01

Record of Title

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This lesson gives you a strong foundation by explaining the Record of Title and the information it contains. You will learn the differences between freehold, cross lease, leasehold, and unit title, and how each structure affects your rights, responsibilities, and long term costs. You will also understand the meaning of easements, covenants, and caveats, and how these restrictions influence what you can and cannot do with the land. At the end of the lesson you will decide the type of ownership for you.​​​

02

Build your Team

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Build a trusted team of professionals, to support you throughout your journey. You will need a property lawyer, mortgage advisor, and insurance broker. We’ll show you how to find them and we’ll give you all the questions to ask to find the right fit for you. With this support network in place, you will be ready to move confidently and decisively in a competitive market.​​

03

Define your Preferences

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This lesson is about getting clear on what you want in a first home. You will define your needs - including location, layout, outdoor space, neighbourhood amenities, and even whether the property will work well for boarders or flatmates. It introduces LARA - an app to help you assess and compare properties objectively. By the end, the focus is on helping you understand your priorities and approach the property search with structure and confidence.​​

04

How Property is Sold

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This lesson explains the different ways land is sold and how to approach each sale type with confidence. You will learn the rules, timelines, and negotiation strategies for set price sales, deadline sales, price by negotiation, auctions, tenders, private sales, mortgagee auctions, and off market opportunities. Understanding these methods helps you identify the approach that suits your goals and reduces stress during the buying process.​​

05

Set up your Property Search

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This lesson focuses on how to search for properties effectively using major New Zealand platforms. Learn how to use realestate.co.nz, Trade Me, and OneRoof to set filters, save searches, and track listings. Broader search strategies like Google Alerts and Facebook groups and other Social Media Platforms are explored. The lesson also covers how to refine your search parameters, widen your geographic range, and adapt to market conditions. Finally, it introduces off‑market opportunities - including pocket listings through agents and private leads through community networks - showing you how to access properties that may never appear on public websites.​​

06

Site Inspections​

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This lesson introduces the key things you need to look for when inspecting land for a potential build. It covers how to assess boundaries, land levels, and any alterations to the site, as well as practical checks like access, water supply, sewerage, power availability, and mobile coverage. It also explains how natural features such as orientation, hillsides, and protected trees can affect sunlight, drainage, and building options. Finally, the lesson outlines the importance of understanding zoning, nearby developments, line restrictions, and the Record of Title so you can identify risks, anticipate costs, and decide whether the site is suitable for your plans. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to assess whether a site is practical and aligned with your building plans.​

07

Off-the-Plan

This lesson gives you a high‑level understanding of what it means to buy a property off the plan and the major themes you need to be aware of. It explains that these contracts are very different from standard agreements. They are written to protect the developer, and often leave buyers with limited flexibility or exit options. It highlights the gap that can exist between marketing and what is actually delivered, the importance of understanding what is included in the contract, and the risks around quality, substitutions, and changes the developer is allowed to make. The lesson also outlines the financial risks, including price increases, valuation issues, changes in your personal circumstances, and the possibility of developer failure. It covers completion risks, uncertainty around timelines, and the impact of additional construction on the wider development. Finally, it introduces key cancellation clauses, the importance of understanding the future Record of Title, and why specialist legal advice is essential before signing anything.​

08

Turnkey Builds

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This lesson covers the key themes you need to understand about turnkey property contracts without going into the fine detail. It explains what a turnkey build is, how the payment structure works, and what parts of the process the developer controls. It also outlines the major categories of risk buyers face - financial risks, contract risks, build‑quality risks, and valuation or lending risks.

It then walks through the types of clauses commonly added to turnkey agreements, what they generally allow the developer to do, and how they can affect your rights. Finally, it highlights the importance of understanding what is included and excluded in the contract, what documents you should expect at completion, and why legal review is essential before signing.

You will learn what to look for, what to question, and how to protect yourself. By the end of this module, you will have the practical knowledge needed to identify risks early and decide whether a Turnkey build aligns with your goals and risk tolerance.​

09

Land & Build

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This lesson gives you a broad understanding of how land and build contracts work and the main things you need to be aware of before choosing this path. It explains the basic structure of buying land and then entering a separate build contract, the need for proper site investigations, and how financing and staged payments typically operate. It also outlines the key risks buyers face, including delays, cost increases, site complications, consent issues, and the responsibilities you carry once you own the land. The lesson highlights the differences between fixed‑price and cost‑plus contracts, and why contract wording around site risk, variations, timelines, insurance, warranties, and dispute processes matters. Overall, it focuses on helping you understand how these projects are structured, and where the major risks sit, and why careful contract review is important.​

10

House & Land Package

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This lesson explains the general idea behind house and land packages and what you need to understand before choosing one. It outlines how these packages can be structured either as two separate contracts for land and build, or as a single turnkey‑style contract where the developer delivers a completed home. It highlights that each structure comes with different levels of control, risk, and financing requirements. It also points out that advertised prices often exclude important costs and that location can influence long‑term value. Overall, it focuses on helping you recognise how these packages work, what risks they carry, and why you need to check which contract type you are actually being offered.

