First Home Partner
What is the Bridge First Home Partner Programme?
This is a Shared Equity programme where Bridge Housing initially owns a portion of your home.
With shared equity, we partner with you to share the cost of buying your own home. Over time, you buy out our share until you own it all.
How does it work?
You buy a majority share of a Bridge Housing home (minimum 80% of the value) and Bridge Housing owns the remaining share.
We help you to find a mortgage provider that supports our Parter Programme.
Both you and Bridge Housing are recorded on the property title as owners.
Over time, as you can afford it, you buy more of our share in your home, as you continue to pay the mortgage.
Our goal is to support you to owning 100% of your home after 5 years, but in some cases this may take a little longer.
Who is eligible?
- First time home buyers (or potential for ‘second chance’ buyers).
- The property must be used exclusively as the household’s primary residence and must not be vacated by the household for any more than four weeks over a 12 month period.
- The applicant’s combined household income must not exceed $130,000 p.a. (before tax).
- At least one person from the household entering into the Secure Home Agreement must be a New Zealand resident or citizen.
- Once the above eligibility criteria have been met, you must then show that you can meet the specific financial requirements of the First Home Partner Programme, which includes bank approval for a home loan.
- The home must be the resident’s only property; if you already own a home or land, you are ineligible for the Programme.
Useful Links
Accommodation Supplement
You may be eligible for funds to support your housing costs
KiwiSaver
Find out how you can access your KiwiSaver
Contact Us
Need more information? Contact us with any queries you might have