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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 self-employed couple who have run our business for three years and are buying a home, having owned one before. 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?

For your situation, I’d prioritise a lender with strong service and accessible human advice, backed by a mortgage adviser who regularly works with self-employed business owners. I wouldn’t choose purely on the lowest advertised interest rate.

You have two helpful factors: your business has been operating for three years, giving you a meaningful trading history, and you’ve owned a home before, so you’re experienced with home ownership. The key question is how each lender assesses your business income and how well they communicate throughout the application.

In New Zealand, most mainstream banks generally want to see around two years of business financial statements from self-employed applicants. The way they calculate usable income can differ, so getting your application in front of the right lender matters. How NZ banks assess self-employed income for a mortgageSelf-Employed Mortgage Broker NZ | What Lenders Look For

My recommended lenders to compare

1. ANZ New Zealand — my first bank to investigate

First to compare

ANZ ranked first among New Zealand's major banks in a 2026 mortgage adviser survey that assessed lender flexibility, staff helpfulness, turnaround times and service. ANZ and non-banks fare well in mortgage broker survey

  • Why it suits you: A strong starting point if you want responsive help and a lender that advisers rate well.
  • What to check: How ANZ will assess your business income and whether its proposed loan structure suits your needs.
  • Official information: ANZ home loans and pre-approval

2. ASB — a good mainstream comparison

ASB provides a clear home-loan application process and specifies that self-employed applicants should supply up-to-date financial statements prepared by their accountant. Home loan application tips

  • Why it suits you: Worth comparing if you want an established bank and a straightforward process for documenting your business income.
  • What to check: How it calculates your combined borrowing capacity and the level of personal support available throughout the application.
  • Official information: ASB home-loan application guide

3. Kiwibank — a worthwhile alternative

Kiwibank is worth including in your comparison rather than assuming one of the largest banks will automatically be best. In the 2026 adviser survey, it ranked third among the major banks. ANZ and non-banks fare well in mortgage broker survey

  • Why it suits you: Gives you another mainstream option against which to assess pricing, service and flexibility.
  • What to check: Its current assessment of your business income, application turnaround and ongoing support.
  • Official website: Kiwibank

4. Westpac New Zealand — another useful benchmark

Westpac provides a defined application process and asks self-employed applicants for their latest accountant-prepared financial statements. How to apply for a home loan

  • Why it suits you: Worth comparing if you want a mainstream lender and a clear application pathway.
  • What to check: Whether your business accounts support the borrowing amount you need, and whether the advice and communication meet your expectations.
  • Official information: Westpac home-loan application guide

These are lenders I would compare, not a guarantee of approval or a definitive ranking of who will give you the best individual service. The 2026 survey measures adviser perceptions of lender performance, not every borrower's personal experience.

The route I would take: find a great mortgage adviser first

Given that you specifically value good help and advice, I would speak with an experienced, independent mortgage adviser before applying directly to a bank.

A good adviser can compare lenders, help explain how your business income is assessed, prepare your application and guide you through pre-approval and settlement. The Commerce Commission has also identified mortgage advisers' potential to improve consumer choice and help people compare complex home-loan offerings. Mortgage advisers could help to drive stronger competition for home loans |

Choose someone who can demonstrate experience with self-employed borrowers, rather than someone who mainly handles straightforward salary-based applications.

Ask them these questions:

  • Which lenders on your panel are strongest for couples who own their own business?
  • How will lenders calculate our income if we take drawings, shareholder salaries or leave profits in the business?
  • Will you compare at least three suitable lenders and explain why you recommend one?
  • How often will you update us, and who will handle the application if something goes wrong?
  • How are you paid, and are there lenders you cannot access?

A good adviser should explain their recommendations and any limitations on the lenders they can access, rather than simply promising the cheapest rate.

What you should prepare

With three years of trading history, start gathering:

  • Your last two years of accountant-prepared business financial statements, plus current year-to-date accounts.
  • Your personal and business tax records, and evidence of salaries, drawings or dividends.
  • Details of your deposit or equity from your existing or previously owned property, if applicable.
  • Your personal and business debts, credit limits and regular household expenses.

ANZ, ASB and Westpac all publish guidance on documenting income for home-loan applications. How to get home loan pre-approvalHome loan application tipsHow to apply for a home loan

One detail would help me narrow this down

How do you operate your business?

With those details, I can give you a more targeted shortlist of lenders and explain which ones I would approach first for your circumstances.

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 11 October 2026

Gemini · National

We're a self-employed couple who have run our business for three years and are buying a home, having owned one before. 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?

As a self-employed couple trading for three years with previous homeownership experience, you are in a solid position. Having three full years of trading history means you comfortably clear the major hurdle most banks set (the standard two-year financial requirement), and your past history as homeowners shows lenders you understand the financial mechanics of a mortgage.

Because your priority is getting good help, strategic guidance, and responsive advice, choosing the right path depends less on sticker-shock interest rates and more on how a lender evaluates self-employed income and who sits across the table from you.

