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Navigating Gifted Deposits With Confidence
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With housing prices high, many first-home buyers are leaning on family for a helping hand. A gifted mortgage deposit can unlock the door to homeownership — but it must be handled carefully to avoid complications.
In New Zealand, lenders require formal evidence that any funds gifted are not loans in disguise. This usually means a signed declaration confirming no repayment is expected. If this step is skipped or poorly worded, it could delay or derail your mortgage approval.
That’s why working with a mortgage adviser is so important. At Advanced Mortgage Solutions, they guide you through every requirement: from documentation to lender policy, and even timing the gift correctly for approval.
They also help you combine gifted funds with your own deposit — whether that’s from savings, KiwiSaver, or both. Then they present your full financial picture to the lender in a way that makes sense, improves your approval odds, and ensures nothing gets missed.
Gifted deposits can also affect your structure. For example, if part of the deposit was saved and part was gifted, they can recommend how to align that with a split loan or offset structure for maximum benefit.
When it’s done right, a gifted deposit is a beautiful way for families to support each other. Our role is to make sure that support is recognised and respected by the banks — without unnecessary stress or red tape.
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