Nine steps from here to the keys
This is the exact process The Mortgage Man runs with every client. Tap where you are and we'll show you what is done, what is next, and what to have ready.
Where are you right now?
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First call We talk through where you are at and what you want to do.
What happens
- You tell us what you are trying to do and roughly where your money sits.
- We tell you straight whether it stacks up today, and if not, what would make it stack up.
- You get an estimate of what you could borrow and what that buys where you are looking.
What you need ready
- Nothing but a rough idea of your income, savings and any debts
Worth knowing. No cost and no obligation. If the answer is "not yet", you get the plan to get there rather than a sales pitch.
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Fact find You fill in your initial numbers so we are working with something real. No documents yet.
What happens
- You fill in the fact find — income, expenses, assets, debts, and what you are aiming at.
- Initial numbers only, no uploading of documents. That comes later.
- We turn your estimate into numbers a bank will actually recognise.
What you need ready
- Just your numbers — income, expenses, savings, KiwiSaver and any debts
Worth knowing. This one is quick. The heavy lifting comes at the next step, and we tell you exactly what to send.
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Numbers done, documents requested We work out what you can borrow, and this is where we ask for your documents.
What happens
- We run your real numbers across the lender panel — over 30 lenders, all with different rules.
- We send you the full document list and you add everything to the portal as you get it. No email chains, no chasing.
- We find the gaps a bank would pick up on and tell you how to close them before they see them.
What you need ready
- Three months of bank statements for every account you use
- Recent payslips, or two years of financials if you are self-employed
- Photo ID and proof of address
- KiwiSaver balance and your latest statement
- Statements for any loans, cards or buy-now-pay-later
Worth knowing. This is the step people underestimate. The faster the documents land, the faster everything after it moves.
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Mortgage plan and submission We build your mortgage plan, pick the right lender, and submit.
What happens
- We choose the lender whose criteria actually fit you — not just the one with the loudest rate.
- We write your application up the way that lender wants to read it, and submit it.
- You know which bank, why that bank, and what they are being asked for.
Worth knowing. The biggest number is not always the best deal. Structure, flexibility and how a bank treats your income can be worth more than a few basis points.
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Pre-approval, if possible, and how to make an offer You get pre-approved and we coach you on offers, conditions and auctions.
What happens
- The bank confirms in writing what it will lend, and on what conditions.
- We walk you through what to look for at open homes and how to talk to agents.
- We cover offers, conditions, deadlines and how auctions differ — before you are standing in one.
Worth knowing. A pre-approval has an expiry date and usually conditions attached. Read them with us, not on the day you want to make an offer.
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Offer accepted The house is under contract; we line up the finance condition and the lawyers.
What happens
- We take the property to the bank and get finance confirmed on that specific house.
- We connect you with the professionals you need — solicitor, builder, valuer.
- You work through your due diligence with someone who has done it hundreds of times.
Worth knowing. Spending on the wrong things during the condition period shows up in your statements too. If you are unsure, ask before you spend.
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Going unconditional (or auction won) Finance confirmed, conditions ticked off, the house is locked in.
What happens
- Every condition — finance, builder, LIM, title — is signed off.
- Your deposit goes to the solicitor and the contract becomes binding.
- Winning at auction lands you here directly — an auction win is unconditional on the spot.
Worth knowing. At auction there is no finance condition — that is exactly why the pre-approval and the property check happen before you raise your hand. And never go unconditional until the bank has confirmed on this property in writing.
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Your loan meeting We structure the loan properly and set you up to pay it off faster.
What happens
- We sit down and structure the loan — fixed and floating splits, terms, offset or revolving credit if they suit you.
- We show you what extra repayments actually do to your interest bill and payoff date.
- We stay on hand for future top-ups, refixes and refinances.
Worth knowing. The structure conversation is where years come off a mortgage. Do not let the bank default you into a single 30-year fixed loan and call it done.
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Settlement: you get the keys Funds move, the title transfers, and the house is yours.
What happens
- Funds move, the title transfers, and you pick up the keys.
- Your loan starts with the structure we set up together, not the bank default.
- From here it is refixes, reviews and paying it off faster — and we stay on hand for all of it.
Worth knowing. Settlement is the solicitor's day, not yours to run. Have your insurance in place before it — the bank requires it from day one.
From The Mortgage Man's clients
You're in good hands
5.0 ★★★★★ 127 Google reviews
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Huge thank you to Aaron for helping us through our home-buying journey. He was incredibly supportive, professional, patient, and always available to answer our questions and explain everything clearly. Aaron genuinely went above and beyond for us, and we always felt like he had our best interests at heart. His knowledge, communication, and dedication made the whole process so much easier and less stressful. We’re extremely grateful for everything he did to help us get into our new home. We couldn’t recommend Aaron highly enough! 🏠❤️
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Aaron was very good at explaining the process of buying my first home. I honestly didn't think I would be able to get my first house so soon but as soon I was able to get pre approved with the help of Aaron, I was ecstatic. He explained the house buying process in an easy to understand way and answered all my concerns and queries in a timely manner. Thanks again Aaron!
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Officially made it to settlement day! Huge thanks to Aaron and the team for getting us here. Something that seemed daunting and out of reach when we first reached out to Aaron came to reality today. Aaron is super patient and confident when it comes to guiding first home buyers, gives great advice and tells it how it is. Thank god for TikTok 😂 Couldn’t have done this without you man! Will be back when it’s time to refix 🏡🥳
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Aaron was brilliant to deal with and made the entire process easy, from getting pre-approved all the way to structuring our mortgage.
