First Keys Course Lessons

Types of Property Ownership

In this lesson we learn about property titles. A Record of Title is the legal document that shows who owns a piece of land and any buildings on it. The title is important because it tells you exactly what you are buying, what you are allowed to do, and what rules you must follow. You will learn about the four main types of titles in New Zealand which are freehold, cross lease, leasehold, and unit title. You will also get simple explanations of legal words like easements, covenants, encumbrances, and caveats. By the end of this lesson, you will understand the good and bad points of each title type, and you will choose the type that suits you best.

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Choose your Homes Vintage 

In this lesson, you will explore how New Zealand homes have changed from the eighteen eighties through to today. Each era has its own style, strengths, and risks.

You will learn what makes each period unique, what problems are common, and what you need to check before buying. This will help you understand how much renovation you are comfortable with. It will also help you choose the era of home that best suits your lifestyle, your budget, and your long-term plans.

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Select your preferences

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In this lesson you will be introduced to LARA, an app which will help you identify your preferences, and assess and compare properties. We will focus on the factors that will help you identify properties that meet your needs. Finding the right home is not just about the building itself. It’s about how well it fits your lifestyle, now and into the future.

When two or more people are buying together, it is important to talk openly about what matters most to each of you. A little time spent getting on the same page at the start, can save a lot of time and stress later. After each open home you attend you will rate each property against your preferences and LARA will automatically calculate the percentage match. LARA helps you to compare one property to another, and makes your decision-making process more objective and less overwhelming.

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Build your Team

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Before beginning a property search, you will need to build a trusted team of professionals, who can guide you through the legal, financial, and practical complexities of buying. In this lesson you will learn how to find a property lawyer, a mortgage advisor, an insurance broker, real estate agents, and a good property inspector. You will discover how they operate, and what questions to ask, to ensure you have the best people to support you every step of the way. By assembling your team early, you gain clarity, reduce risk, and can move ahead with confidence.

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How Property is Sold/Buying Strategies

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In this lesson, you will gain an understanding of the different ways that property is sold, along with strategies for how to approach each one. This puts you in control, and increases your chance of securing the property you want, at a price that works for you.

We explore set price sales, deadline sales, price by negotiation, auction, tender, private sales, mortgagee auctions, and off-market sales. Each one has its own rules, timeline, and negotiation approach.

By the end of the lesson, you will understand each sales method, and will have a strategy for approaching the type that aligns with your goals and preferences. Knowing which sales method you prefer, and understanding the strategies for each, will streamline your home-buying process, reduce stress, and give you confidence when making offers.

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Setting up your Property Search

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This lesson focusses on finding your ideal property by setting up your property search. You will be shown the steps involved and how to use property web sites to set filters, save searches, and track listings.

We look at broader search strategies like Google Alerts, Facebook groups and other Social Media Platforms. Finally, you will learn about off‑market opportunities - including quiet listings through agents and private leads through community networks. This shows you how to access properties that may never show on public websites. By understanding both the mainstream and alternative ways of finding properties, you will have a broader set of strategies that increases your chances of finding the right property.

Viewing Properties

Viewing Properties is a crucial step in the home-buying process. Open homes give you the opportunity to walk through a property, and get a sense of its layout, condition, and overall feel. Proper preparation before viewing properties will save you time, and improve the quality of your assessments. By using the Open Homes Inspection Guide and LARA, your viewings become more focussed, rather than just a casual walk through. These tools will help you decide whether to take the next step. You can compare properties more effectively, and make decisions based on clear evidence, rather than first impressions.

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Negotiate with Confidence

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This lesson focuses on giving you the confidence and skills, to negotiate effectively when buying a property. You will learn about the power dynamics between buyers, sellers, and agents. You will also learn how to establish what a property is truly worth, by considering not only its price, but also its potential for capital gain.

You will gain insight into multi-offer situations, and how to avoid them. By the end of the lesson, you will come away with a clear framework for approaching negotiations, and the confidence to secure the best possible outcome.

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Sale & Purchase Agreements 

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When you sign a Sale and Purchase Agreement it is a legally binding contract which you cannot get out of simply because you have changed your mind. In this lesson you are introduced to the Sale and Purchase Agreement, and the common conditions buyers include to protect themselves.

We explore the difference between conditional and unconditional agreements. You will learn about the different types of agreements including those used for Auctions and for Tenders. You will learn about the front page of the agreement, which records the key details and the seller warranties that provide assurances about the property’s condition, and title. We explain the signing requirements that make the agreement legally binding. You will learn how to ensure negotiated terms are written clearly, and why legal advice is critical. By the end you will understand how to protect yourself, and secure the best possible outcome.

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Decoding Due Diligence

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In this lesson we explain the essentials of due diligence. You will learn what to look for in a Record of Title, a LIM report, and a property file. We also discuss the red flags such as unconsented alterations, and weathertightness issues. We look at how a pre-purchase inspection can uncover problems that are not obvious at first glance.

You will learn how to identify concealed risks, and when a geotechnical assessment is needed. We also discuss how to assess flood hazards and other natural risks that could affect the long-term value and safety of a property.

You will explore how council zoning and future infrastructure or development plans can impact your decision. We will also look at how to research local schools, mobile phone and internet coverage, crime levels, and noise in the area.

Due diligence Roadmaps are available to download and these will guide you through the process. By the end of this lesson, you will know how to approach due diligence in a structured way. This ensures you can make confident, well-informed decisions before committing to a purchase.

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From Contract to Keys

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In this final lesson, you will learn what happens after your agreement goes unconditional, and how to prepare for the important steps leading up to settlement. You will understand what needs to be organised before settlement, including finalising finance, arranging insurance, and confirming all legal requirements with your lawyer. We look at the purpose of the pre-settlement inspection, and how it gives you the chance to check that the property is in the agreed condition before you take ownership. You will then be guided through what happens on settlement day, from the transfer of funds to receiving the keys, as well as the potential delays that can occur and how to manage them.

Finally, we cover the practical side of moving in and getting settled, helping you transition smoothly into your new home. By the end, you will know exactly what to expect in the final stage of the buying process, and how to approach it with confidence.

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BONUS LESSON - Buying Off-the-Plan

In this bonus lesson we explore one of the riskiest purchases a first-time buyer can make - buying off the plan. Off the plan builds can appear attractive, especially with developer incentives like free appliances, cashback or deposit contributions. But they come with considerable risks and little room for negotiation.

The idea for these courses began when I realised how many risks sit inside a pre‑sales contract. I couldn’t understand why anyone would sign one. And then I realised that people agree because they don’t know how much risk they’re taking on. Many first‑home buyers are pushed into signing off‑the‑plan contracts under pressure, often before a property lawyer has even looked at the contract. They have no real sense of what they’ve committed to or how exposed they are until it’s too late.

In this lesson, I explain in plain English the risks and the clauses commonly found in pre-sale contracts. You will learn about the gap that can exist between marketing and what is actually delivered and the risks around quality, substitutions, and changes the developer is allowed to make. We also explore the financial risks, completion risks and the possibility of developer failure.

There are many ways of buying a home that is yet to be built, and these are covered in detail in my next course, First Build. These include Land and Build, Turnkey, House and Land Packages, Tiny Homes, Prefabricated Homes, Modular Homes, and Relocatable Homes.

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