Applying for a home loan can feel like a big task, especially if you’ve never done it before. You’ve saved your deposit, you’ve got your eye on a property, and now you’re ready to talk to a lender. But before any bank or lender can give you a formal approval, they need to understand your full financial picture.
At Luminate Financial Group, we help hundreds of first-home buyers through this process every year. One of the first things we help our clients do is get their documentation in order. Having the right documents ready from the start can speed up your loan approval, reduce stress, and give you a real advantage when the right property comes along.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly what documents you need for a mortgage application in New Zealand and why each one matters.
Banks don’t just hand out home loans based on income alone. They need to assess your overall financial position, your ability to repay the loan, and your stability. This means looking at your income, spending habits, savings, existing debts, and long-term financial commitments.
Providing full and accurate documentation helps the lender:
The better prepared you are, the smoother the process will be.
To start, you’ll need to provide verified ID. This is a legal requirement under anti-money laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations.
Most lenders require:
If you’re applying with a partner or joint applicant, both people will need to provide these documents.
Next, lenders need to confirm how much you earn and whether your income is stable and ongoing.
If you are a salaried or wage earner, you’ll typically need:
If you are self-employed, you’ll need more detailed financials, including:
For contractors, commission-based earners, or those with variable income, additional documents may be required to show consistency and ongoing work.
Lenders will usually request your last three months of bank statements for both your everyday accounts and savings accounts. This gives them a clear picture of your spending habits, lifestyle, and savings behaviour.
They’ll be looking at:
If you have joint accounts or shared expenses, those accounts should be included as well.
Lenders want to know about any existing debts that may affect your ability to repay a mortgage. You’ll need to disclose and provide details for:
Provide recent statements showing your current balances, credit limits, and repayment history. If you’ve recently paid off a loan, bring proof that the account has been closed.
If you’re using savings, gifts or KiwiSaver, you’ll need to show where your deposit is coming from and that the funds are available.
Most commonly, you’ll need:
Lenders want to see that your deposit is genuine, available, and not borrowed.
All lenders must assess your actual living expenses as part of responsible lending obligations. You’ll be asked to break down your spending in categories such as:
At Luminate, we help clients build a realistic budget that reflects their lifestyle. This ensures your loan is manageable and helps the lender understand how your finances operate day to day.
Once you’ve found a property and are applying for final approval, you’ll need to provide:
If you haven’t found a property yet, that’s not a problem. We can still arrange pre-approval based on your financials and add the property details later.
Depending on your situation, the lender may also ask for:
Not everyone will need these, but it’s good to be aware of what might be requested.
At Luminate Financial Group, we understand that gathering documents can be stressful — especially if you’re doing it for the first time. That’s why we guide you through the process, provide a personalised checklist, and manage the communication with the lender on your behalf.
If your documentation reveals gaps or spending patterns that could affect your approval, we help you create a plan to fix those issues and get mortgage-ready as quickly as possible.
Getting your documents in order is the first real step toward owning your home. With the right paperwork and expert guidance, the home loan process becomes a lot simpler.
When your documents are ready and complete, your application moves faster, your approval is stronger, and you’ll be in a great position to act when the right home becomes available.
Book a free First-Home Planning Session today.
We’ll review your situation, show you what’s needed, and help you take the next step with confidence.
Visit www.luminate.co.nz | Email askus@luminate.co.nz | Call 0800 333 400