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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 own our home and are buying our first rental property. What matters most to us is getting good help and advice when we need it. Which lenders would you recommend for the rental property loan, and why?

Since you already own your home and this is your first rental property, I would put less weight on finding the absolute lowest interest rate and more weight on finding a lender that will help you structure the lending well, explain options, and support you as your situation evolves.

In New Zealand, I’d shortlist these lenders first:

1. BNZ — strongest all-round choice for a first-time investor

Why I’d consider them:

  • They have a dedicated property investment focus and resources for people buying their first rental. BNZ
  • Their loan products can suit investors who want flexibility, including options such as interest-only and offset-style features. Canstar
  • They have scored strongly in independent comparisons for investment lending and customer satisfaction. Canstar

Best fit if you want:

  • A lender that understands property investors.
  • Good online tools and reasonably straightforward processes.
  • Advice as you potentially buy more properties later.

Potential downside:

  • A big bank experience can sometimes feel less personal than a smaller lender or a good mortgage adviser relationship.

2. ASB Bank — strong for service and investor lending

Why I’d consider them:

  • ASB has performed well in investment lending comparisons, including recognition for investment loan value. Canstar
  • They have a large home lending team and established systems for managing property loans.

Best fit if you want:

  • A major bank with a strong support network.
  • Someone to guide you through the first investment purchase.
  • A lender you may already have a relationship with.

Potential downside:

  • Like other large banks, the quality of your experience can depend heavily on the individual adviser or lending manager you get.

3. Kiwibank — worth considering if values and local ownership matter

Why I’d consider them:

  • They have specific investment property lending guidance and encourage investors to work with specialists through the process. Kiwibank
  • Some borrowers prefer dealing with a New Zealand-owned bank.

Best fit if you want:

  • A more locally focused lender.
  • Straightforward banking alongside your mortgage.

Potential downside:

  • Depending on your circumstances, they may not always be the most flexible lender for complex investor structures.

4. ANZ New Zealand — good if you value a large lending network

Why I’d consider them:

  • They have specialist support for property investors and mortgage managers who work with investment buyers. ANZ Bank
  • Their scale can be useful if your finances become more complex.

Best fit if you want:

  • A large bank with broad capability.
  • Face-to-face or phone-based support.

Potential downside:

  • Large organisations can vary in responsiveness depending on the person handling your application.

My shortlist for your situation

If I were narrowing this down for a first rental purchase where good advice matters most, I would probably start with:

  1. BNZ — my first conversation
  2. ASB — very close second
  3. Kiwibank or ANZ — as comparison options

I would also strongly consider using a good mortgage adviser (broker) rather than approaching only one bank. A broker can compare lenders, help structure how your existing home debt and new rental debt are separated, and sometimes access lenders or deals you may not approach directly.

Questions I would ask any lender/adviser before choosing

  • How will you structure our existing home loan versus the rental loan?
  • How much of our rental income will you count when assessing borrowing ability?
  • Would interest-only lending make sense for the investment portion?
  • What happens if we want to buy a second rental in 2–5 years?
  • What are the costs if we sell, refinance, or change loan structure?
  • Who will actually look after us after settlement?

One important point: because you already own a home, the loan structure can matter as much as the lender. The “best” lender may not be the one with the lowest advertised rate if the structure makes future borrowing harder.

If you share your rough situation (house value, remaining mortgage, rental purchase price, deposit available, and whether you want a long-term hold or future portfolio), I can suggest which lender type is likely to suit you best.

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 11 October 2026

Gemini · National

We own our home and are buying our first rental property. What matters most to us is getting good help and advice when we need it. Which lenders would you recommend for the rental property loan, and why?

When you already own your home and are expanding into your first investment property, getting high-touch, expert guidance is critical. In New Zealand, how you structure your lending (typically leveraging equity from your own home) matters just as much as the interest rate itself.

Because getting good help and ongoing advice is your top priority, your best path splits into two avenues: choosing mortgage advisers (brokers) who specialize in property investors, or dealing directly with major registered banks known for portfolio management support.

Recommended Options for Good Help & Advice

1. Independent Mortgage Advisers (Brokers) — Best for personalized, holistic advice

Unlike going to a single bank (which will only pitch its own products), a reputable mortgage adviser acts as your personal strategist. They compare options across multiple lenders, help you structure loans safely (e.g., using a revolving credit or split-loan setup against your owner-occupied home to protect your personal assets from the rental), and handle the negotiations.

