Use this budgeting spreadsheet to discover how to buy your first home sooner.
Fill it in as you go. Everything adds up as you type, and nothing leaves your phonetabletcomputer unless you ask for your action plan below.
Watch this explainer video to get the most out of the budgeting spreadsheet
1. Saving for your deposit
$
Deposit goal$0
2. Current balances
Buying with someone? Add each person, and they get their own column here and in section 4.
Current savings balances
Current KiwiSaver balances
Other (gift, selling shares, crypto)
This is your current total deposit size$0
Your deposit goal (from section 1)$0
Your deposit shortfall (how much more deposit you need)$0
3. Goal setting
This means you need to save another
$0 per month
4. Current situation
Let's figure out how long it's going to take to reach your goal, based on your current situation.
Income
Find a recent payslip that reflects your normal working hours.
How often are you paid?
What was the amount you got paid after tax?*
How much did you pay to your KiwiSaver and Super this pay?
How much did your employer pay to your KiwiSaver and Super this pay?
*This is the same amount you get paid into your bank account.
Household take-home pay$0 per month
Payslip example
Fortnightly pay
$78.46 employee KiwiSaver
$64.81 employer KiwiSaver
Total pay after tax $1,984.44
Expenses
(Per household. If you live in more than one household, add your expenses together.)
AmountHow oftenPer month
$
$0per month $
$0per month $
$0per month $
$0per month $
$0per month $
$0per month $
$0per month $
$0per month $
$0per month $
$0per month $
$0per month Total expenses$0 per month
Currently your household should be able to save$0 per month
Your KiwiSaver and Super balances will go up by$0 per month
How much does it cost to buy a house, and to own one?
Buying a house: upfront costs
Deposit$0
Building report$600 to $800
Registered valuation$1,000*
Lawyer fees$2,500 to $3,500
Paying back council rates$0 to $600
Mortgage adviser (The Mortgage Man)Free
LIM report$375
But cash backAt least $5,000
*You usually only need one of these if you buy with less than a 20% deposit or are buying a new build.
Owning a house: ongoing costs
Mortgage$0
Repayment $0
Council rates$2,500 to $4,000 a year
Insurance$2,000 to $3,000 a year
Maintenance??
But having your own home??
5. Completed the spreadsheet?
Or join the FREE First Home Buyer's Academy to learn how to get mortgage ready and buy a house in New Zealand.
What first home buyers say
5.0 ★★★★★ 130+ 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.
Think you are ready to buy your first home?
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