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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're moving to a bigger home and may need to buy before our current place sells. Which lenders would you suggest we talk to about financing the move?

For a move-up purchase in New Zealand, I’d start by talking to your existing mortgage lender, then compare a couple of other major banks and an independent mortgage adviser. The key product to ask about is bridging finance — a short-term loan that lets you buy your next home before the sale proceeds from your current home arrive.

The right option will depend on how much equity you have in your current home, how much you need to borrow for the next one, and whether your existing property is already on the market. New Zealand’s Settled.govt.nz guidance also highlights the cost and risk of carrying two home loans at once. Thinking about your finances when sellingBridging Finance

Lenders I'd suggest contacting

  1. ANZ New Zealand

Offers bridging finance for buying before selling, with home loan coaches and mobile mortgage managers to discuss your options. A good bank to include in your comparison, whether or not you already bank with ANZ. Bridging Finance

Contact: 0800 269 4663

Bridging finance and eligibility

  1. ASB

Worth approaching if you want to keep your existing mortgage in place while purchasing the next property. ASB says eligible customers may be able to use bridging finance, and it explains how buying and selling at the same time can be structured. Bridging finance - Buying & selling at the same time

Contact: 0800 100 600

Buying and selling a home at the same time

  1. BNZ

Particularly useful to ask about if your current home hasn't sold yet. BNZ explains the difference between open bridging (buying before your existing home is sold) and closed bridging (both sales are agreed, but settlement dates differ). It also discusses the evidence and repayment plan you may need. How bridging finance works

BNZ bridging finance guide

  1. Westpac New Zealand

Another option for a short-term increase to your existing home loan or a bridging loan. Ask whether your current mortgage can be transferred to the new property and how the bank would structure the temporary overlap. Options with your current homeSelling and buying - financial considerations

Westpac options for your next home

Kiwibank Goes Live with ACI Worldwide's Enterprise Payments Platform

  1. Kiwibank

Worth comparing for its next-home lending options and calculator, which helps you estimate borrowing capacity when you might own two homes temporarily. Kiwibank also discusses using existing equity and transitioning your current mortgage. Confirm the specific bridging structure with a home loan specialist. Buying your next home | Home loansNext home calculator | Home loans

Buying your next home

I'd also speak to an independent mortgage adviser who can compare several lenders' policies without you having to make separate applications to each bank. Check the adviser's credentials and the scope of their advice through the Financial Markets Authority's guidance. How do I find an adviser?Financial Advice Provider (FAP)

What I'd ask each lender

The important thing is to compare the whole financing arrangement, not just the advertised interest rate.

  • Open versus closed bridging: Can you borrow before your current home has sold, or must you have an unconditional sale agreement?
  • Maximum borrowing: Can you afford both mortgages under the lender's assessment, including the possibility that your home takes longer to sell?
  • Interest and fees: What rate applies to the bridging portion, are payments interest-only, and are there establishment or valuation fees?
  • Sale price assumptions: What happens if your existing home sells for less than expected?
  • Loan structure: Can you transfer your existing mortgage, preserve a favourable fixed rate, or avoid unnecessary early repayment costs?
  • Exit plan: What is the repayment deadline, and what happens if your home hasn't sold by then?

BNZ specifically highlights the need for a realistic sale appraisal and a backup plan. Government guidance also warns that bridging finance can mean paying for two home loans simultaneously. How bridging finance worksThinking about your finances when selling

My suggested next step

Start with your current bank and one independent mortgage adviser, then use the other banks above as comparisons. Ask for a written estimate of the temporary peak debt, monthly repayments and the costs if the sale is delayed.

To narrow this down to the most relevant options for your situation, roughly how much equity do you have in your current home, and have you listed it for sale yet? An approximate figure or range is fine.

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 11 October 2026

Gemini · National

We're moving to a bigger home and may need to buy before our current place sells. Which lenders would you suggest we talk to about financing the move?