How Major NZ Lenders Approach Self-Employed Applicants

Major New Zealand retail banks (such as ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Westpac, and Kiwibank) assess self-employed borrowers by looking at accountant-prepared financial statements, IR3 tax returns, and business balance sheets. However, their appetite for nuance and the quality of their dedicated business/mobile mortgage managers varies significantly:

  • The Mainstream Banks with Stronger Business Focus (e.g., BNZ, ASB, ANZ): These major institutions generally have structured credit policies. If your business shows steady or growing profits over your three-year history, they offer highly competitive mainstream rates. Their mobile mortgage managers vary wildly by branch; finding an advisor who genuinely understands "add-backs" (like depreciation, one-off expenses, or home-office deductions) is crucial.
  • Kiwibank: Often viewed as flexible and community-oriented, Kiwibank frequently works well for small business owners and previous homeowners, especially if your business structures or cash flows are slightly non-standard.
  • Non-Bank Lenders (e.g., Resimac, Bluestone): While you likely won’t need a non-bank lender given your three-year track record, they are worth noting as a baseline for flexibility if your taxable income has been heavily minimized for tax purposes. However, their advisory support is usually less relationship-driven than what you'll get via a premier broker or specialized bank channel.

Why a Mortgage Broker is Your Best Route for "Good Help"

Given that your primary goal is high-quality advice and support, working with an independent mortgage broker rather than walking directly into a single retail bank branch is almost always the superior choice for self-employed applicants.

A seasoned broker acts as your strategic translator:

  1. They run an "Add-Back Audit": They will work with your accountant before submitting anything to a bank to ensure legitimate business expenses (like depreciation or vehicle write-offs) are added back into your true disposable income. This directly maximizes your borrowing power.
  2. They match you with the right credit manager: A great broker doesn't just look at who has the lowest advertised rate; they know which specific bank currently has a credit team that understands your specific industry (e.g., trades, professional services, retail, or consulting).
  3. They handle the friction: Dealing with requests for 6 months of business bank statements, Xero business packs, and trust/company structures can bog down a direct bank application. A good broker structures the narrative upfront so the bank approves it cleanly.

Suggested Next Steps

To set yourselves up for a smooth application process:

  1. Get your financials "Mortgage-Ready": Ensure your accountant has finalized your past two or three years of profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and personal IR3 returns.
  2. Pull a recent Xero Business Pack: If you use cloud accounting like Xero, generate a comprehensive financial performance pack.
  3. Interview a specialized mortgage advisor: Ask prospective brokers specifically: "How many self-employed applications do you manage, and how do you handle add-backs for our specific business structure?"
Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 11 October 2026

Google AI Mode · National

We're a self-employed couple who have run our business for three years and are buying a home, having owned one before. 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?

As a self-employed couple with three years of trading history and previous home-ownership experience, you are in a reasonably strong position, but mainstream banks will still closely scrutinise your business financials (typically requiring two years of IR3 tax returns, accountant-prepared accounts, and business bank statements).

Because getting good help and advice when you need it is your top priority, your experience will depend heavily on how you access the lender—whether through a dedicated mobile manager or an independent broker—rather than just the bank's brand name.

Recommended Lenders & Approach for Self-Employed Borrowers

  1. Kiwibank
  • Why it fits: Kiwibank has built a strong reputation for flexibility with self-employed and non-standard structures compared to some more rigid institutional counterparts. They also offer practical perks like an in-house solicitor service for refinancing/transacting, which streamlines the legal side of moving properties.
  • Support style: They provide dedicated mobile mortgage managers who are accustomed to looking at the full picture of a small business rather than just automated credit scoring.
  1. ANZ
  • Why it fits: ANZ holds a large market share in residential and commercial crossover lending, meaning their mobile lending and mobile mortgage manager teams are well-versed in handling self-employed applicants who draw a mix of salary, dividends, or retained earnings from their company.
  • Support style: They feature robust digital tools (like GoMoney) alongside dedicated mobile managers who can coordinate with business banking if your enterprise needs dual support.
  1. ASB or BNZ
  • Why it fits: Both major banks have robust, highly trained mobile mortgage manager networks. For repeat home buyers who value rapid response times and structured advice, their credit teams understand how to calculate effective self-employed income (adding back certain depreciations or one-off expenses).
  • Support style: Excellent end-to-end processing and proactive communication, provided you are paired with an experienced mobile manager rather than a rotating branch generalist. [MoneyHub NZ]

Alternative Consideration: Using a Mortgage Adviser (Broker)

Since personalised, high-touch advice is your primary goal, working directly with a registered mortgage broker rather than going to a single bank branch is often the best route for self-employed borrowers.

  • A good adviser does the shopping across multiple lenders (including the major banks above) on your behalf.

  • They speak the "language" of your accountant, packaging your 3 years of financial statements and profit/loss add-backs correctly the first time to avoid friction with bank credit committees. [MoneyHub NZ]

  • Their ongoing advice through your fixed-term renewals, future restructuring, or business growth is entirely free to you (as lenders pay the commission). You can explore options via platforms like MoneyHub's Mortgage Broker Guide.

To help narrow down the best specific banker or adviser fit, let me know:

  • Are you looking to deal with a major mainstream bank directly, or open to using a free independent mortgage broker?
  • Do you currently do your business banking with a specific institution that you'd prefer to bundle with?
Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026