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11

Design & Build

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This lesson explains the overall idea of a design and build contract and the key things you need to be aware of when choosing this type of arrangement. It outlines how these contracts combine design and construction under one agreement, how progress payments work, and why this approach gives you more flexibility but also more responsibility. It also highlights the main risks buyers need to watch for, such as cost increases, variations, delays, communication issues, and the need to understand clauses that affect price, timelines, and defect repairs. The lesson emphasises the importance of checking references, reviewing the contract carefully, and getting legal advice so you can manage the higher level of risk that comes with a custom build. ​

12

Spec Homes

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This lesson gives you a clear overview of what spec homes are and the main ideas you need to understand before considering one. It explains that these homes are built without a buyer in place, sold at a fixed price through a standard sale and purchase agreement, and usually offer faster move‑in times with fewer risks because the builder carries the construction burden. It also highlights the broader themes to watch for, such as smaller sections, privacy and parking limitations, overheating or noise issues, limited ability to customise, and the importance of checking defect and warranty clauses. Overall, the module focuses on helping you recognise how spec homes work, what advantages they offer, and what general risks you should be aware of when reviewing the agreement. ​

13

Tiny Homes

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This lesson gives you a broad understanding of tiny homes and the main themes you need to think about before choosing one. It explains why tiny homes appeal to many buyers, how the contracts for them usually work, and the importance of understanding payment schedules, warranties, ownership, and who is responsible for consents and insurance. It also highlights the council‑related challenges around how tiny homes are classified, where they can be placed, and what rules they must meet. The lesson outlines the financial risks, including difficulties getting finance, company failures, and limited guarantees, as well as the legal risks if a tiny home is placed on land you do not own. Overall, it focuses on helping you understand the benefits, the lifestyle trade‑offs, and the key risks so you can make an informed decision before committing. ​

14

Pre-Fabricated Homes

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This lesson gives you a clear overview of what prefabricated and modular homes are and the main ideas you need to understand before choosing one. It explains how these homes are built partly or fully in a factory, how the installation process works, and what council approvals are required. It highlights the key risks, including transport damage, site access challenges, compliance delays, design limitations, and potential resale concerns. The lesson also outlines the importance of understanding what happens if the manufacturer cannot complete the build, how insurance and warranties work at each stage, and what to look for in the contract around pricing, delivery, inclusions, and responsibilities. Overall, it focuses on helping you understand how prefabricated homes are built, what makes them different from traditional builds, and what to check carefully before committing.​

15

Relocatable Homes

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This lesson gives you a clear, high‑level understanding of what is involved in buying and relocating an existing house, focusing on the overall themes rather than the technical detail. It explains that relocatable homes can look affordable at first, but the process is complex, heavily regulated, and full of risks at every stage. The lesson outlines the major steps involved in council approvals, inspections, transport, foundations, reinstatement, and final sign‑off. It highlights why structural reports, insurance arrangements, and clear contracts matter. It also emphasises the wide range of risks buyers face, including transport delays, hidden defects, weather exposure, foundation problems, and council requirements. A major theme is the need for thorough due diligence, because poor operators, vague contracts, missing documentation, and weak communication can lead to serious financial and legal consequences. Overall, the module is about helping you understand that relocating a home is a full building project with significant coordination, cost, and risk, and should only be attempted with expert legal advice and careful investigation of everyone involved.​

16

Land - Due Diligence

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This lesson explains how to complete due diligence on land in a structured and thorough way. You will learn how to interpret the Record of Title, LIM report, and property file, and how to identify red flags such as natural hazards, and infrastructure limitations. You will also learn when a geotechnical assessment is required and how to evaluate flood risks and other environmental factors.

