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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 a salaried couple buying our first home with about a 25% deposit. We want steady repayments but also the option to pay extra. What should we compare when choosing a loan?

For a salaried couple buying your first home in New Zealand with a 25% deposit, I’d focus on finding a mortgage that gives you predictable repayments, flexibility to pay extra, and enough breathing room if interest rates rise or one income changes.

With a 25% deposit, you’ll generally have a loan-to-value ratio (LVR) of about 75%, which puts you in a stronger position than buyers with smaller deposits. That may give you access to a wider range of interest rates and reduce the likelihood of low-equity lending charges, although each lender has its own criteria.

The key is to compare more than just the advertised interest rate.

1. Compare the main loan options

Fixed-rate mortgage

Best for certainty

  • Repayments are predictable during the fixed term.
  • Makes household budgeting easier.
  • Extra repayments may be capped, and breaking the loan early can incur a fee.

Floating-rate mortgage

  • Usually offers more freedom to make extra repayments or lump-sum payments.
  • Your interest rate and repayment costs can change.
  • Compare the floating rate carefully against fixed rates.

Split mortgage (fixed + floating)

Worth comparing first

  • Fix most of the loan for stable repayments.
  • Keep a smaller portion flexible for additional payments.
  • Balances certainty and flexibility, although the floating portion may cost more in interest.

These trade-offs are explained in Sorted's guide to mortgage types. Types of mortgages in New Zealand, and how to choose » SortedMortgages: Should you fix or float your home loan to save mo

2. The six things to compare between lenders

What to compare What to ask
Interest rates What are the current fixed rates for 1, 2 and 3 years, and the floating rate?
Extra repayments How much can we pay above the minimum without fees? Can we make lump-sum payments?
Loan term What are repayments over 25 years versus 30 years?
Fees and incentives Are there establishment or account fees, and is there a cash contribution for switching or taking out the loan?
Break and refinance costs What happens if we sell, refinance, or need to change the loan before the fixed term ends?
Loan features Are offset accounts, revolving credit, or flexible repayment options available, and what do they cost?

Compare the total cost and flexibility, not just the lowest advertised rate. Special rates may have eligibility conditions, and cashback offers may have repayment or clawback conditions if you switch lenders early. Mortgage adviceHow to manage your mortgage and pay off your home loan early » Sorted11 ways to save money on your mortgage

3. Choose a structure that matches your goals

For your situation, I'd ask lenders to quote these three alternatives side by side:

Option A: Mostly fixed

Fix the full loan, or nearly all of it. Check whether the lender permits small regular increases to repayments or extra lump sums without penalties.

Option B: Split fixed and floating

Fix the majority and keep a smaller portion floating for extra repayments. Ask for a quote with, for example, 80% fixed and 20% floating, then compare the cost with other splits.

Option C: Staggered fixed terms

Divide the loan into portions that roll off at different times, such as 1-year and 2-year fixed terms. This spreads out the repricing dates, although it doesn't guarantee a lower rate.

My starting point would be Option B, provided you have enough cash reserves and the floating-rate portion is affordable. You can adjust the split depending on how much extra you realistically expect to pay. Types of mortgages in New Zealand, and how to choose » SortedExplaining fixed and floating rates

4. Compare the impact of extra repayments

The following calculator gives you an illustration of how the repayment amount changes with the loan size, interest rate and term. It assumes a standard table mortgage with principal and interest paid monthly.

Mortgage amount

$600,000

$200k

$700k

$1.2m

$200k

$700k

$1.2m

$200k

$700k

$1.2m

Illustrative interest rate

5.00%

2%

5%

9%

2%

5%

9%

2%

5%

9%

Loan term

30 years

15 years

20 years

25 years

30 years

15 years

20 years

25 years

30 years

15 years

20 years

25 years

30 years

Extra payment per month

$200

$0

$500

$1,000

$0

$500

$1,000

$0

$500

$1,000

Required monthly repayment

$3,221

Principal + interest

With extra payments

$3,421

Monthly total

Estimated time saved

3 years 8 months

Estimated payoff time

26 years 4 months

Illustration only: assumes the rate stays constant and extra payments are accepted without fees. Actual repayments and savings will differ as rates change and depending on lender terms.

