Canterbury Home Loans
Mortgage Broker
Christchurch
Clear mortgage advice for first-home buyers, families and homeowners across Christchurch and Canterbury.
Whether you're buying your first home, moving house or refinancing, Canterbury Home Loans helps you understand what you can borrow, compare lender options and plan your next step with confidence.
No pressure. No confusing jargon. Just straightforward mortgage advice.
25+ years of banking and home lending experience, with Duane alongside you through the process.
Why Canterbury Home Loans
An easier way to get your home loan sorted
You do not need to work through the banks on your own. Canterbury Home Loans helps you understand your options, prepare properly and move through the home loan process with clear, personal guidance.
You deal directly with Duane Aarts, a Christchurch-based mortgage adviser who helps first-home buyers, home movers and homeowners compare lender options, understand the process and make clear decisions before applying.
Book a free home loan chat →How we can help
Home loan advice for the stage you are at now
Canterbury Home Loans helps first-home buyers, home movers, refinancers and new-build buyers across Christchurch and Canterbury understand their options and take the next step with confidence.
First-home buyers
Start With The First Home Buyers Guide
Understand deposits, KiwiSaver, pre-approval, making an offer and the home loan process before you start seriously looking.
View The First Home Buyers Guide →
Building or buying new
Understand New-Build Lending
New builds can involve turnkey contracts, progressive payments, valuations, timing and lender requirements that need checking early.
View New Build Home Loans →
Low deposit
Buying A Home With A Low Deposit
Understand what low-deposit lending can involve, how lenders may assess risk and what to check before applying.
Read The Low Deposit Guide →
Moving to your next home
Plan Your Next Home Move
If you already own a home, understand how your existing lending, usable equity, sale proceeds and settlement timing can fit together before you make your next offer.
Explore Buying Your Next Home →Client reviews
Trusted by home buyers across Christchurch and Canterbury
These Google reviews reflect the experience of clients Canterbury Home Loans has helped with first-home buying, refinancing, lender comparisons and other home loan decisions.
Google reviews
Duane from Canterbury Home Loans was outstanding. He was able to make things happen in a very short time and under a lot of pressure. He kept me informed of the progress and went out of his way to make sure everything worked with the bank and that I was happy with the results. I would HIGHLY recommend Duane and his team.
Brilliant, used on first home buy and now a refinance 3 years later.
Duane is very knowledgeable, organized, and transparent, and makes the whole experience shorter and more enjoyable. Along with guidance, Duane send us an email with all the information we needed in an easily-digestible form. Duane is arguably one of the best-rated mortgage advisers in Christchurch and has an excellent reputation among other professionals working in the industry. When we mentioned that our mortgage adviser is Duane, the usual reaction was "Oh, that is good, then you are in good hands." We have used Duane both in-person and remotely, when buying house in different city, and in both cases the experience was excellent. Cindy and Jirka
More than happy with professional, well explained service with attention to detail. Will use again and will be recommending to family and friends.
Seems like 5 stars is consistent across the board for Duane and the Canterbury Home Loans team. I appreciate all the help and guidance that we received and the best part was the "understanding what's next" steps clearly listed. Buying a home was definitely not an easy task and I felt Duane gave me the time of day and peace of mind I needed to feel comfortable moving forward. Thanks Duane for your help and I look forward to watching your success in the business grow and hopefully that also translates into new neighbors for me. Job well done!
Duane was excellent throughout the whole process. He made everything straightforward, communicated clearly and was always quick to respond. He found us a great lending outcome and kept everything moving quickly from application through to settlement. Would happily recommend him to anyone looking for a mortgage broker.
Duane was fantastic to work with. He made the whole mortgage process simple and stress-free, was always available to answer questions, and provided excellent advice. Highly recommend!
Duane has been so wonderful to work with. My partner and I have been working with him for a few months and he helped us through the whole process. We are really grateful for Duane and could not recommend him more! We have referred him to many friends and family and will continue to do so.
Meet your mortgage adviser
Home loan guidance with over 25 years experience
Canterbury Home Loans is led by Duane Aarts, a Christchurch-based mortgage adviser helping buyers across Canterbury make sense of their home loan options.
Buying, moving or refinancing can bring a lot of moving parts together at once. My role is to help you understand what lenders are likely to look at, compare suitable options and work through the process in a practical order.
You get direct, personal guidance from first conversation through to approval and settlement, with advice shaped around your income, deposit, property plans and comfort with repayments.
The aim is not to make the process feel complicated. It is to help you know where you stand, what to prepare, and which lender options may fit your situation.
More about Duane →
Why use a mortgage broker?
Compare more than one bank before you decide
Going directly to one bank can be simple, but it only gives you one lender’s view of your situation.
A mortgage broker can help you compare different lender options, understand how banks may assess your application and work through the approval process with practical guidance.
