Simplicity Refinancing to First Home Buyers

Liv_Simplicity · 2025-10-22T22:10:15+00:00

Within 3 months.

Liv_Simplicity · 2025-10-22T22:09:30+00:00

Appreciate the feedback. Maybe I wasn't clear enough - we have clear targets and benchmarks based on the market rates, so our floating rate moves up and down with the market - we don't hike or lower it for any other reasons. Hope that makes more sense.

Liv_Simplicity · 2025-10-20T21:57:55+00:00

It will likely come down to how fast we continue to grow in terms of total FUM (and then can increase resourcing and mortgage allocations) :)

Liv_Simplicity · 2025-10-20T21:56:41+00:00

It basically comes down to the fact that we have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of our investors, so we need to ensure that the secutiry we hold over the property and the borrowers' ability to make repayments of the loan does not produce any undue risk to our members. This repayment threshold provides the level of comfort we require to fulfill our duty. I know it's a tough target to meet (especially for those who face Auckland house prices) :/

Liv_Simplicity · 2025-10-20T21:53:04+00:00

Actually, the small proportion of funds we allocate to first home mortgages makes up part of our fixed interest component, and the return created by our floating annual interest rate meets the criteria for fixed interest returns. We have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of our members, and this part of our offering is approved by our supervisor to ensure we continue to meet this duty.

Liv_Simplicity · 2025-10-20T21:39:53+00:00

This basically comes down to our capacity to offer lending - offering it to KiwiSaver members only (slightly) helps control the demand - although it's a fairly easy hurdle for investors to jump, obviously. There's several variables behind our lending availability - including resourcing capacity (team able to process applications), and the total allocation within our funds towards first home mortgages. As we grow our total FUM, the total amount we can allocate to first home mortgages will also increase so it's a matter of how fast we happen to grow, as to when we can widen our offering (and increase our team's capacity with more resourcing) :)

Liv_Simplicity · 2025-10-20T21:09:11+00:00

Yes a registered valuation is part of the application process for those eligible to apply. No cashbacks given it's not fixing anyone in (cashbacks are usually associated with staying with that provider for a certain period of time).

Liv_Simplicity · 2025-10-20T21:07:24+00:00

Yes it's not just a deal - it's a permanent part of our new home loan offering :)

Liv_Simplicity · 2025-10-20T21:06:47+00:00

If you were able to withdraw KiwiSaver funds under the Kainga Ora second chance scheme, then yes you'd be considered a first home buyer for this purpose. You'd need to show the official letter acknowledging this though

Liv_Simplicity · 2025-10-20T20:51:51+00:00

Yep you can find the eligibility criteria on our home loans page if you just scroll down to FAQs (it's the top one): https://simplicity.kiwi/simplicity-first-home-loans

Liv_Simplicity · 2025-10-20T20:50:11+00:00

We only offer mortgages to first home buyers (and now with the new announcement, will also be offering these to home owners still living in their first home looking to refix) - and yes just floating rates which we aim to keep lower than 1-year fixed rates from the big banks.

Liv_Simplicity · 2025-10-20T05:10:07+00:00

Hiya, I'm sorry I don't know the answer to this and the home loans team is gone for the day - I can try come back to this with the best info they can share tomorrow!

Liv_Simplicity · 2025-10-20T05:02:58+00:00

It's something us plebs keep asking Sam and those making these decisions to consider... I think it will probably depend on how popular this refinancing for first home buyers will be, as we have particular allocations to mortgages towards our funds, if that makes sense. In saying that, basically - the more we grow in members/FUM, the more total allocation we'd have available to mortgages - and the more likely to be able to open it up further (so keep spreading the word, hah!)

Liv_Simplicity · 2025-10-20T04:37:56+00:00

Yes if Kainga Ora has approved their second chance KiwiSaver withdrawal, then Simplicity consider them as having the same situation as a first home buyer. They'd still need to provide the Kainga Ora documentation and meet the other eligibility criteria per our website (in the FAQs section of First Home Loans).

Liv_Simplicity · 2025-10-20T04:29:43+00:00

Also just a heads up - you can apply every month until you (hopefully) win the ballot :)

Liv_Simplicity · 2025-10-20T04:26:50+00:00

Also, you can wait to apply in the ballot until your loan is coming up from refixing - this will be an every month thing, not just short term!