A key point: extra payments are especially useful early in the mortgage because they reduce the principal on which future interest is charged. Types of mortgages in New Zealand, and how to choose » Sorted11 ways to save money on your mortgage

5. Protect your household budget

Before committing, check that you can still comfortably afford the mortgage if:

  • Interest rates rise by 2 percentage points.
  • One of you temporarily loses income or takes parental leave.
  • Home maintenance, insurance, rates or other living costs rise.
  • You need to access savings for an unexpected expense.

Keep a separate emergency fund rather than putting every spare dollar into the mortgage. Also ask whether you can make extra payments by increasing regular repayments, since some fixed loans allow this within specific limits.

6. What to ask a mortgage adviser

Get written quotes from at least two or three lenders, or ask a mortgage adviser to compare them. Ask the adviser which lenders they cover and how they are paid. The New Zealand Financial Markets Authority has a useful guide to mortgage advice and what to ask. Mortgage advice

Your shortlist should show:

  • The same loan amount and loan term for every quote.
  • Current rates for different fixed terms and the floating rate.
  • The exact permitted extra repayments and any charges.
  • All fees and any cash contribution conditions.
  • The repayment amount if rates rise.
  • The cost of each proposed fixed/floating split.

One final question to narrow this down: roughly how much do you expect to borrow for the house? With that figure, I can show you a more realistic comparison of mortgage structures and repayments in New Zealand dollars.

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 11 October 2026

Gemini · National

We're a salaried couple buying our first home with about a 25% deposit. We want steady repayments but also the option to pay extra. What should we compare when choosing a loan?

Buying your first home with a solid 25% deposit puts you in a strong position, as you will comfortably avoid low-equity margins or premiums (LEPs) charged by New Zealand lenders.

Because you want steady, predictable repayments alongside the ability to make extra payments, you do not have to choose just one style of loan. Most NZ banks allow you to "mix and match".

The key features, structures, and trade-offs to compare when evaluating your home loan options include:

1. Fixed-Rate vs. Floating (Variable) Rates

  • Fixed-Rate Loans:
    • How it works: You lock in your interest rate for a set term (typically 6 months to 5 years). Your repayments stay completely identical, giving you maximum budgeting certainty.
    • Extra repayment flexibility: Most mainstream New Zealand banks allow you to pay extra up to a certain limit without penalty—usually an extra 5% of the initial loan balance per year or a limited increase in your regular periodic payments. Exceeding this or paying off a large lump sum early can trigger "break fees".
  • Floating (Variable) Rate Loans:
    • How it works: Your interest rate moves up and down with market conditions and the Official Cash Rate (OCR).
    • Extra repayment flexibility: Total freedom. You can pay off as much extra principal as you want, whenever you want, without any early repayment charges. However, floating rates are historically higher than fixed rates.

2. Specialized Flexible Structures (Floating Sub-Types)

If you want to actively chip away at your principal using your regular income, look into these variations offered by most major NZ banks:

  • Revolving Credit: Operates like a giant overdraft tied to your everyday transactional account. Your salary goes straight into it, immediately lowering the daily balance on which interest is calculated. It offers extreme flexibility, but requires strict financial discipline so you don't spend down the available credit line.
  • Offset Mortgages: Links your savings accounts to your floating home loan. The money sitting in your everyday or savings accounts is subtracted from your loan balance before interest is calculated. Your repayments remain steady, but more of your money goes toward paying down the actual principal rather than interest.

