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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 applying for a mortgage on our first rental property. We already have a home loan. What information will the lender need about both properties and our finances?

For a first rental property (investment property) mortgage in New Zealand, the lender will generally assess your whole financial position, not just the new property. Because you already have a home loan, they’ll want a clear picture of both properties, all debts, your income, and whether you can comfortably service both mortgages. BNZ

Here’s the information you’ll likely need to prepare:

1. Your current home (owner-occupied property)

The lender will usually ask for:

  • Property address
  • Current estimated value (a valuation may be required)
  • Current mortgage details:
    • Outstanding loan balance
    • Loan limit (if you have a revolving credit or offset facility)
    • Interest rate and fixed/variable portions
    • Remaining loan term
    • Current repayment amount and frequency
  • Recent mortgage statements
  • Council rates
  • House insurance details
  • Any other costs (for example, body corporate fees if applicable)

They’ll use this to understand your existing equity and current commitments. Westpac Assets

2. The proposed rental property

For the investment property you’re buying, expect to provide:

  • Address (if you have found one)
  • Sale and purchase agreement (once available)
  • Purchase price
  • Deposit amount and source
  • Property type (house, unit, apartment, etc.)
  • Expected rental income:
    • Rental appraisal (often requested)
    • Existing tenancy agreement if already rented
    • Expected weekly rent if vacant
  • Expected property expenses:
    • Council rates
    • Insurance
    • Property management fees
    • Maintenance allowance
    • Body corporate fees (if applicable)

Lenders commonly ask for rental appraisals or tenancy information when assessing an investment property. BNZ

3. Your income

For each applicant, the lender will usually want:

If employed:

  • Recent payslips (often the latest few)
  • Employment details
  • Employment contract or employer confirmation if required

If self-employed:

  • Financial statements prepared by an accountant
  • Tax information (such as IRD income records)
  • Business financial information

Other income:

  • Existing rental income
  • Bonuses, commissions, allowances, dividends, or other regular income (where accepted)

BNZ

4. Your expenses and debts

The lender will review your ability to afford both mortgages, so expect questions about:

  • Current home loan repayments
  • Proposed investment loan repayments
  • Credit cards (limits and balances)
  • Personal loans
  • Car finance
  • Student loans
  • Buy Now Pay Later accounts
  • Insurance
  • Rates
  • Utilities
  • Food and household spending
  • Transport costs
  • Childcare or education costs
  • Other regular commitments

They may request recent bank statements to verify spending patterns. BNZ

5. Your assets and deposit

You’ll likely need evidence of:

  • Savings
  • KiwiSaver (if relevant)
  • Shares or investments
  • Vehicles or other significant assets
  • Equity available in your existing home
  • Source of the rental property deposit

ASB Bank

6. Personal documents

Commonly requested:

  • Proof of identity (passport or NZ driver licence)
  • Proof of address
  • Bank statements
  • Completed financial position statement/application forms

ASB Bank

Helpful preparation checklist

Before meeting the lender or mortgage adviser, gather:

  • ☐ Last 3 months of bank statements
  • ☐ Latest home loan statements
  • ☐ Current home insurance and rates information
  • ☐ Latest payslips or business financials
  • ☐ List of all debts and credit limits
  • ☐ Rental appraisal for the investment property
  • ☐ Evidence of deposit/equity source
  • ☐ Rough monthly household budget

One thing to be aware of: lenders often do not count 100% of expected rent as income when assessing affordability, and they may apply their own assumptions about vacancies, expenses, and interest rates. The exact treatment varies by lender.

If you’d like, I can also give you a NZ investment property mortgage application checklist you can fill in before approaching a bank or mortgage adviser.

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 11 October 2026

Gemini · National

We're applying for a mortgage on our first rental property. We already have a home loan. What information will the lender need about both properties and our finances?

Applying for a mortgage on your first rental property while already having an owner-occupier home loan requires a comprehensive look at your overall financial position. New Zealand registered banks and lenders examine both your personal financials and the specific metrics of both properties.

1. Information About Your Current Home & Equity

Lenders will need to evaluate your current property to see how much usable equity you can leverage for the rental property’s deposit (typically 30% for an existing property or 20% for a new build under Reserve Bank LVR rules).

