How Beaver works

Buy off the plan — and buy it well

Off-plan is how New Zealanders buy a brand-new home at the best price — you commit early, before it's built, and the developer rewards you for it. Here's why it's cheaper, how the discounts work, and exactly how you reserve and secure your home.

Why off-plan is cheaper

Developers need buyers committed before they build — early sales are what let a development get funded and out of the ground. So the earliest buyers are rewarded with the deepest discounts, and prices step up as the development fills. Commit early and you buy at the bottom of that ladder.

You're also buying at today's price for a home that won't be finished for a year or two — and you get first pick of the plan while every home is still available.

🏷️
Commit early, pay less

The earliest buyers get the deepest early-bird discount, before it steps up.

📈
Prices step up, not down

Each home reserved nudges the price toward list. Waiting rarely pays.

📐
First pick of the plan

Choose the aspect, floor and outlook you want while everything's still on the table.

How the discounts are managed

Beaver's pricing is system-managed — prices step as homes sell. A developer sets a few discount tiers, each covering a set number of homes. As buyers reserve, the price steps automatically to the next tier — and if someone releases a hold, it steps back. Whatever price you reserve at is locked in for you, even as the ladder moves on for everyone else.

An example ladder — real numbers vary by development, and you always see the live price on each listing:

Foundation
−10%
First 5 homes
You're here
Early-bird
−6%
Homes 6–15 · 3 left
Pre-Completion
−3%
Homes 16–25
List price
Full price
Every home after

The earlier you commit, the better the tier you land in — and reserved and sold homes always keep the price their buyer locked in.

How to secure your home

Four steps, from the home you want to the keys in your hand.

STEP 1

Reserve your home

Pay a $1,000 holding fee to take the exact home you want off the market. You then have 5 working days to sign.

Fully refundable
STEP 2

Sign the agreement

Your solicitor and the developer's prepare the Sale & Purchase Agreement together — then you have 10 working days to go unconditional.

5 working days to sign
STEP 3

Go unconditional

Pay your 10% deposit into the solicitor's trust account. Your $1,000 comes off it, and your price is locked.

Price locked
STEP 4

Settle when it's built

Pay the balance once your home is finished and the title issues — usually 12–24 months on.

When it's built
Today$1,000 holding fee — fully refundable right up until you go unconditional
5 working daysSign the Sale & Purchase Agreement — then 10 working days to go unconditional
Unconditional10% deposit — the $1,000 comes off it, and your price is locked
SettlementThe balance when your home is finished and the title issues

No pressure along the way: you can switch to another home in the same development without paying a new fee, cancel any time before unconditional for a full refund, and if a home you love is already taken you can join its waitlist. Your agreement's sunset dateis your safety net — if the home isn't delivered by then, everything you've paid is refunded. More on the $1,000 fee →

Short on a full deposit? Some developments offer Low deposit, Shared equity or Rent-to-own packages — look for “Ways to buy with less” on a listing. Browse developments →

Frequently asked questions

Why is buying off the plan cheaper?+
Developers reward buyers who commit before a home is built, because early sales help fund construction. That reward is the early-bird discount — the earliest buyers get the best price, and it steps up as the development fills.
When do prices go up?+
Automatically, as homes are reserved. Each discount tier covers a set number of homes; once a tier fills, the next buyer lands on the next (smaller) discount. If a hold is released, the price can step back down. The price you reserve at is locked in for you.
Is the $1,000 part of the purchase price?+
Yes. If you buy the home it's credited toward your 10% deposit, which is part of the purchase price. It's never an extra cost on top.
Do I need finance approved before I reserve?+
No — the reservation window exists for exactly this. Reserve to hold the home, then use the time to confirm finance with your lender and have your solicitor review the agreement. If finance falls through, cancel and your fee is refunded in full.
Can I change to a different home after reserving?+
Yes — you can switch your reservation to another available home in the same development without paying a new fee. Your existing countdown carries over.
What if my finance falls through?+
Just cancel from your dashboard and the fee is refunded in full. The reservation window is there for exactly this — confirming finance before you commit.
What if the home isn't built?+
Your Sale & Purchase Agreement includes a sunset date. If the home isn't delivered by then, you can walk away and everything you've paid — the deposit and the $1,000 — is refunded.
Who holds the money?+
The $1,000 is held securely and isn't released to the developer until you go unconditional and buy the home. Your 10% deposit is held in a solicitor's trust account under the Sale & Purchase Agreement, as is standard in New Zealand.
Ready to look?

Browse developments, pick a home, and reserve it knowing you can change your mind.

Browse developments →

General information, not financial or legal advice — your Sale & Purchase Agreement is the binding document, so have your solicitor review it before signing. Discount tiers shown are illustrative; the live price is always on the listing.