Buying Your First Home in Fiji

For many first-home buyers in Fiji, FNPF = deposit + fees + breathing room.

What FNPF may be able to cover (subject to current scheme rules):

• Deposit / equity contribution
• Legal fees
• Valuation fees
• Some construction / completion costs

You’ll usually need:

• FNPF housing eligibility statement
• TIN & valid ID (passport, FNPF card, joint ID, etc.)
• Bank and lawyer forms completed correctly
• Contract and property details (once you’ve found a place)

Practical tips:

• Check your FNPF housing eligibility early.
• Make sure your name matches across FNPF, TIN and ID.
• If buying with a partner/spouse, both may use their FNPF (subject to rules).
• Give yourself realistic time in your finance clause for FNPF processing.

Pro tip: A 7-day finance clause when you need FNPF and valuation is not brave – it’s stress.

Your first home doesn’t have to be your forever villa.

Common first-home paths in Fiji:

• Existing house – simplest, fewer moving parts.
• Land + build – more control, more approvals and services (FRA, WAF, EFL) to coordinate.
• House with a flat – rental can help with cash flow and repayments.
• Duplex / multiflat – powerful long-term, but banks assess income and risks carefully.

Golden rule: Buy a home banks like, not just one your heart likes on Facebook or TikTok.

What the bank actually checks:

• Income level and stability (salary, allowances, rental, business income)
• Employment history and industry
• Existing debts & repayment behaviour across all lenders
• Age vs loan term (can you finish before retirement?)
• Savings / conduct on your bank accounts

Documents to prepare now:

• 3–6 months payslips and/or business financials
• Recent bank statements
• FNPF statement
• Loan / HP statements
• IDs & TIN

If you’d like us to act as your mortgage broker in Fiji and shop the banks for you, you can complete our online loan application form . From there we structure your application and compare offers across multiple banks and lenders.

A good Fiji broker compares BSP, ANZ, Westpac, Bred Bank, HFC and others – and cleans up your application before credit sees it.

Lawyer (non-negotiable)

Your lawyer represents you, not the bank or the seller.

• Reviews the Agreement for Sale & Purchase
• Checks title, caveats, access, lease terms and any easements
• Explains risks and obligations in plain language
• Handles settlement, transfer and registration with the Registrar of Titles
• Ensures all town/city rates are cleared up to settlement date
• Ensures any land lease payments are up to date with TLTB, Housing Authority or other lessor

Valuer

• Usually must be on the bank’s approved valuation panel
• Confirms the property exists and supports the loan amount
• Comments on condition and suitability for lending (especially in flood-prone or cyclone-prone areas)

Don’t pick purely on cheapest quotes – in Fiji you’re buying decades of peace of mind, not just a house.

Inspect properly:

• Roof, gutters, drainage and flood risk
• Cracks, damp, mould and termite damage
• Neighbourhood, noise, access, easements
• Parking and driveway rights
• Whether there’s a valid engineer’s certificate (for existing houses)

Smart contract clauses for Fiji first-home buyers:

• Subject to finance
• Subject to valuation
• Subject to FNPF approval (if using FNPF)
• Subject to satisfactory legal checks and consents
• Subject to satisfactory engineer’s report (if required)

These clauses give you exits if valuation, FNPF, title checks or structural reports go sideways.

Your broker or banker lodges:

• Completed loan application
• ID, TIN, payslips and bank statements
• Sale & Purchase Agreement
• FNPF forms (if applicable)

You’ll usually receive conditional approval, pending:

• Valuation report
• FNPF approval and release
• Any extra documents requested by credit
• Insurance / mortgage protection arrangements

Answer bank requests quickly – delays here can push your finance date out and stress your contract.

Valuation:

• If value matches or exceeds purchase price – good.
• If value is lower – you may need to renegotiate or add more cash/FNPF.

FNPF:

• Confirms eligibility and purpose
• Coordinates release of funds through the agreed channel (often via lawyer/bank)

Final approval:

• Bank issues final approval & home loan contract
• You review and sign, ask questions, clarify conditions

Your lawyer coordinates:

• Bank & FNPF releasing funds
• Vendor’s lawyer and settlement statements
• Transfer of title and registration with the Registrar of Titles

Utilities & rates:

• Ensuring town/city rates are cleared up to settlement date.
• Preparing or assisting with transfer notices for water and electricity so they move into your name.

You should also do a final inspection before settlement to confirm:

• Property is in agreed condition
• Inclusions (stove, fixtures, etc.) are still there

Once settlement happens, funds move, keys change hands, and it’s officially your home.

Moving In & After Purchase Checklist

• Switch utilities: Confirm that power and water have been transferred into your name, final readings done, and accounts created with the right contact details.
• Insurance coverage: Review your home and contents insurance, and any mortgage protection. Make sure the insured value matches the valuation and realistic rebuild cost, not just the loan amount.
• Maintenance planning: Set a simple schedule for roof/gutter checks, termite inspections, drainage and painting. Small, regular maintenance beats one massive, expensive repair later.

Don’t blow the budget right after settlement.

• Don’t immediately load up on furniture loans and new credit cards.
• Build an emergency buffer if you can (3–6 months of repayments).
• Track your first 3–6 months in the house so you know your real costs.

Survive the first 12–18 months calmly, and your “first home in Fiji” becomes a platform for the next move – not a trap.