  • Top Specialist Firms: Companies like Opes Mortgages (widely known for dedicated property investment structuring and portfolio apps) or Squirrel (known for expert advisory teams and robust guidance) are set up specifically to help investors scale.
  • Major Networks: Nationwide networks like Loan Market or local independent advisers give you access to a wide pool of lenders (including main banks and non-banks) while providing face-to-face coaching.
  • Why choose them for advice: Their service is typically free to you (as lenders pay them a commission), and they guide you through complex New Zealand Reserve Bank LVR (Loan-to-Value Ratio) rules and tax structuring considerations.

2. Main Trading Banks with Dedicated Investor Support — Best for direct-to-bank relationship management

If you prefer dealing directly with an institution, the major New Zealand banks have specialized mobile mortgage managers or property investment teams who can walk you through equity release.

  • ASB & ANZ: Both banks feature specialized investment loan frameworks and digital portfolio dashboards (such as ASB Home Central) that let you track your owner-occupied equity and rental property performance side-by-side.
  • BNZ & Westpac: Consistently rank high for providing dedicated mobile managers who will visit you at home or work to map out multi-property lines of credit.
  • Why choose them for advice: If you already hold your primary mortgage with one of these major banks, keeping your rental loan under the same institutional roof can streamline equity withdrawals, though you may sacrifice the multi-lender comparison flexibility a broker provides.

Key Advisory Focus Areas for Your First Rental

When you sit down with an adviser or bank manager, ensure they help you address these critical components:

  1. Equity Splitting: Safely leveraging the equity in your home for the rental deposit without cross-collateralizing your personal residence unnecessarily.
  2. Interest-Only vs. Principal-and-Interest: Discussing cash flow implications and tax-efficiency strategies under New Zealand tax rules.
  3. Future Proofing: Setting up a revolving credit facility or flexible loan structure so you are positioned for a potential second investment property down the track.

What would you like to do next?

Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 11 October 2026

Google AI Mode · National

We own our home and are buying our first rental property. What matters most to us is getting good help and advice when we need it. Which lenders would you recommend for the rental property loan, and why?

When buying your first rental property while already owning your own home, getting strong support, strategic advice, and a smooth structuring process is essential—especially with Reserve Bank Loan-to-Value Ratio (LVR) and Debt-to-Income (DTI) rules in play.

Since personalized guidance and advisory quality matter most to you, how major New Zealand lender categories approach first-time property investors shapes where you might look:

1. The Major Main Banks (ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Westpac, Kiwibank)

  • The Advisory Experience: You will deal with dedicated mobile mortgage managers or branch-based property specialists. For a first rental, a major bank provides a reliable, structured path, especially if you plan to leverage the equity in your own home (via a revolving credit or a split-loan facility) to fund the rental's deposit.

  • Why Consider Them: They offer competitive mainstream interest rates and comprehensive digital banking suites to track both properties separately. They also have well-defined policies around serviceability calculations and interest-only options to help manage cash flow.

  • The Catch: Main banks can be rigid with policy constraints and credit scoring, and your experience heavily depends on the individual mobile manager you are assigned. If your personal income or the projected rental yield falls tight against strict DTI caps, they may have less flexibility.

2. Customer-Owned and Regional Banks (TSB, SBS Bank, The Co-operative Bank)

  • The Advisory Experience: Smaller New Zealand-owned banks and building societies are generally renowned for a more personalized, human approach to customer service.

  • Why Consider Them: If getting "good help and advice" means actually picking up the phone and speaking to someone who understands your localized portfolio goals rather than dealing with a rotating corporate queue, institutions like TSB or SBS Bank frequently score high on service satisfaction. They can offer more flexible, common-sense evaluations for straightforward residential investments.

  • The Catch: Their geographic branch footprints can be smaller, and their specialized investor tooling or promotional cashback offerings might not always match the aggressive discounting of the big four major banks.

3. Non-Bank Lenders (e.g., Resimac, Avanti Finance)

  • The Advisory Experience: Typically accessed through registered financial advisers and mortgage brokers rather than directly.

  • Why Consider Them: If your structure is complex—for example, if you are purchasing through a look-through company (LTC) or family trust, or if main bank DTI/serviceability limits restrict your borrowing—non-bank lenders specialize in tailored solutions.

  • The Catch: They generally carry higher interest rates and establishment fees. Because your priority is ongoing advice and support, a non-bank is usually utilized as a strategic alternative via a broker rather than a primary first-stop recommendation for a standard clean-equity rental purchase. Top 5 Non-Bank Lenders in New Zealand [2026] | Opes Partners

Recommendations for Your Strategy

Because your primary driver is advice and help , your choice of who guides you through the process matters just as much as the lender logo on the mortgage document.

  • Use an Independent Mortgage Adviser / Broker: Independent advisers in New Zealand do not charge you a direct fee (they are paid commission by the lender) and they have visibility across all major and regional banks. They can model how to safely extract equity from your home (e.g., cross-collateralising vs. keeping securities separate to protect your personal residence) and match you with a specific bank manager who excels in client communication.