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I honestly can’t recommend Aaron from The Mortgage Man highly enough! From the very beginning, Aaron went above and beyond to make sure I understood exactly what was happening, what my options were, and what was coming next. He was always patient with my questions, incredibly responsive, and made what could have been a really overwhelming process feel so much easier. I’ve learned so much throughout this whole experience and always felt like I had someone knowledgeable and trustworthy in my corner. Buying my home was a huge milestone for me, and I’m incredibly grateful for Aaron’s support and guidance in helping me get there. If you’re looking for a mortgage broker who genuinely cares about his clients, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him. Thank you so much, Aaron!
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Aaron has been awesome to deal with throughout our first home buying process. He was always available and quick to respond with any queries I had. Thank you so much for all your help. We are stoked with our first home!
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Aaron was fantastic to work with! He was incredibly efficient, quick, and straight to the point, making the whole process so easy. I would happily recommend Aaron to anyone and will definitely be using him again in the future!
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I first came across Aaron Cattell – The Mortgage Man – through his Instagram posts. I really liked how educational, current and easy to digest his content was, and that was what prompted me to make my initial enquiry. When I reached out in June, I genuinely thought I was at least three months away from being ready for pre-approval, and probably even further away from actually finding and buying a home. Fast forward to early August and I had settled on my new home! It all happened incredibly quickly and I’m probably still digesting what a huge life change it has been. Throughout the entire process, Aaron made everything feel smooth, straightforward and positive. He explained things clearly, was easy to communicate with and helped take a lot of the stress and uncertainty out of what could otherwise have been a pretty overwhelming process. I also really appreciated the wider network of professionals he was able to connect me with. In particular, Rob Sodeau from Redinspect, who completed my builder’s report, was excellent — thorough, informative and incredibly helpful in making sure I understood what I was looking at before making such a significant purchase. From an Instagram follow, to an enquiry in June, to becoming a homeowner in August — definitely not the timeline I expected! Overall, I’m incredibly happy with my experience and would absolutely recommend Aaron to anyone thinking about buying a home, particularly if you’re at the beginning and aren’t quite sure whether you’re ready yet. You might be closer than you think!
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Thank you so much for helping us buy our first house! Aaron and the team locked in the mortgage rate just before it went up, we are thankful for their speed, advice and how easy they made the whole process.
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Sean and I have had a very easy and smooth experience with Aaron and his team, to help us buy our first home. Thanks very much for being so responsive and helpful!!! Highly recommend :)
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Aaron made the process easy and stress-free. He was professional, knowledgeable, and kept me informed every step of the way. Excellent communication, great service, and a positive experience from start to finish. Highly recommend! 😊
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Aaron and his team were amazing. From the beginning to the end we were guided through every step. They made everything understandable and the checklist was just the beginning. We would highly recommend them. Katrina and Teejay
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Could not recommend Aaron and the team enough! Made the whole process so simple and was down to answer any questions we had.
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We honestly couldn't have asked for a better mortgage broker than Aaron and his team. From the very beginning, they made what could have been a really overwhelming process feel so straightforward and stress-free. Aaron was incredibly informative, taking the time to explain every step and making sure we understood all of our options. No question was ever too small, and he was always quick to respond whenever we needed him. What impressed us even more was that he continued to provide such an incredible level of service despite recently welcoming a new baby. His dedication, professionalism, and commitment to his clients truly stood out. Throughout our home-buying journey, Aaron worked hard to secure the best outcome for us, kept us updated every step of the way, and made sure everything stayed on track. We always felt supported and confident knowing he was looking after our best interests. Buying a home can be stressful, but Aaron and his team made the entire experience feel easy. Their knowledge, communication, and genuine care made all the difference, and we are so grateful for everything they did to help us purchase our family home. We would recommend Aaron and his team to anyone looking for a mortgage broker. Thank you so much for going above and beyond—we couldn't have done it without you!
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Big thankyou to Aaron and the team for all the hard work getting us into our home. Took their time to understand our situation, explain the options and provide a fantastic outcome. Highly recommend
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We honestly can’t thank Aaron enough for helping us buy our first home. From our very first chat, he was upfront, genuine, and really helpful, giving us a clear overview of what to expect before we even got into the process. That made everything feel so much less overwhelming and much easier to understand. Aaron was always there to answer our questions, explained everything in a way that was simple and easy to follow, and kept us in the loop the whole time. We never felt rushed or left guessing what was going on. His advice was honest, practical, and always in our best interests, which gave us a lot of confidence throughout the journey. Thanks to Aaron’s support and hard work, we were able to secure our first home, and we couldn’t be happier. If you’re looking for a mortgage adviser who is legit, genuinely cares, knows his stuff, and really goes the extra mile, we’d absolutely recommend Aaron. Thanks again for everything!
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Big thank you to Aaron and his amazing team! Started with one video on TikTok and the rest was history! Made the whole process as smooth as possible, and all we had to do was choose which house we wanted! Highly recommend, especially first home buyers! Once again, thank you Aaron and the team for being an amazing sport along the process of it all.
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I highly recommend Aaron and his team. They have now helped both of my children get their 1st homes. They have made the entire mortgage process seamless from start to finish. Their communication was clear, professional, and timely, and they took the time to explain every step along the way. They handled the paperwork efficiently, found suitable lending options, and made what could have been a stressful experience feel straightforward and easy for them. I truly appreciated their expertise, responsiveness, and dedication, and would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone looking for a mortgage broker.
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I'm not sure anyone else could have managed the speed we required, whilst making the whole process so simple! Couldn't recommend Aaron and the team enough!
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Aaron and his team is professional, patient, down to earth, effective and efficient. Can’t ask for a better broker.
Timeframes are typical, not promises — every bank, property and application moves at its own pace. This page is general information about the buying process, not financial advice and not a lender approval. The Mortgage Man gives you advice on your actual situation once we know it.