Mortgage broker for Amberley

Buying in Amberley

Amberley is the main town in the Hurunui District, about 50 kilometres north of Christchurch on State Highway 1. It has grown steadily, with new subdivisions on the edge of town and a large retirement village, and the council has a spatial plan for where the next homes will go. Because the town is surrounded by highly productive farmland, which national rules protect, new sections do not appear as easily here as they do in Selwyn.

Borrowing later in life

A lot of Amberley buyers are moving out of Christchurch to downsize, or to semi-retire somewhere quieter. Lenders can and do lend to people in their fifties, sixties and beyond, but they want to see how the loan will be repaid, whether that is from income, the sale of another property or savings. Getting that story clear before you apply makes a real difference to the answer. If you are buying before you sell, bridging finance can stop you being rushed into a sale.

First homes and new sections

At the other end, Amberley appeals to first home buyers and young families who want a section of their own within commuting distance of the city. Many lenders accept a smaller deposit on a new build, and new builds are exempt from the debt-to-income limits. A KiwiSaver first home withdrawal can often cover a good part of the deposit.

Amberley Beach

Properties at Amberley Beach are protected by a coastal bund that the council expects to stop working in the coming decades, and it is planning a managed retreat, including land in Amberley for homes to relocate to. If you are looking at a beach property, read the LIM and the council's coastal plans closely, and talk to us early. Lenders and insurers look hard at coastal hazard properties, and some will not lend on them at all.

Where we are

Our office is at 3/24 Dublin Street in Christchurch. Most of our North Canterbury clients do everything by phone and email, and the advice is exactly the same. Journey Mortgages holds a 5.0 rating from 69 Google reviews and Alex Toohey is a Top 25 New Zealand Mortgage Adviser.