We can take care of all the legal property conveyancing paperwork, making your first property transaction a smooth and simple one.
Fixed Fee
To help make the process as easy for you as possible Godfreys Law offers a fixed fee of $1,900 (GST exclusive) plus any add on work if applicable.
| Add on work (if applicable) | Fee |
| Review Agreement | $500 (GST exclusive) |
| Mortgage - standard | $350 (GST exclusive) |
| Mortgage - 2nd tier lenders | $500 (GST exclusive) |
| Kiwisaver - per application | $150 (GST exclusive) |
| Home Start Grant - per application | $150 (GST exclusive) |
| House and Land package | $650 (GST exclusive) |
| Shared ownership (3+ parties) | $350 (GST exclusive) |
| Kaianga Ora shared partnership | Time basis - $225 per hour (GST Exclusive) |
Most of the property conveyancing we do is like an iceberg. Once you’re ready to buy your first home, you only see a small part of the work that needs to be done to complete the deal. Our three step property conveyancing process is what happens behind the scenes, to get you into your first home.
Identify The Property
Slightly more complicated than it sounds, this involves going through all the paperwork associated held by LINZ and the Christchurch City Council about the house you are looking to buy, making sure it matches the land area and legal description on the sale documents.
We’ll also check to see if the Christchurch property has:
Covenants: Any restrictions around what owners can change about the property. These are particularly popular in new Christchurch subdivisions where the developer wants to create an overarching theme for the sections.
For example, a covenant could apply to what material you can use for house cladding, how high you can build your front fence, or the colour of your roof.
Right of Way: Does anyone else have legal access to your land? For example, on a cross-lease section, neighbours may share a driveway.
Easements: These are agreements to use your property for a specific purpose. Like an agreement with the Christchurch City Council to have water mains or sewage pipes running underneath your property that connect to the main grid.
Our property law team will sit down with you and highlight any issues we can find before you commit to buying your first home. This will probably be your biggest investment, so we want to make sure you know exactly what you’re committing to. We’ll explain any covenants, easements and rights of way, plus any outstanding EQC or insurance claims, so you can make a fully informed decision around buying.
Property Finance
How are you planning on paying for your first home? Godfreys Law take you to the next property conveyancing step by working with your bank or mortgage broker. We can confirm the details of any sale documents, that both sides have agreed to the terms, and help get your finances together to make your deposit.
Kiwisaver: As a first home buyer, you can take money out of your retirement fund for a property deposit. The government also offers Homestart Grants and loans for first home buyers through Kāinga Ora if you need extra help getting on the property ladder. In both cases, Godfreys Law can coordinate with government departments and help you with the paperwork. For information on if you qualify for a Kāinga Ora grant or loan, please visit their website.
Guarantor: This is a condition a bank may place on a property transaction to make sure they don’t lose any money. A guarantor, usually a parent or guardian, takes ultimate responsibility for your mortgage payments by guaranteeing they will be met.
Settlement Day
This is the big day. After waiting through the settlement period, this is the day you get the keys to your new house and become a Christchurch homeowner.
We will make sure money from your bank or mortgage lender is transferred safely and securely through our trust account and to the vendors lawyer, who will settle any outstanding mortgage and pay the difference to their client.
Our property law team will also confirm all the legal paperwork is correctly filed, including making sure your name is on the deed of property, so your settlement day goes ahead as planned.