Tiny Home Finance FAQs
Have a question about financing your tiny home?
Financing a tiny home raises different questions at every stage. We’ve grouped the most common ones by where you are in the journey, from your first enquiry through to life in your new home. Can’t see your question? Get in touch and we’ll answer it directly.
Before you apply
Yes, we specialise in exactly this. Eligibility depends on the home, your deposit, the land arrangement and your financial position, and we’ll walk you through all of it.
New and used tiny homes, cabins, relocatable homes and self-contained portable dwellings from approved suppliers and sellers. Tell us what you’re looking at and we’ll confirm it fits.
No. The tiny home itself can act as security, which opens up finance for buyers placing a home on family land or someone else’s property. We’ll help you and the landowner get the right acknowledgement sorted.
It depends on the purchase price, whether the home is new or used, the supplier or seller, the finance product and your own profile. We’ll confirm your exact deposit early, once we know the home you’re looking at.
Often, yes. Family can help through gifts, joint applications or other arrangements. Talk to us early and we’ll tell you what documentation we need, whether that’s a simple gifting letter or a joint application.
Yes, joint applications are common, particularly for partners and family members buying together. A guarantor is often possible too, subject to our current lending policy.
Sometimes. KiwiSaver first-home withdrawals have specific eligibility rules, so check with your provider or a qualified adviser to confirm your situation.
Your income, existing commitments, credit history and deposit, along with the home itself and where it’s going. We check that the repayments sit comfortably alongside your normal living costs, so the finance actually works for you.
Between approval and delivery
You’ll receive your offer, with clear terms and full disclosure laid out for you to review. Once you’ve accepted and any conditions are met, settlement proceeds alongside your supplier or seller agreement.
Your deposit secures your home. Deposits are non-refundable, with one exception: if delivery to your site is assessed as not feasible.
The full balance is due 10 days before your home is delivered. Delivery needs to take place within 3 months of your initial deposit, so it pays to have your site ready early. We understand that delays occur however after 3 months we need to verify your financial position has not substantially altered since the initial approval.
If your home is going on land you don’t own, the landowner’s acknowledgement needs to be in place before the loan advances. We’ll help you put the right documentation together.
Site access, services, delivery arrangements and insurance are the main things to plan for. Council, planning, building and site requirements sit with you, your supplier and your landowner to confirm, and sorting them early makes delivery day far smoother.
Yes. Insurance is available for tiny homes, covering theft, damage and liability. The type of cover depends on whether your home is on wheels or on foundations, so let your insurer know which you have.
After delivery
There is some flexibility on loan repayment commencement. The first repayment date will be agreed upfront with you prior to loan documentation being issued.
Presently you will initiate the loan repayment or set up an automatic payment for the repayment
We recommend having cover in place from the day your home is delivered. Your home is a significant investment, and insuring it from day one protects you from the start.
After you’ve moved in
Yes. Paying off your loan early reduces the total interest you pay. An early settlement fee may apply, and our Disclosure page has the current details.
Talk to us as early as you can. We’d much rather work through it with you than have you fall behind. If your circumstances change because of something like illness, redundancy or a relationship ending, you can apply for a hardship variation to your loan.
Your home forms part of the security for your loan, so talk to us before you move it. If the new site is on land you don’t own, we’ll help you with the landowner documentation for the new location.
Talk to us first. Because your home is the security for your loan, we’ll explain how the loan is settled as part of the sale so it goes smoothly.
Once your loan is repaid in full, the security over your home is released and it’s yours, free and clear.
Still Have Questions?
Every situation is a little different. If your question isn’t here, get in touch and we’ll give you a straight answer.