# Buying

> What to look for before you make an offer, how the different ways of selling a house work, and the help available to first home buyers.

- [What a LIM report tells you](https://buyingahouse.co.nz/buying/lim-report): A LIM report tells you what the council knows about a property, like building consents and natural hazards. You'll learn what's in the report, what it costs and what to check.
- [Building inspections before you buy](https://buyingahouse.co.nz/buying/building-inspection): A pre-purchase building inspection checks for problems in a house before you buy. Find out what gets inspected, what could be missed and how to use the report.
- [How a deadline sale works](https://buyingahouse.co.nz/buying/deadline-sale): In a deadline sale, the agent picks a date for offers and usually doesn't set a price. Here's how deadline sales work in New Zealand and how to make an offer on your own timeline.
- [First home buyer grants and low deposit home loans](https://buyingahouse.co.nz/buying/first-home-grant): Many first home buyers think they need a 20% deposit. You can often buy with 10%, or 5% through the First Home Loan, but a smaller deposit costs more.
- [Using KiwiSaver for your first home](https://buyingahouse.co.nz/buying/kiwisaver-first-home-withdrawal): You can use your KiwiSaver savings to help buy your first home. See if you qualify, how much you can withdraw and how to get it ready for settlement.