At Canterbury Home Loans, the goal is not just to find a home loan. It is to help you understand your options, structure lending sensibly and make informed decisions before you commit.
Read mortgage broker vs bank direct →How I help · The home loan process
Understand the next steps before you apply
Whether you're buying your first home, moving house, refinancing or building, the process usually follows a simple path. Knowing what comes next can make the home loan journey feel easier to manage.
Book A Free Chat
Start with a conversation about your goals, deposit, income, timing and what you are hoping to achieve.
Understand Your Position
Review borrowing power, repayment comfort, lender options and any areas that may need attention before applying.
Compare Lender Options
Compare suitable banks and lenders, discuss loan structure and choose an option that fits your plans.
Move Forward With Confidence
From application through to approval and settlement, receive practical guidance throughout the process.
Prefer to start online?
You can start a secure online application. Duane will review your information and get in touch about next steps. This is optional. You can book a chat without starting an application.
Start a secure online application →Reviewing an existing home loan? Book a chat about refinancing or your next refix.
First home buyer resources
Helpful guides for first home buyers
These guides help you understand pre-approval, deposits, KiwiSaver, lender checks, documents and low-deposit home loan options before you apply.
Getting pre-approved
Know Where You Stand Before You Offer
Learn what mortgage pre-approval means, what lenders assess and how to prepare before making an offer.
Read The Pre-Approval Guide →
Home deposit guide
Understand Your Deposit Options
Learn how savings, KiwiSaver, gifted deposits and low-deposit lending may affect your first-home plans.
Explore Deposit Options →
KiwiSaver
KiwiSaver First Home Withdrawal
Understand how KiwiSaver may help with your first-home deposit and what to prepare before applying.
Read The KiwiSaver Guide →
Documents
Mortgage Application Documents Checklist
See the documents commonly requested for a home loan application, including income, bank statements and ID.
View The Checklist →
Bank assessment
What Banks Check Before Approving A Mortgage
Learn what lenders may review when assessing income, expenses, debts, deposit, affordability and property security.
Read What Banks Check →Low deposit
Buying A Home With A Low Deposit
Understand what low-deposit lending can involve, how lenders may assess risk and what to check before applying.
Read The Low Deposit Guide →Mortgage broker Christchurch & Canterbury
Local home loan guidance across Christchurch, Canterbury and beyond
Canterbury Home Loans is based in Christchurch and helps buyers across Canterbury and wider New Zealand. Most of the mortgage process can be handled by phone, email, video meeting and secure online document collection.
We also help clients remotely on the West Coast, including Greymouth.
Useful extra guides
Specialist home loan situations
Some property types, loan structures and buying situations need extra checking before you make decisions. These guides give quick access to useful topics without making them the main homepage pathway.
Frequently asked questions
Mortgage Broker Christchurch FAQs
Is it worth using a mortgage broker in New Zealand?
Yes, for many buyers it can be worth using a mortgage broker. A mortgage broker can help you compare lenders, understand your options, structure your loan and work through the home loan process with practical guidance.
How much does it cost to use a mortgage broker?
In most cases, there is no direct cost to use Canterbury Home Loans for standard home loan advice. Mortgage advisers are usually paid by the lender once your home loan settles. If any fee applied, this would be discussed with you upfront.
Can Canterbury Home Loans help first-home buyers?
Yes. First-home buyers are a major focus for Canterbury Home Loans. I can help you understand deposits, KiwiSaver, pre-approval, lender requirements and the steps involved in buying your first home.
Can I get mortgage pre-approval before finding a property?
Yes. Many buyers arrange pre-approval before making offers so they can understand their borrowing position, deposit requirements and any lender conditions before seriously house hunting.
Can Canterbury Home Loans help with refinancing?
Yes. Refinancing can help you review your current loan structure, compare lender options and check whether your existing home loan still suits your goals.
Can Canterbury Home Loans help with new build home loans?
Yes. New builds and construction lending can involve different lender requirements, contracts, valuations and payment stages. Canterbury Home Loans can help you understand what may be required before you apply.
How many lenders can Canterbury Home Loans compare?
Canterbury Home Loans has access to 30+ banks and lenders, including all major New Zealand banks. The right lender depends on your income, deposit, property type, loan structure and overall lending position.
Do I need to be based in Christchurch to use Canterbury Home Loans?
No. Canterbury Home Loans is based in Christchurch, but clients are helped across Canterbury and New Zealand using phone calls, video meetings, email and secure online document collection.
Can I use Canterbury Home Loans if I have already spoken to my bank?
Yes. Many clients speak with their bank first and then ask Canterbury Home Loans to compare lender options, policy differences and possible loan structures before deciding what to do next.
When should I talk to a mortgage broker?
It is usually best to talk to a mortgage broker before you start making serious offers. A conversation early in the process can help you understand borrowing power, deposit requirements and what lenders may look for.