When you are looking to buy a new home before selling your current one in New Zealand, you will typically need a specialized arrangement known as a bridging loan (or "tideover" finance). This allows you to borrow funds to purchase the new property while your existing home is marketed and sold.

Because bridging finance involves carrying temporary dual debt, major retail banks and specialist lenders approach these applications carefully.

Major New Zealand Lenders for Bridging Finance

Most of the major retail banks in New Zealand offer bridging finance options for owner-occupiers, though their specific terms, interest loadings, and approval criteria vary:

  • ANZ: Offers short-term, interest-only bridging arrangements (sometimes referred to as tideover loans) to help cover the gap between purchase and sale settlement dates.
  • ASB & Westpac: Both major lenders provide structured bridging finance options, typically requiring a formal valuation of your current home and a clear, realistic exit strategy (the sale of your house).
  • BNZ: Offers bridging solutions for up to a 12-month period, structuring the transition so you can manage your current mortgage alongside interest-only payments for the new property.
  • Kiwibank & TSB: Frequently feature transparent bridging loan policies where rates are typically set slightly higher than standard variable rates (often around 1% p.a. above standard floating rates) during the bridging period.

Alternative & Specialist Lenders

If your situation is complex—such as needing rapid approval, having a tight settlement window, or facing tighter serviceability calculations from major banks—non-bank and specialist lenders (e.g., First Mortgage Trust or Xceda) also offer short-term property bridging and mortgage solutions, though usually at higher interest rates and fees.

Key Factors Lenders Will Evaluate

Before approving a bridging loan, New Zealand lenders will closely scrutinize:

  1. Your Equity: Lenders will evaluate the total equity across both properties. Depending on market conditions and the lender's risk appetite, they generally require you to have substantial equity (often targeting a combined Loan-to-Value Ratio or LVR threshold).
  2. Servicing Capacity: Under the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act (CCCFA), lenders must test whether you can temporarily afford the "double mortgage" payments (your full existing mortgage plus interest-only payments on the new loan) if your house takes longer to sell than expected.
  3. Your Exit Strategy: You will need to provide recent real estate appraisals, a marketing plan, and evidence that your current home is priced realistically for the local market.

Strategic Considerations

  • Closed vs. Open Bridging: A closed bridging loan is used when you already have an unconditional sale and purchase agreement on your current home with aligned settlement dates (lower risk). An open bridging loan is used when you buy the new home before your old home is even listed or sold (higher risk, stricter criteria, and typically limited to a 6-month window).
  • Using a Mortgage Broker: Because policies and risk appetites shift frequently among New Zealand lenders, working with an independent mortgage adviser can help you compare which major bank or lender will offer the most favorable serviceability rules and pricing for your specific equity position.
Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 11 October 2026

Google AI Mode · National

We're moving to a bigger home and may need to buy before our current place sells. Which lenders would you suggest we talk to about financing the move?

To buy your next home before selling your current one, you will need what is known as bridging finance. This is a short-term lending arrangement (usually up to 6 to 12 months) where the lender uses equity in both properties to cover the gap.

In New Zealand, most major retail banks and select non-bank/broker networks offer bridging finance options, though the specific criteria, pricing, and transparency vary.

Major New Zealand Banks

  • ANZ: Offers standard bridging loan structures where they take security over both properties while you transition, subject to equity and serviceability assessments.

  • ASB: Provides bridging finance options with interest-only payment structures, alongside tools to help evaluate your existing equity and structural options like substituting security to avoid fixed-term break fees.

  • BNZ: Offers bridging solutions if you meet their equity thresholds and can demonstrate a clear plan to service and repay the peak debt when your current house sells.

  • Kiwibank: Generally transparent with their pricing structure, often charging a modest margin (around 1% p.a.) above their standard floating rates for the bridging period. [MoneyHub NZ]

  • Westpac: Provides bridging finance support, evaluating the combined loan-to-value ratio (LVR) of both properties.