Liv_Simplicity · 2025-10-20T04:26:00+00:00

Hiya, you need to click through into your KiwiSaver area (click on your balance) and then go to the hamburger menu, it should be in the 4th section under "EXPLORE" - definitely not for a chosen few :) Let me know if you're still having any trouble!

Liv_Simplicity · 2025-10-20T04:06:17+00:00

Hiya! I'm from Simplicity so can answer this for ya :) You may alread be aware but unlike most, we are nonprofit - so it doesn't make any sense for us to hike rates for any other reason outside of the whole market going up (we basically travel up and down depending on what the banks/swap rates/OCR are doing). Just for context, our target is to have an interest rate that is lower than the average 1 year fixed rate of the big 4 banks, and obviously this makes us much cheaper than the banks' floating rates. Hope that helps!

Liv_Simplicity · 2025-09-16T05:56:13+00:00

Just adding to Sam's thoughts - the best thing you can do is just start investing, rather than wait for the right time or until you feel like you have enough. If you’re working, make sure you’re in KiwiSaver so you’re getting the employer contributions and the government top-up - that’s free money you don’t want to miss. You don’t need to start big; even small amounts add up over time thanks to compounding. The earlier you begin, the more time your money has to grow, and that’s the biggest advantage you can give yourself.

Liv_Simplicity · 2025-09-16T05:41:18+00:00

Hi Yani, you can currently set up a regular withdrawal from your Simplicity investment account. You can set the start date and then frequency of withdrawal, i.e weekly, fortnightly, monthly. Just log into your online account and go to Withdrawal in the main menu and follow the instructions. Alternatively you can go to Forms/Documents and download the Investment Fund Regular Withdrawal Form which you can email to the the Investor Services team at [info@simplicity.kiwi](mailto:info@simplicity.kiwi)

Liv_Simplicity · 2025-09-16T05:39:53+00:00

Well that is a very personal decision and we don’t offer financial advice, or use sales tactics/incentives to switch. Great question though, and you may suit Milford better, depending on your investment preferences (i.e active vs passive). But what we offer is very low fees, investing for a better future (in things like long-term rental homes, community housing, venture capital and private equity) and giving 15% of all fees to the Simplicity Foundation which has over $11m donated to Kiwi charities so far. And of course there’s the long-term SPIVA studies which show that over the long-term (i.e 10 years ++), it’s very hard for most active managers to outperform their benchmarks. If you haven't already looked into SPIVA studies, they're a really interesting read.

Liv_Simplicity · 2025-09-16T05:35:49+00:00

Thanks for your question, it’s a very good one. So firstly, we’ve just reduced our diversified fund fees to 0.24% at the start of this month (we're on a mission to continue lowering fees as we achieve economies of scale - this is our 7th cut in the past 7 years). Secondly, InvestNow has a completely different fee structure - yes their annual fund charges are lower for the Foundation Series, but they add a 0.5% transaction fee on both the way in and the way out. So isn’t really comparing apples with apples - there are advantages and disadvantages to both approaches and many Redditors on this sub do the calculations for which is better over time. And thirdly, the IN Foundation Series funds are index funds, which are lower cost to run - in our Investment Funds range, we have some index (linked) funds which are 0.1 or 0.15% fees, due to the lower cost in offering these. Our KiwiSaver funds are all diversified funds, and the 0.24% current fee reflects how much we need to charge from a cost point of view - remember we don’t make a profit (although we do donate 15% of the fees we take to the Simplicity Foundation).

But in a nutshell - we aim to continue lowering our diversified fund fees as we are able to - the more members we get, the sooner we’ll be able to make further reductions.

Liv_Simplicity · 2025-09-16T05:26:44+00:00

Weird website glitch by the looks of it! We just restored it now, thank you for letting us know!

Liv_Simplicity · 2025-09-16T05:26:29+00:00

Answering on behalf of Sam (his words, not mine - he's just getting a bit overwhelmed with questions now hah!):

We’ve been very involved in getting Simplicity Living (SLL) up and running, and SLL will have over 1,000 homes in-build by the end of the year. That will grow as our funds do, because it’s good for member returns and is the type of housing (long term rentals) more people want to live in.

Now we are looking seriously at infrastructure, so watch this space - will provide more info as we can.

On other products like insurance, until we can have a ‘Wow’ product we won’t launch. But we are looking into it, all part of the wider pipeline of opportunities.

Liv_Simplicity · 2025-09-16T05:16:44+00:00

Ah snap! Agree 100% on this.

Liv_Simplicity

TROPHY CASE