!

The general rule for New Zealand mortgages is that floating (variable) loans allow unlimited extra payments anytime without penalties, whereas fixed-rate loans restrict how much extra you can pay before triggering an Early Repayment Adjustment (break fee).

If you have a bit of cash left over each month, the most sensible approach depends entirely on how your mortgage is structured.

1. Check Your Bank’s Fixed-Rate Rules

Most Kiwis fix their mortgages. If your loan is fixed, New Zealand banks usually let you pay a limited amount of extra money penalty-free using one of two methods:

  • Increasing regular payments: Most banks let you bump up your scheduled automatic payment up to a certain threshold. For example, ASB allows an extra $1,000 per month, ANZ allows an extra $250 a week, and Westpac allows you to increase payments by up to 20%.

  • Lump-sum allowances: Many banks let you make a one-off payment of up to 5% of your original loan balance each year without penalty.

Always check your specific bank app or call your lender to confirm your exact threshold before making an extra payment.

2. A Sensible Way to Use Leftover Cash

Rather than letting the money sit in a low-interest checking account, here is a strategic path to maximize your savings:

  • Build an emergency fund first: Before overpaying the mortgage, keep 3 to 6 months of living expenses in an easily accessible savings account. Once money goes into a fixed mortgage, you generally cannot draw it back out easily.

  • Use the "Set and Forget" method: If your emergency fund is safe, log into your online banking and permanently increase your regular automatic mortgage payment by $50 or $100 a month (staying under your bank's fixed limit). Even small regular amounts dramatically reduce the total compounding interest you pay over 30 years.

  • Switch to fortnightly payments: If you haven't already, match your mortgage cycle to your pay cycle. Paying half the monthly amount every two weeks results in 26 half-payments (the equivalent of one extra full monthly payment a year), shaving years off your term without straining your budget.

  • Park it until your fixed term expires: If you prefer absolute flexibility, pile your extra monthly cash into a high-interest savings account. When your fixed-rate term ends (e.g., in 1 or 2 years), you can pay that entire chunk off the principal balance in full for free before you sign up for your next fixed term.

To tailor this strategy, what bank are you with, and is your mortgage fixed or floating? Also, if you know your approximate interest rate , I can calculate how much time and interest a specific monthly overpayment would save you.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026