  • TSB: Known for clear, competitive terms on short-term bridging configurations relative to standard variable rates. [MoneyHub NZ]

Mortgage Brokers & Non-Bank Lenders

  • Financial Advisers / Brokers (e.g., Loan Market, Squirrel): Because bridging policies, capitalization of interest, and equity requirements (typically requiring at least 20% to 30% overall equity) vary significantly between banks, using a mortgage broker gives you access to a wide panel of lenders to negotiate the best terms.

  • Non-Bank Lenders (e.g., Squirrel, Resimac): Can sometimes offer more flexible or faster alternative short-term structures if traditional major banks are tight on serviceability criteria due to carrying two simultaneous loans.

If you'd like to narrow this down, let me know:

  • Are your current mortgage and financial accounts with one of the major main banks already?
  • Roughly what percentage of equity do you have built up in your current home?

I can help outline what financial information you'll need to prepare for them.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026

AI Overviews · National

We're moving to a bigger home and may need to buy before our current place sells. Which lenders would you suggest we talk to about financing the move?

AI Overview

To finance a property purchase before your current home sells in New Zealand, you will need bridging finance. Because you are buying before selling, you will specifically require an open bridging loan (where your existing home does not yet have an unconditional sale contract).

Open bridging is considered high-risk by financial institutions. Lenders will strictly evaluate your equity level (typically requiring at least 20%), your servicing capacity to carry dual debt, and a realistic backup plan if the sale takes longer than expected.

Mainstream Bank Options

Your first point of contact should be your existing home loan provider. Most major New Zealand banks offer bridging options to their existing clients, allowing you to utilize a "security transfer" or "substitution of security" to carry your current loan structure over to the new property, saving you fixed-term break fees.

  • Kiwibank : One of the few retail banks that transparently publishes its pricing structure for bridging finance. They typically charge their standard variable rate plus a 1% p.a. premium.

  • ASB : Offers short-term home loans that structure your payments as interest-only during the bridging window to lower your immediate cash outlay.

  • BNZ : Provides tailored bridging terms (typically up to 6 months for established homes). They require a registered valuation and a robust financial backup plan before approval.

  • Westpac NZ : Can increase your existing Choices Home Loan framework short-term or design an isolated interest-only bridging tier to span the gap.

Specialist & Non-Bank Lenders

If mainstream banks decline your request due to strict debt-servicing rules or the lack of an unconditional sale contract, specialist short-term lenders are far more flexible. They prioritize the overall asset strength and your exit strategy over rigid income verification.

  • ASAP Finance : A specialist lender providing heavily customized, short-term open bridging loans. They can capitalise interest (adding the monthly interest to the total loan balance rather than requiring monthly out-of-pocket payments).

  • Squirrel Mortgages : Acts as both a specialized advisory service and a peer-to-peer non-bank funder, helping to construct open-ended bridging structures for borrowers with complex equity or self-employed income profiles.

  • Xceda : Provides bridge mortgage terms up to 2 years, supporting high Loan-to-Value Ratios (LVR) up to 80% with options for interest-only or fully capitalised repayments.

Core Cost and Risk Breakdown

Feature Closed Bridging Open Bridging (Your Scenario)
Risk Profile Low: Repayment date is legally locked in by an unconditional sale contract. High: No definitive sale date or guaranteed sale price exists yet.
Pricing Setup Standard variable rate or mild floating premium. High floating rate + 1% to 2% p.a. premium + application fees.
Typical Term Up to 12 months. Strictly capped at 6 months by retail banks.
Interest Type Interest-only payments. Interest-only or Capitalised Interest (compounds into the final loan).

Strategic Next Steps

  1. Get an independent appraisal: Secure a formal real estate appraisal on your current house immediately. Lenders will base your maximum borrowing amount on a conservative estimate of your house's final sale price.

  2. Review your current mortgage contract: Check the wording around "portability" or "security substitution" with your current lender to see if you can migrate your existing interest rates.

  3. Engage a Mortgage Broker: Because open bridging policies vary wildly between New Zealand institutions and many non-bank rates are unlisted, a registered mortgage adviser can run simultaneous scenarios across multiple lender panels to find a flexible policy fast.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026