Home buying costs
The upfront costs of buying a home on top of the deposit: lawyer, LIM, building inspection, valuation and First Home Loan premium, with the ranges we found.
The short answer
Buying a $750,000 home with a 20% deposit, budget about $2,163 to $4,025 for the lawyer, LIM and building inspection, using the ranges we found. Above 80% or in a private sale, add a registered valuation of about $700 to $1,500.
| Cost | Range we found (UNVERIFIED) | Your figure |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer or conveyancer | $1,400 to $2,500, plus GST and disbursements | $2,500 |
| LIM report | Examples: $263 to $325 (Waimakariri), $304.56 (Queenstown Lakes) | $325 |
| Building inspection | $500 to $1,200 | $1,200 |
| Total | $4,025 |
With a $150,000 deposit, you need about $154,025 in cash: the deposit plus $4,025 of costs.
Ranges come from one source each and are marked UNVERIFIED. Get quotes. House insurance is needed before settlement; we found no source for its cost.
The checklist
Costs on top of the deposit, with the ranges we found. Each comes from a single source, so we mark it UNVERIFIED; quotes vary by region and property.
- Lawyer or conveyancer: often $1,400 to $2,500, plus GST and disbursements (Tremains, 16 June 2026).
- LIM report from the council: for example $263 electronic or $325 hard copy in Waimakariri for 2026/27, and $304.56 in Queenstown Lakes. We did not find Auckland’s fee.
- Building inspection: about $500 to $1,200, depending on size.
- Registered valuation: about $700 to $1,500; usually needed above 80% LVR or for a private sale (Sorted).
- First Home Loan premium: 1.2% of the loan, or 1.00% at Kiwibank.
- Low equity premium: a yearly cost above 80% LVR, see the deposit calculator.
- House insurance: lenders require it, but we found no source for its cost.
Tremains, 16 Jun 2026 · Sorted · Canstar, 24 Jun 2026 · Kāinga Ora premium FAQ · Kiwibank
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