  • Current Property Valuation: An estimate or registered valuation of your current home.
  • Existing Mortgage Details: The remaining loan balance, current interest rate, fixed-rate expiry dates, and structure (revolving credit vs. table loan) of your home loan.
  • Usable Equity Calculation: Banks generally allow you to borrow up to 80% of your owner-occupied home’s value minus what you still owe. You will need to show how the remaining equity will be structured (e.g., a "top-up" or a separate revolving credit facility used as the rental deposit).

2. Information About the Target Rental Property

Once you find a property or apply for pre-approval, the lender will assess the asset itself to ensure it meets their lending criteria:

  • Purchase Price & Property Type: Whether it is an existing home or a "new build" (which carries different LVR and Debt-to-Income / DTI rules).
  • Independent Rental Appraisal: A signed professional property manager or real estate appraisal letter estimating the weekly market rent. Banks usually only count 64% to 80% of the gross rental income in their servicing calculations to account for vacancies, maintenance, and insurance.
  • Property Condition & Compliance: Information showing the property complies with or can meet the NZ Healthy Homes Standards (heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture ingress, and drainage).

3. Personal Financial & Income Information

Lenders run strict affordability tests (known as serviceability calculations) combining both loans. They test whether you can handle higher interest rates (with major banks currently testing servicing rates around 6.85% to 7.10%) and check that your total lending complies with Debt-to-Income (DTI) caps (typically capped around 7x income for residential investment loans).

  • Proof of Income: Recent payslips (usually the last 3 months) for PAYE earners, or two years of IR3 tax returns and financial statements if you are self-employed or contracting.
  • Transactional Bank Statements: Typically 3 to 6 months of everyday transaction accounts, savings accounts, and credit card/personal loan statements to verify your spending habits.
  • Statement of Assets and Liabilities: A full inventory of what you own (vehicles, other investments, KiwiSaver) and what you owe (existing mortgage, student loans, credit card limits, personal loans, or hire purchases).
  • Living Expenses: A breakdown of your baseline household living costs (groceries, utilities, insurance, transport, entertainment). Note that banks will scrutinize discretionary spending during assessment.

Suggested Next Steps

  1. Request a Rental Appraisal: Get a local property manager or real estate agent to provide a formal market rental assessment for the type of rental property you want to buy.
  2. Pull Your Credit & Loan Balances: Gather your internet banking snapshots or statements for your current mortgage, credit cards, and everyday accounts.
  3. Speak to a Mortgage Adviser: Connect with a registered NZ mortgage adviser or your bank’s mobile mortgage manager to run an initial "borrowing capacity" calculation based on your combined household income and current home equity.

Are you planning to use equity from your current home for the deposit, or do you have cash savings set aside?

Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 11 October 2026

Google AI Mode · National

We're applying for a mortgage on our first rental property. We already have a home loan. What information will the lender need about both properties and our finances?

Applying for a mortgage on your first investment property while already holding an owner-occupied home loan means New Zealand lenders will look closely at your combined financial position. They evaluate your total household leverage, debt-to-income (DTI) metrics, and the individual equity/income performance of both properties.

Here is a breakdown of the information and documentation the lender will require:

1. Information About Your Current Home (Owner-Occupied)

  • Property Valuation & Equity: Details of your current residence and a recent valuation or council capital value (CV) to calculate your usable equity. Lenders may require a registered valuation depending on how much equity you are drawing down.
  • Existing Mortgage Details: Current loan balance, remaining term, interest rate, type of table/interest-only structure, and current monthly or fortnightly repayments.
  • Property Status: Confirmation that it remains owner-occupied (which impacts your Reserve Bank of New Zealand LVR Restrictions). Loan-to-value ratio restrictions - Reserve Bank of New Zealand

2. Information About the Target Rental Property

  • Property Identification & Purchase Details: Address, property type (e.g., standard existing home versus a New Build exemption property), and a signed Sale and Purchase Agreement.
  • Independent Valuation: A registered valuation for the new property to satisfy the 30% deposit requirement for standard existing investment properties (or 20% if it qualifies as a new build under RBNZ rules). [Opes Partners]
  • Expected Rental Appraisal: An independent property manager's rental assessment letter estimating weekly and annual rental income. Lenders typically haircut this projected income (often counting 65% to 80% of it) to buffer for vacancies and maintenance.
  • Target LVR Calculation: The proposed Loan-to-Value Ratio showing your equity contribution or cross-collateralisation structure across both properties.

