Building with HBNZ? Let's get your finance moving.
We've been helping Kiwi into homes since 2008, arranging over $22 billion in mortgages along the way. We've teamed up with HBNZ to make financing your build a whole lot simpler, with a dedicated Squirrel adviser to help you through the process from start to finish.
Complete your application and we’ll aim to turn it around within 48 hours, or book a chat with an adviser to talk through your options first.
Here’s how Squirrel can help with your HBNZ build
If you already own the property you’re looking to build on, we can help with finance for eligible HBNZ builds.
Your Squirrel adviser will talk you through your options and help find the right way to fund your build.
You might be looking to build:
- A 2 or 3 bedroom home: A compact, build-ready option of around 70m², designed to fit within the granny flat consent exemption.
- A larger 3 or 4 bedroom home: A little more room, with a mid-sized, build-ready option.
Whether you’re looking for extra rental income, somewhere for family to live, a place to downsize to, or simply more room, HBNZ has a range of options to explore.
See the full range on the HBNZ website.
Available for eligible HBNZ projects outside Auckland. Lending criteria, equity and affordability checks apply.


More than one way to buy
There are different ways to structure a mortgage depending on what works for you.
That could mean:
- Buying with a partner
- Teaming up with friends or siblings to get into your first home
- Getting a helping hand from parents or grandparents as guarantors
Your Squirrel adviser can talk you through the options and help find an approach that works for the way you’re buying.
We arrange about $3 billion of home loans per year, working with all the major banks.









Our advisers do the hard work, so you don't have to
Better mortgage rates
We arrange about $3 billion of home loans per year which gives us negotiating power and access to better rates.
More options
We have access to more banks than other brokers, plus our community of 5,000+ peer-to-peer lenders looking to fund a person like you.
Our advisers aren't incentivised by lenders
They're paid the same no matter which lender you end up with, so you know you won't get pushed into a loan you don't want or can't afford.
Better technology
Our online application is fast and straightforward, and means you can do it from anywhere in the world.

Why choose Squirrel to help you with your mortgage for your HBNZ home:
- Better mortgage interest rates
- More lending options
- Expert property and lending advice
- Better technology means you can do it from anywhere
- Our advisers get paid the same no matter which lender you end up with, so their only motivation is to make you better off.
Don't settle for any old mortgage
We’ll compare all the main banks and weigh up the options, so you don’t have to. We’ll answer those niggly questions, like:
- What’s the lowest interest rate in market?
- Fix or float, or a combination of both?
- Which bank is best for me?
- Can I avoid break fees?
- How much could I be saving?
If all this sounds like a foreign language to you, maybe head over to our first home buyers section and we'll walk you through it all.

What does the process with Squirrel look like?
Here's a quick look at how we'll work together...
Here's a quick look at how we'll work together...
1.
We’ll chat with you to understand your financial situation to help you secure your new HBNZ home.
2.
Your mortgage adviser can provide honest feedback about your home-buying journey, and answer questions you’ve got along the way.
3.
We’ll work with the banks to get you a hot home loan rate. We’ve got access to them all, plus our own custom lending solutions when needed. More options for you means better rates.
4.
We work out the best mortgage structure to suit your lifestyle, and negotiate your loan for your new HBNZ home.
5.
Together we can build a plan to help you get mortgage-free faster. You might be amazed at what small things you can do to shave years off your mortgage.
6.
We don’t ‘set and forget’. Your adviser is always a phone call or email away and down the track we’ll help you when your fixed rate rolls over, and beyond.

What's the best interest rate at the moment?
If you're all about getting the sharpest rate, we can help. We work with all the banks so can help you secure a great rate no matter who you choose to bank with. In fact, we can generally get an even better rate than the advertised rate.
Get your mortgage application underway
Fill in our online form and we'll contact you with next steps.
Stay on top of the property market
Whether it's your first time building or you've done it before, someone's been there before. We’ve written about all things buying and building, from “Tips to help Kiwi homeowners protect themselves against severe weather events” to “Are new builds still a good investment in the changing market?”. Check out our blog.
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