First Mortgage Trust Home Loan Review.

First Mortgage Managers Limited — NZ Mortgage Review (2026)

First Mortgage Managers Limited is New Zealand's largest non-bank mortgage fund manager with over 28 years of trusted property lending. For New Zealand borrowers, the lender's specialties include residential mortgages, commercial property, rural and industrial loans, bridging and development. Finch is an independent NZ mortgage broker with a panel of 23 lenders: registered banks, specialist non-bank lenders and a credit union. We only recommend First Mortgage Trust when its lending rules and pricing beat the alternatives for your situation. See all 23 lenders.

Who First Mortgage Trust Suits Best

First Mortgage Trust suits property investors, business owners, and borrowers wanting stable non-bank mortgage funding from an established NZ fund. It works best when your income, deposit and property type fit First Mortgage Trust's current lending rules. If they don't, another lender on our panel may be cheaper or faster, so we compare options before recommending one.

First Mortgage Trust — Strengths

• Substantial capital base offering continuous liquidity across NZ market cycles
• Experienced nationwide lending team with practical underwriting guidelines
• Interest-only payment options available for qualifying property investors
• Transparent governance and long-standing reputation in the NZ lending community

First Mortgage Trust — Considerations

• Non-bank risk-rated interest rates
• Conservative valuation and loan-to-value requirements
• Facility management and establishment fees apply

How First Mortgage Trust Compares Across Our 23 Approved Lenders

No lender is best for everyone. Banks usually offer their lowest rates to borrowers with steady salary or wage income and a good deposit. Non-bank lenders such as Avanti Finance, Basecorp Finance and Pepper Money often help when your situation is less straightforward. Check current NZ mortgage rates, then book a free call and we'll compare your options across the whole panel.

The Rules NZ Lenders Work Within

In New Zealand, the Reserve Bank's loan-to-value (LVR) and debt-to-income (DTI) restrictions apply to registered banks. Non-bank lenders aren't bound by them, but every lender must follow the responsible lending rules in the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act (CCCFA). Finch gives advice as an Authorised Body under the Financial Advice Provider licence held by Finsure New Zealand Limited (FSP1005389), and follows the Code of Professional Conduct for Financial Advice Services, overseen by the Financial Markets Authority. That means we only recommend First Mortgage Trust when it suits your needs.

Documents First Mortgage Trust Typically Requires

• 3 months payslips (PAYE) or latest financial statements / bank cashflows (self-employed)
• 3 months bank statements across active accounts and credit facilities
• KiwiSaver statement and confirmation of first-home eligibility (if applicable)
• NZ photo ID and proof of address for AML / CFT compliance
• Evidence of deposit funds, gifted equity, or existing property equity

Service Coverage Across New Zealand

Finch arranges First Mortgage Trust lending for clients across New Zealand, including Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, Tauranga, Dunedin, Palmerston North, Napier, Nelson and Queenstown. We handle the whole application, from first assessment to settlement.

Should You Go Direct, or Use an Independent Broker?

If you go to First Mortgage Trust directly, you only see its own products and lending rules. Through Finch, you get a comparison across our panel of 23 lenders. For residential home loans our advice is free, because the lender pays us a commission when your loan settles. Read our NZ client case studies to see how we structure approvals.