Refinancing Your Home? Speak to Us

Who Needs a Lawyer for Mortgage Refinance

Homeowners switching banks for a better rate or cash-back, investors releasing equity or consolidating debt, and trustees or company directors restructuring lending. If you are simply topping up with your current bank, that usually needs far less legal work, and we will tell you so. If you are on a fixed rate, we also help you weigh any break cost against the savings before you switch.

What Our Refinance Mortgage Lawyers Do

Refinancing looks simple from the outside, but the legal steps are what keep it safe. Here is what we handle to move your loan across cleanly.

Reviewing Your New Loan Documents

We read the new letter of offer and loan terms and translate them into plain English before you commit.

Title Search and Due Diligence

We check your Record of Title for caveats, encumbrances or secondary mortgages that must be cleared before your new bank can take first security.

Discharging Your Existing Mortgage

We instruct your current bank to prepare the discharge and confirm the exact payout figure for settlement.

Remote Digital Signing

You sign the Authority and Instruction form and loan documents by video, from home. No trip to the CBD required.

Compliance and Insurance Check

We audit your home insurance certificate to confirm your new lender is formally listed as an interested party before settlement, so nothing holds up the drawdown.

Settlement and Funds

We receive the new funds, pay out the old lender, register the new mortgage at LINZ and release any cash-back or equity to you.

Refinance Timeline: Day 0 to Day 5

Most refinances are completed within two to five business days, from your first instruction through discharge, remote signing and settlement.

Step	Typical timing	What happens
1. Instruct	Day 0	You send us the letter of offer from your new bank. We open the file.
2. Open file	Day 0 to 1	We complete identity verification, review the loan conditions, and confirm your fee estimate.
3. Discharge instruction	Day 1 to 2	We instruct your existing bank to prepare the discharge of mortgage and confirm the payout figure.
4. Loan document signing	Day 2 to 3	We review the loan documents with you and arrange signing in person or by video.
5. Settlement	Day 4 to 5	The new lender’s funds clear, the existing mortgage is discharged, the new mortgage is registered, and any equity release is paid to you on the same day.

Fixed-Fee Refinancing Costs

Flat fixed fees, plus GST and disbursements:

1 Property
$750

+ GST + disbursements
2 Properties
$1,200

+ GST + disbursements
3 Properties
$1,700

+ GST + disbursements
4 Properties
$2,100

+ GST + disbursements
5 Properties
$2,500

+ GST + disbursements

Disbursements (LINZ registration, AML identity verification) are quoted at the time of instruction and vary by matter.

Why Refinancers Choose Us

Refinancing is not just an internal bank change. Your old mortgage has to be legally discharged from the title and the new one registered. Only a lawyer can do that. Legal fees rarely eat into the benefit either, because many banks pay a cash contribution that covers our fixed fee and leaves you ahead.

As your lawyer for refinancing mortgage matters, we work smoothly with ANZ, ASB, Westpac, BNZ and non-bank lenders, and our strength is speed, so you do not miss a fixed-rate roll-over or a cash-back deadline.

FAQ

Property Refinance Lawyer FAQs

How long does refinancing take?

Most refinances are completed within two to five business days once your documents are ready.

What is the difference between refinancing and a top-up?

Refinancing means moving your loan to a new lender, which requires a discharge and a new mortgage. A top-up is extra borrowing from your current bank and usually needs far less legal work.

Can I sign the documents remotely?

Yes. Current rules allow video and digital signing, so you can complete everything from home.

Will the legal fees cancel out my savings?

Usually not. Many banks offer a cash contribution when you switch, which often covers our fixed fee and more.

Do I really need a lawyer to refinance?

Yes. Your old mortgage has to be discharged from the title and the new one registered at LINZ. Only a lawyer can do that for you.

Can I refinance a property held in a trust or company?

Yes. Trust and company refinances need a little more paperwork, and we handle the extra steps so the settlement still runs on time.

Refinancing often comes before or after a move. We also handle property conveyancing services and selling house conveyancing. As your Auckland property lawyer, we manage the whole journey.

Get a Refinance Estimate

Ready to switch? Get your fixed-fee refinance estimate within two hours. Call 09 522 8810 or request an estimate today.

Get a fixed-fee estimate Call 09 522 8810

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