Wendy Thompson of Wanganui has brought up the ton for Housing NZ, becoming the 100th person to buy her first home under the corporation's First Home programme.
Ms Thompson bought her four-bedroom home in Mahoe Pl in Tawhero and said she can't believe she's now a home owner despite having had no deposit saved.
"I heard about it from a friend at work and thought I could do this, so went ahead and inquired about it. I had no money so without this scheme I would not have been able to do this," she said.
"I've wanted to own a house for a while now and thought I was going to have to wait quite a few years before I would have the money to buy one. The feeling of having my own home is overwhelming, but wonderful at the same time."
She and her three sons - Mason (19), Christopher (13) and Patrick (11) - have been in their new home for six weeks and looking ahead Ms Thompson has plans to build a garage and establish gardens.
The First Home Scheme is designed for first home buyers on modest incomes, and makes surplus state houses available for sale, along with a 10 per cent grant up to a maximum of $20,000.
Ms Thompson purchased the home for $63,000 after allowing for a grant of $7000 which was 10 per cent of the original purchase price.
Greg Groufsky, Housing New Zealand's General Manager Governance, describes the programme as "a huge success".
"Through the First Home programme, we're helping first home buyers take their first steps and get into the market - it's been a great way to contribute to home affordability in New Zealand and allows us to reinvest funds into areas of high demand for state housing," he said.
Mr Groufsky said Wanganui was of the more successful areas in terms of getting people into homes under the scheme.
According to Housing Corp website, there are 12 houses on the market in Wanganui under the scheme and two have contracts on them. Nine houses have been sold in Wanganui along with one in Bulls.
- For more information go to: http://www.hnzc.co.nz/buying-a-house/firsthome-properties