The Inspiring First Home Journey of Maria and Liduvina

11 September, 2025 will forever be a special date for sisters Maria and Liduvina: the day they turned their long-held dream of owning a first home in New Zealand into reality.

Having migrated from Argentina in 2003, the sisters started their new lives working in farming and hospitality before gradually building careers in the medical industry. Their journey reflects the resilience, determination, and courage of many migrants who work tirelessly to create a better future.

Smartmortgages.co.nz Limited feels incredibly privileged to have played a part in this exciting milestone.

Today, we sit down with our lovely clients, Maria and Liduvina, to hear more about their inspiring first home journey.

Q: What made you choose New Zealand to start your new life?

A: We had heard that it was a safe and incredibly beautiful country.

Q: When did you first start thinking about buying a home in New Zealand?

A: It had always been in our minds, but we had other priorities to take care of before we could finally focus on this dream.

Q: Did you believe homeownership was possible at first? What was your first step?

A: Not really. Our first step was to get our finances in order, to understand how much we could borrow and what budget we were working with.

Q: How did you manage to save for your deposit?

A: We joined KiwiSaver as soon as we were able to and kept saving consistently over the years, determined that one day we would achieve our dream.

Q: How did you know about Smartmortgages.co.nz Limited?

A: We have known Cong for years, and he knew about our first-home dream. Once we reconnected, he patiently explained everything, guided us step by step, and simplified what initially felt like an overwhelming process. He even introduced us to a law firm that offered excellent deals for first-home buyers, which made things even easier.

Q: What was the most challenging part of the process?

A:  The deposit. Although we had stable incomes, most of our 20% deposit was tied up in KiwiSaver, which only gets released at settlement. But as soon as the Sale and Purchase Agreement went unconditional, we had to pay a 10% deposit upfront. Cong arranged a temporary overdraft with the bank at a reasonable rate, and once KiwiSaver funds came through, the overdraft was closed. Without his help, that part would have been very stressful.

Q: How do you feel now, after your first weeks in your new home?

A: We are beyond happy. Sometimes we still can’t believe it is real. It feels amazing to finally have a place we can call our own.

Q: What advice would you give to other first home buyers out there?

Get informed and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Call Cong, even if you are not ready right now, he will help you plan for the future.

If owning your first home is truly your dream, don’t give up. Stay patient, and the right opportunity will come. And when it does, Smartmortgages.co.nz Limited will make the process so much easier for you, just like they did for us.

Thanks for your time, Maria and Liduvina.

Your heartfelt journey is a reminder that with hard work, perseverance, and the right guidance, homeownership is possible, even if it may seem like a distant dream at first.

Congratulations again, Maria and Liduvina, and welcome home!