Did you know that if you build with a Homestar rating of 6 or more, some banks will discount your mortgage rate? Or that you could be eligible for an interest free home loan top-up to make your home drier, warmer, more energy efficient, or to purchase a hybrid or electric vehicle?
Let’s look at the options in the market.
ANZ
If you’re buying, building, renovating or already own a home that is 6 Homestar rating or higher, you can apply for the ANZ Healthy Home Loan package, with special discounts on home loan interest rates and other great benefits. According to ANZ at the time of writing that’s 0.7-1% off your home loan, plus, you’ll end up with lower energy bills and a higher performing home that’s warm all year around!
Alternatively, if you’re wanting to make your existing home greener there are incentives from banks to help you get a warmer, drier, healthier home, without building or buying new! ANZ offers a Good Energy Home Loan at an interest rate of 1.00% p.a. fixed for three years for up to $80,000. With this loan you can make certain energy efficient upgrades to your home to help the planet, and your wallet, which includes:
Heating, insulation and ventilation
- Heat pumps
- A fixed single-split heat pump system, multi-split heat pump system or a ducted heat pump system for heating your home
- Insulation
- Ceiling, underfloor and/or wall insulation
- Double or secondary glazing
- Ventilation
- Positive or balanced pressure ventilation systems, including heat recovery options
This even extends to purchasing a new car! Clean transport upgrades include:
- Hybrid and electric vehicles
- New or used Electric, Hybrid or Plug-in Hybrid vehicles purchased from a registered motor vehicle trader (this will exclude vehicles purchased from a private seller)
- Electric vehicle chargers
Portable, single-phase wall mounted or three-phase wall mounted electric vehicle chargers
Renewable energy upgrades include:
- Solar Photo-Voltaic (PV) systems and all related project costs and installations for residential purposes only such as consulting, planning and consenting, site preparation, related charging infrastructure, connectivity to grid and labour
- Solar panels
- Solar batteries
- Lithium ion or lead-acid based solar batteries (including the cost of inverters and other necessary technologies)
Sustainable water upgrades include:
- Rainwater tanks
- Home water tanks and any related components such as leaf guards, filters, and connections to indoor plumbing systems
ASB
ASB offers a Better Homes Top Up where you can lend up to $80,000, with an interest rate of 1.00% fixed for 3 years, to make your home drier, warmer or more energy efficient or to purchase a hybrid or electric vehicle.
Eligible improvements and purchases:
- An electric or hybrid car, or EV charger
- Electric or hybrid vehicles purchased from a registered motor vehicle trader. Includes new or used battery electric vehicles (BEV’s), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV’s).
- Electric vehicle charging units, portable or wall-mounted.
Insulate your home
- Underfloor, ceiling or wall insulation (professionally installed), window glazing: double or triple glazed windows, or secondary glazing upgrades.
Heat and cool efficiently
- Heat pump system, which is installed in your home.
- Wood burner or wood pellet burner, which meets any specific local council regulations
Reduce moisture
- Extractor Fans: A bathroom extractor fan or kitchen rangehood sending air to outside, not inside or ceiling space, ground moisture barriers, professionally installed, ventilation systems – positive or balanced pressure systems
Use hot water efficiently
- Heat pump water heaters, solar hot water systems, wetbacks
Solar energy
- Solar panels, batteries and inverters installed by a member of Sustainable Electricity Association of New Zealand (SEANZ), solar hot water systems
KIWIBANK
Kiwibank doesn’t appear to have a deal with green lending interest rates but offers a contribution towards making your home more energy efficient. If you borrow more than $5,000, they will contribute up to $2,000 over four years towards the cost of the system – $800 at the end of the first year and $400 at the end of each of the following three years. And if you’re already a Kiwibank Home Loan customer, they will waive the home loan top-up fee.
WESTPAC
Westpac have recently introduced their Greater Choices Loan, a similar offering for energy efficient home upgrades, as well as vehicles. Their loan is up to $50,000 and interest-free for 5 years and similar to ANZ, can help you with purchasing or upgrading of insulation, heat pumps, double glazing, ventilation, wood burners, solar power systems and batteries, as well as hybrid and electric vehicles and chargers.
There’s a lot to consider with a new build or an upgrade so make sure you get your bank onside with the best deal they can offer.
If you need help with building a new home to suit your budget, talk to our Design & Build team, many of our plans can be modified so we can do our best to make it work for you.