When Maria* moved from Brazil to Hawke’s Bay 25 years ago, owning a home in New Zealand wasn’t even on her radar. Recently, she finally took a well-earned day off to relax and enjoy her brand-new home. A home she worked incredibly hard to achieve.
Maria’s goal was to create a secure future for her daughter. To save for a 20% deposit, she held a full-time job during the week and two part-time jobs evenings and weekends for two years.
Guidance makes all the difference
A colleague recommended Maria speak with Mortgage and Insurance Adviser Judy Steiner. Initially, Maria was nervous about using a mortgage adviser, but that quickly changed. Judy guided her step by step, teaching her how the New Zealand home-buying process worked.
“Back home, the first person to offer got the house. I didn’t understand that you had to put in an offer here,” Maria recalls. “She explained how it worked, she educated me. I really enjoyed the way she explained things. She could see that I had no idea about anything. She would grab a piece of paper and show me the calculations until I got it.”
Learning about insurance along the way
Maria also discovered Judy could help with insurance. “I asked her what would happen to the house if something happened to me. She explained everything clearly. I wanted to make sure all my hard work wouldn’t go to waste.”
When Maria received the call that she had been pre-approved for her mortgage, it felt unbelievable. “I am really happy and I wish all the best for Judy because she was really, really really good to me. She was just amazing, I was just really lucky. She is someone that treats you well. Respectful and understands your limitations. I am blessed.”
Support for first-home buyers
Maria’s story is a great reminder that you don’t have to navigate buying a home alone, especially if it’s your first time or you’re new to New Zealand.
A Mortgage Adviser can help you:
- Understand the home-buying process
- Clarify calculations and costs
- Find insurance options to protect yourself
If you’re thinking about buying your first home in Hawke’s Bay, come and talk to one of our team of Mortgage Advisers who can guide you, explain things clearly, and help you feel confident about taking that exciting step toward homeownership.