3. The "Split Loan" Strategy (Best of Both Worlds)

Rather than choosing 100% fixed or 100% floating, many salaried couples in New Zealand opt for a split structure. For example:

  • 80% to 85% Fixed: Locked into a 1- or 2-year fixed term to give you budget stability for your core living costs and protect against immediate rate hikes. You can still utilize the standard 5% annual overpayment allowance here.
  • 15% to 20% Floating (or Revolving Credit): Kept separate so you can aggressively dump extra savings or cash bonuses directly onto the principal with zero restrictions or break fees.

Key Comparison Checklist for Your Lender Selection

When sitting down with banks or a mortgage adviser, compare these specific criteria:

  1. Cashback Offers: Many lenders offer legal/cashback incentives for first-home buyers bringing a 25% deposit (often a percentage of the total loan amount). Check how these clawback clauses work if you switch lenders early.
  2. Annual Overpayment Limits: Verify the exact percentage allowed for extra lump sums on their fixed terms (most are 5%, but terms can vary).
  3. Hometown/Bank Facility Quality: Check if their online banking platform makes it seamless to set up fortnightly or weekly payments that align with your paydays (paying fortnightly effectively results in one extra full month’s payment a year, slashing long-term interest).

Are you leaning toward a specific property price range or split ratio to balance your fixed security and extra payment goals?

Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 11 October 2026

Google AI Mode · National

We're a salaried couple buying our first home with about a 25% deposit. We want steady repayments but also the option to pay extra. What should we compare when choosing a loan?

With a solid 25% deposit , you are in a great negotiating position as first-home buyers in New Zealand. You avoid low equity margins (LEMs or LVR fees), giving you full access to standard bank offerings and competitive interest rates.

To balance steady, predictable repayments with the flexibility to pay extra , you should compare the following key features and loan structures across New Zealand lenders:

  • Fixed vs. Floating Interest Rates

  • Fixed-rate options: Provide certainty by locking in your interest rate and regular repayments for a set term (e.g., 6 months to 5 years). Most NZ banks allow you to make extra repayments up to a certain limit (usually up to 5% of the original fixed principal amount per year, or a set dollar limit) without incurring early repayment or break fees.

  • Floating (variable) rate options: Move up and down with the market. They offer complete freedom to pay off as much of the principal as you like, whenever you like, without penalties, but they expose you to immediate repayment spikes if interest rates rise.

  • Split Loan Structures (The Best of Both Worlds)

  • Most Kiwi buyers with your goals use a split structure. You divide your mortgage into multiple portions—for example, fixing 80% of the loan on a 1- or 2-year term for steady, budgeted budgeting, and putting the remaining 20% on a floating rate or a flexible offset/revolving credit facility where you aggressively chip away at the principal. [sorted.org.nz]

  • Offset and Revolving Credit Facilities

  • Offset accounts: Link your everyday transaction or savings accounts to a floating portion of your home loan. The bank subtracts your cash balances from the loan balance daily before calculating interest. You don't actually spend your savings, but you stop paying interest on that equivalent amount of debt, keeping your money accessible.

  • Revolving credit: Operates like a giant flexible overdraft where your salaries are paid straight in, reducing the daily balance before you spend it. This requires strict financial discipline but maximizes interest savings for steady-income earners.

  • Cashback Offers and Establishment Fees

  • Banks frequently offer cashback contributions (a percentage or flat cash amount) for new lending over a certain threshold. Compare these incentives, but factor in any setup costs, valuation fees, or legal fee subsidies. Keep in mind cashbacks usually carry a "clawback" period (often 3 years) if you refinance or switch banks early. [ASB Bank]

  • Extra Repayment Rules and Portability

  • Check the fine print on how excess payments are managed. Can you easily increase your regular table loan repayments? Is the loan portable , meaning if you find a new house during a fixed term, you can transfer the mortgage to the new property without paying costly break fees? [sorted.org.nz]

For objective guidance on how different mortgage formats operate, you can check the independent tools and guides provided by Sorted NZ.

Would you like to explore how a split-loan structure could be mathematically proportioned for your income, or compare current cashback incentives offered by major New Zealand lenders?

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026