3. Comprehensive Financial & Income Information

  • Personal Income: Recent payslips (last 3 months), employment details, or IRD summary of income. If you are self-employed, expect to provide 2 years of accountant-prepared financial statements and tax returns for your business/company/trust.
  • Rental Income Integration: How the projected rental income factors into your overall servicing ability, alongside your Debt-to-Income (DTI) caps (which generally cap investor lending at

7

×

income thresholds).

  • Living Expenses & Liabilities: Detailed breakdown of regular household living expenses, credit card limits (regardless of whether they carry a balance), personal loans, and other financial commitments.
  • Asset & Liability Statement: A complete tally of other assets (savings, KiwiSaver balances, vehicles, other investments) and remaining liabilities. [Opes Partners]

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

  • Are you planning to use equity from your current home as the deposit, or cash savings?
  • Is the rental property an existing home or a new build?

I can give you a clearer idea of how the bank will test your borrowing capacity.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026

AI Overviews · National

We're applying for a mortgage on our first rental property. We already have a home loan. What information will the lender need about both properties and our finances?

AI Overview

When applying for a mortgage on your first investment property in New Zealand while holding an existing home loan, lenders require a comprehensive assessment of your finances and both properties.

Because you already have a mortgage, lenders will evaluate your applications using a strict "Total Exposure" approach. They will treat your owner-occupied home and the new investment property as an interconnected portfolio.

1. Information Required: The New Rental Property

Lenders need to verify that the property is a viable, legally compliant investment that can generate sustainable income.

  • Rental Income Verification: A formal Rental Appraisal from a registered property manager or real estate agency. Lenders usually "shade" this income (e.g., counting only 70% to 80% of it) to account for vacancy periods and maintenance costs.

  • Healthy Homes Compliance: Proof or a declaration that the property meets (or will meet within legal timeframes) the Healthy Homes Standards (covering insulation, heating, ventilation, and moisture barriers). Non-compliant homes pose a risk to rental income consistency.

  • Property Type Details: Information on whether the property is a standalone house, an apartment, or a townhouse. If it is a unit title, you must provide the Body Corporate fees and rules, as these expenses reduce your net cash flow.

  • Sales and Purchase Agreement: A signed copy if you have already made a conditional offer.

2. Information Required: Your Existing Home

The lender needs to calculate the available equity in your current home to see if it can be leveraged to fund the deposit for the rental property.

  • Current Registered Valuation or E-Valuation: Up-to-date proof of your home's current market value.

  • Existing Mortgage Statements: Your latest loan statements showing your current remaining balance, your interest rate structure (fixed vs. floating), and your minimum repayment history.

  • Property Expenses: Current Council Rates and Home Insurance premiums. Lenders factor these fixed costs directly into your debt-servicing calculations.

3. Information Required: Your Personal Finances

Lenders will deeply analyze your personal cash flow using tight credit rules to ensure you can cover both loans if the rental property faces a prolonged vacancy.

  • Proof of Stable Income: Your last 3 payslips and an employment summary (or 2 years of audited financial accounts and tax returns if you are self-employed).

  • Bank Account Statements: 3 to 6 months of primary transaction account statements. Lenders will scan these for discretionary spending habits, unrevealed debts, or buy-now-pay-later usage (like Afterpay).

  • Detailed Liabilities: Proof of any other financial commitments, including credit card limits (the full limit is tested, even if the balance is zero), car loans, and student loans.

Critical Structural Hurdles to Keep in Mind

Before submitting your documents, be aware of how retail banks in New Zealand view this type of lending structure:

Metric / Risk Factor Bank Treatment & Expectations
Loan-to-Value Ratio (LVR) Under current RBNZ rules, investment properties typically require a 35% deposit (65% LVR), whereas your owner-occupied home generally requires 20%. You can use the equity in your current home to cover this 35% deposit without using cash.
Debt-to-Income (DTI) Restrictions Banks must abide by RBNZ DTI limits. Investors are closely watched under these frameworks, restricting overall borrowing to a set multiple of your combined gross personal income and shaded rental income.
Cross-Collateralisation Risk If you use the same bank for both loans, they will likely "cross-secure" the properties. This means if you sell one property later, the bank can legally demand the sale proceeds be used to pay down the mortgage on the other property first.

💡 Recommendation for Your Next Step

My primary recommendation is to engage an independent Mortgage Adviser (Broker) before approaching your current bank directly.

An adviser can help you structure the application across two separate lenders if necessary (e.g., Bank A for the home, Bank B for the rental). This strategy protects your owner-occupied home from being cross-collateralised and gives you much greater control over your equity in the future.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026