  • Weigh the Big Banks vs. TSB/SBS: If you prefer direct-to-bank relationships, interview a mobile manager from one of the major banks alongside a regional institution like TSB to see who offers a clearer, more proactive advisory relationship for your transition into property portfolio building.

To help narrow down which specific lender or structure fits best, could you let me know:

  • Are you planning to re-finance or use equity from your current home to fund the deposit?
  • Are you buying in your personal names, a trust, or an LTC?
Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026

AI Overviews · National

We own our home and are buying our first rental property. What matters most to us is getting good help and advice when we need it. Which lenders would you recommend for the rental property loan, and why?

AI Overview

When purchasing your first rental property in New Zealand, the "best" lender isn't necessarily the one with the lowest advertised interest rate. Because your core priority is getting excellent help, guidance, and strategic loan structuring , you should evaluate lenders based on their flexibility, their adviser support networks, and how well they handle cross-collateralization with your existing home equity.

The main New Zealand lenders are recommended below for property investment based on the quality of their advice and service infrastructure.

1. The Major Banks (The "Big Four")

The major Australian-owned banks handle the vast majority of investment property loans in NZ. Because they operate heavily through independent experts, broker performance surveys rank ANZ and ASB highest for service quality and processing efficiency.

  • ANZ: Historically ranks highest in broker satisfaction surveys for responsiveness. They are generally considered highly pragmatic when assessing a borrower's total portfolio and utilizing existing home equity to fund a rental deposit.

  • ASB: Closely follows ANZ in customer service and processing speed. They offer robust online management tools and have dedicated business/investment banking arms if your portfolio expands in the future.

  • BNZ & Westpac: Both offer comprehensive investment frameworks. BNZ is historically known for flexible credit policies, sometimes allowing higher loan-to-value ratios (LVR) on a case-by-case basis, while Westpac provides specialized loan top-up features that can assist if your rental property requires healthy-homes or environmental upgrades.

2. Kiwibank (The Kiwi-Owned Option)

  • Why them: If you value local, New Zealand-based customer support centers, Kiwibank ranks very competitively against the big four.

  • The Advice Level: They have heavily expanded their relationship teams and independent adviser networks. They offer solid, straightforward guidance, though their internal policies regarding investor LVR speeds can occasionally be stricter than those of ANZ or BNZ.

3. Non-Bank & Specialist Lenders (e.g., Squirrel, Pepper Money, Resimac)

  • Why them: If your situation doesn't fit into a standard "bank box" (for example, if you are self-employed or have complex tax structures), specialist lenders are built entirely around bespoke advice.

  • The Advice Level: Providers like Squirrel act as both highly rated advisory firms and non-bank lenders. They excel at explaining complex investment strategies—such as how to structure debt to maximize tax efficiencies or navigate Debt-to-Income (DTI) rules. Top 5 Non-Bank Lenders in New Zealand [2026]NZ Mortgages is now SquirrelCompare the best-rated home loans in New Zealand | Canstarhome loans for investment property

Direct Comparison Overview

Lender Category Best For Help & Service Style Key Advantage for First-Time Investors
Major Banks (ANZ / ASB) Competitive rates & streamlined equity top-ups. Dedicated mobile mortgage managers and strong broker support. Highest efficiency and fastest turnaround times on applications.
Kiwibank 100% NZ-based support & competitive pricing. Highly responsive local help centers. Great option if you want to keep your business with a locally owned bank.
Non-Bank Lenders (e.g., Squirrel) Alternative income structures & complex portfolios. Heavily focused on educational advice and custom problem-solving. Highly flexible if the main banks decline your specific property type.

💡 The Most Critical Piece of Advice: Don't Go Direct

Because your primary goal is to secure high-quality advice, you should not walk straight into a single bank branch. A bank employee can only offer you the products and rigid criteria of that specific institution.

Instead, your best first step is to partner with a reputable, independent New Zealand Mortgage Broker (Financial Adviser).

  • They cost you nothing: They are paid via commissions by the lenders, not by you.

  • They compare the whole market: They will look at your owner-occupied home, calculate your usable equity, and pitch your application to the exact bank that will give you the best structure.

  • They protect your asset: A good adviser will help you navigate whether to split your loans across two different banks to protect your family home from being cross-collateralized with the rental property.

Top-rated national brokerages recognized for investment advice include firms like Squirrel, Loan Market, and MHQ Mortgages.

To help point you toward the right strategy, could you tell me:

  • Do you plan to look at a standard existing house or a new build? (New builds have much lower deposit requirements for investors).

  • Is your current home loan with a major bank right now , and do you want to keep your lending in one place?

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026