You will explore how zoning, future development plans, schools, mobile coverage, social housing, crime levels, and noise influence long term value and liveability. By the end of this lesson, you will know how to assess land confidently and make informed decisions before committing to a purchase.​

17

Builder - Due Diligence

This lesson focuses on how to carry out thorough due diligence before committing to a build. It explains the importance of checking the background and capability of the people or companies involved, understanding the build process, reviewing the contract carefully, and knowing exactly what is and isn’t included. It also covers the need to verify builder credentials, research past projects, and speak with previous clients. It’s about making sure you have a clear, informed picture of everyone involved and every part of the build before you decide to proceed.​

18

Property Value

This lesson focuses on understanding how property value can change over time and how to assess whether land or a home is fairly priced. It explains the importance of researching market value rather than relying on headline figures, and introduces several websites that help you compare properties for sale, recent sales, track price trends, and understand how different suburbs are performing. It also highlights the idea of future potential, encouraging you to think about long‑term resale appeal, whether an area is rising or declining, and how to identify suburbs that may be overvalued or undervalued. ​

19

Negotiation

This lesson gives you the skills to negotiate effectively when buying land or dealing with builders and developers. You will learn how to understand seller motivations, assess true value, and position your offer strategically. You will also learn about vendor finance and how to research the seller and use that information to strengthen your negotiating position. You will understand how multi offer situations arise and how to avoid them. By the end of this module, you will have a clear negotiation framework and the confidence to secure favourable outcomes while protecting your interests.​

20

Negotiating the Build

This lesson explains how to research the builder or developer, compare prices, and understand what you are really getting for your money. You will learn how to negotiate the important parts of a build. The lesson also shows you how to check what is included, what is excluded, and how to make sure any promises are written into the contract. You will learn about the different types of build agreements. Each one has different risks and different things you need to negotiate. The lesson also explains the importance of warranties, insurance, progress payments, and making sure your deposit is held safely. The goal is to help you shift risk away from yourself, avoid surprises, and make sure the home you receive matches what you agreed to buy.

21

Sale & Purchase Agreements

This lesson explains the overall purpose of a Sale and Purchase Agreement and the key ideas you need to understand without going into the fine detail. It outlines the difference between conditional and unconditional agreements, the main types of contracts used in property transactions, and what the front page of the agreement is designed to record. You will be introduced to the conditions buyers use to protect themselves. It also covers the role of seller warranties, and why tailored clauses and legal advice matter. Finally, it covers the basic signing requirements so you understand how an agreement becomes legally binding and what protects you when entering into a property purchase.​

22

Budgets

This lesson guides you through building a realistic and well structured budget for a build project. You will learn how to account for all costs, including consent fees, site preparation, professional services, and the many smaller expenses that can accumulate quickly. You will also understand why a contingency allowance is essential for managing unexpected changes or delays.

Beyond the build itself, you will learn how to plan for ongoing costs such as rates, insurance, maintenance, and utilities. You will also explore the long term benefits of sustainability features such as insulation, solar panels, and efficient heating systems. This lesson ensures you can manage your home financially both during construction and after completion.​

23

Councils and Compliance

This lesson explains the key approvals and processes involved in building a home. You will learn when Resource Consent, Building Consent, and Project Information Memorandums are required, how long they take, and what they typically cost. You will also understand the purpose of council inspections and what inspectors look for at each stage.

The lesson concludes with a clear explanation of Code Compliance Certificates and why they are essential for proving that a property meets legal standards. This knowledge helps you plan effectively, avoid delays, and protect your investment.​

24

Disputes

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This lesson provides a practical overview of how disputes are handled across different build types. You will learn how issues are resolved in land and build projects, tiny homes, modular builds, prefabricated homes, turnkey arrangements, and house and land packages. You will also understand the complexities of hybrid arrangements such as presale contracts and relocatable homes.

You will be introduced to the main resolution pathways, including mediation, adjudication, arbitration, and the disputes tribunal. You will also learn about the protections available under the Building Act and private warranty schemes. By the end of this lesson, you will know how to navigate disputes confidently and understand the processes that safeguard your interests.​

25

End of Build

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This lesson explains what happens when construction is complete and the home is ready for handover. You will learn how to conduct a final inspection, identify defects, and ensure all work has been completed as agreed. You will also understand the paperwork involved at completion and the importance of verifying that all conditions have been met.

The lesson also covers how the value of your home may change at the end of the build, depending on market conditions, build quality, and location. This knowledge helps you plan your next steps with confidence.​

26

Warranties

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You will learn the importance of warranties and guarantees, including schemes such as Master Build and Halo. By the end of this lesson, you will know how to evaluate build partners thoroughly and avoid entering agreements that expose you to unnecessary risk.​

27

Franchises

This lesson explains the overall idea of how franchise building companies work. It covers the relationship between a national building brand and the local franchisee, clarifying that the local business is the one you actually contract with. The lesson focuses on understanding this structure so you know who you are really engaging with when choosing a franchise builder.​