New Zealanders have a chance to buy one of the first KiwiBuild homes in Auckland following the opening of the ballot today, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Housing and Urban Development Minister Phil Twyford have announced.
These first 18 homes are warm, modern and architecturally-designed stand-alone homes made up of 12 three-bedroom homes selling for $579,000 and six four-bedroom homes selling for $649,000. The ballot runs for four weeks.
Jacinda Ardern says KiwiBuild is restoring the Kiwi dream of home ownership to thousands of families who have been priced out of the housing market in Auckland and around the country.
“Our Government is opening the door to families locked out of home ownership by building affordable starter homes where the market failed to do so. The ballot that opens today gives those that pre-qualify an equal chance of being able to buy their own KiwiBuild home,” said Jacinda Ardern
“KiwiBuild is the major plank in our Government’s plan to make housing more affordable. We have also changed the law to stop overseas speculators pricing New Zealanders out of the market.
“After nine years of neglect under National we now have a Government that is making affordable homeownership a priority for the tens of thousands of New Zealanders missing out. Today’s ballot shows that help is on the way.”
Phil Twyford said another 12 properties already under construction at the McLennan development will be completed before Christmas, including seven terraced two-bedroom homes and five four-bedroom homes. Next year a further 58 mainly three bedroom homes will be built at the Papakura location.
“This is just the beginning. Later this week our Government will be announcing the start of the next tranche of KiwiBuild homes – the first homes to be bought off the plans.”
Phil Twyford urged anyone considering entering the ballot for KiwiBuild homes at McLennan to get a thorough understanding of the property first and speak to their bank manager.
KiwiBuild eligibility
To ensure KiwiBuild homes go to the people they are intended for, applicants must:
· Be a first-time buyer or a ‘second chancer’
· Have an income of less than $120,000 for a single buyer, or no more than $180,000 for more than one purchaser,
· Be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, or a resident visa holder who is ‘ordinarily resident in New Zealand’,
· And intend to own and live in the home as their primary place of residence for at least three years.
Pre-qualification requirements
The online pre-qualification process will ask for specific documentation certified by an authorised person (e.g. Justice of the Peace, lawyer, etc) including:
· Proof of citizenship/residency
· Proof of income
· Financial pre-approval from a bank or other lender
· Statutory declaration signed by an authorised person (e.g. a Justice of the Peace, lawyer)
McLennan Development show home
The show home viewing hours are:
· 10am – 4pm weekends
· 10am – 2pm weekdays
· By appointment outside those hours please contact the sales team at mclennan.co.nz
The show home is located in the McLennan development at 42 Liberation Road, Papakura. Follow the signs from the corner of Battalion Drive and Swamp Kauri Grove to Lot 719.
The first ballot
The ballot for the first 18 KiwiBuild homes at McLennan opens today (Monday, 10 September), and is for 12 x three-bedroom and 6 x four-bedroom houses. Buyers can enter ballots for multiple homes but the system will only allow them to win one home.
The ballot closes on Friday, 5 October, and ballot winners will be contacted soon after.