About Duane Aarts & Canterbury Home Loans
Christchurch Mortgage Adviser With 25+ Years Of Home Loan & Banking Experience
After more than 25 years working in banking, lending, and home loans — including management, leadership, and lender training roles with ASB, Westpac, and Commonwealth Bank Australia — Duane Aarts founded Canterbury Home Loans to provide more personal and straightforward mortgage advice for Christchurch home buyers.
Whether you’re buying your first home, upgrading, building, investing, or refinancing, Canterbury Home Loans helps you compare lenders, understand your options, and move through the process with confidence.
No confusing jargon.
No pressure.
Just clear mortgage advice from someone who works for you — not the bank.
after our first call.
Why Clients Choose Canterbury Home Loans?
Buying a home can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to navigate lenders, deposits, KiwiSaver, and bank requirements all at once. The goal is to make the process feel simpler, clearer, and far less stressful.
Christchurch-Based Advice
Local guidance from someone who understands the Christchurch market, property types, and common lending issues buyers face.
Access to 20+ Lenders
I compare a wide range of banks and lenders to help find a home loan option that suits your situation.
Straightforward Guidance
Clear, straightforward advice so you can make confident home loan decisions.
Support Every Step
From your first chat through to pre-approval, finance confirmation, and settlement, I’ll guide you through each step.
Meet Duane
Christchurch Mortgage Adviser & Founder of Canterbury Home Loans
With more than 25 years of banking and lending experience, I’ve spent most of my career helping people navigate home loans, property decisions, and lending requirements.
Before starting Canterbury Home Loans, I worked in senior banking and lending roles across New Zealand and Australia, including leadership and training positions with ASB, Westpac, and Commonwealth Bank.
Over time, I became increasingly frustrated with the sales-driven approach used by many banks. Too often, clients were treated like numbers instead of people needing clear advice and support through a major financial decision.
That’s what led to the creation of Canterbury Home Loans.
The goal was simple:
create a mortgage advice business focused on straightforward guidance, honest communication, and helping clients genuinely understand their options.
Today, Canterbury Home Loans helps home buyers across Christchurch, Canterbury, and throughout New Zealand — with a strong focus on first-home buyers navigating what can often feel like an overwhelming process.
Whether it’s understanding KiwiSaver, comparing banks, navigating low-deposit lending, or structuring a loan properly, the focus is always on making things feel simpler and less stressful.
No pressure.
No confusing jargon.
Just clear mortgage advice from someone who works for you — not the bank.
How Canterbury Home Loans Can Help
Every home buyer’s situation is different. Whether you’re buying your first home, refinancing, exploring low-deposit options, or planning your next move, these guides can help you better understand your options and the home loan process.
First Home Buyers
Buying your first home can feel overwhelming. Learn about deposits, KiwiSaver, pre-approvals, and what banks look for.
Low Deposit Home Loans
You may still be able to buy with less than a 20% deposit. Explore low-deposit lending options and what lenders require.
Next Home Buyers
Whether you’re upsizing, downsizing, or relocating, understanding your lending position early can make the process much smoother.
Refixing & Refinancing
Review your current loan structure, compare interest rate options, and explore whether refinancing may better suit your goals.
KiwiSaver & Deposit Support
Learn how KiwiSaver can help with your deposit and home buying journey.
The Home Loan Process
Understand what happens from pre-approval through to finance confirmation and settlement.
What Christchurch Home Buyers Say
Buying a home is a big step, so having clear advice and support can make the process feel much less overwhelming.
“We honestly thought we were years away from being able to buy… just a few months later, here we are about to be homeowners!”
— Ollie B
“As first home buyers, we were naturally anxious about the entire process, however, Duane made everything straightforward and stress-free.”
— Darren
Trusted by Christchurch home buyers with 100+ verified Google reviews.
How the Home Loan Process Works
01 — Start With a Free Chat
Start with a no-pressure phone appointment — a quick chat to understand where you’re at and what may be possible.
02 — Compare Your Options
I’ll help you understand your borrowing power, compare lenders, and structure your loan with confidence.
03 — Get Approved With Confidence
I’ll handle the paperwork, negotiate with lenders, and keep everything moving through to settlement day.
A Family-Owned and Operated Business You Can Trust
As a family-owned and operated business, I know how important it is to find the right home for your whānau—not just the right loan.
That’s why I offer mortgage advice that’s personal, practical, and built around what matters most to you.
As a local mortgage adviser Christchurch families rely on, I’ll help you move forward with clarity and confidence
Let’s work together to make your homeownership goals a reality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it cost anything to use Canterbury Home Loans?
In most situations, no. Canterbury Home Loans is generally paid by the lender once your home loan settles, meaning there is usually no direct cost to you for mortgage advice, home loan support, and lender comparisons.
Do you work with all major NZ banks?
Yes. Canterbury Home Loans works with all major New Zealand banks, including ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Westpac, and Kiwibank, along with a range of other lenders to help clients compare home loan options based on their goals and situation.
Can you help first-home buyers in Christchurch?
Yes. Many Canterbury Home Loans clients are first-home buyers across Christchurch and Canterbury needing help understanding KiwiSaver, deposits, pre-approvals, lending rules, and the overall home buying process.
What happens during the first home loan appointment?
The first appointment is usually a relaxed, no-pressure conversation about your goals, deposit, income, and borrowing position so you can better understand what home loan options may be available.
Is Canterbury Home Loans based in Christchurch?
Yes. Canterbury Home Loans is a Christchurch-based mortgage adviser business helping clients throughout Canterbury and across New Zealand using phone, video, and online appointments.
Why use a mortgage adviser instead of going directly to the bank?
A mortgage adviser can help compare lenders, explain different home loan structures, negotiate with banks, and guide you through the process from pre-approval through to settlement day.