Can you really afford to build in 2026
3 things to understand before starting your project.
Here are 3 things to understand before you start your project.
It’s no secret that building in New Zealand today is expensive and, for some, seemingly out of reach. But if it is your dream, I would encourage you not to give up. As the cost of living goes up, the cost of building materials and inflation also impact the cost of building a home. But for me, 2026 is a year of looking forward, not back. There are factors in our future which will affect your home’s value moving towards 2030 and beyond—particularly as buyers place more value on Smart Homes, performance, and long-term quality.
We know this is an issue, with our Government trying to loosen “red tape” to make building easier. And while on the surface this makes for great promise and conversation, the problems of the cost of building are the problems, and they are not being talked about enough.
So here are 3 things to consider to make your new build or renovation project more affordable in 2026—whether you’re planning a large family home or small architectural homes designed to work smarter, not harder.
1. The Design Factor
When I say design factor, I don’t mean how beautiful your design looks. The design factor encompasses so much more. Design isn’t just about looks; it’s about creative solutions. Having a design that looks good, is elegant but simple in buildability and structure, and high in performance is just smart, great design.
This means a few things to consider: the experience and skill set of your Architect or Architectural Designer, the simplification or dual purpose of some internal spaces, and the willingness to leave any preconceived expectations you might have had of a home behind.
Historically, for the last 40 or 50 years, we have built complex-shaped homes that follow trends, relying heavily on what things look like, not how smart they really are. Smart solutions are those that work well together to close off inefficiencies in all parts of the design and build process—particularly important in small architectural homes, where every square metre needs to perform.
A simple, high-performing design that feels and looks good is an award winner in benefits for the homeowner—in health, wealth, and affordability—and is the foundation of a truly healthy house.
2. The Certification Factor
Okay, this is going to sound crazy and counterintuitive. Our homes are the greatest financial asset we create or acquire in our lifetimes. However, what we pay for our homes doesn’t always reflect their value. Our homes are only worth what someone is prepared to pay for them.
Despite banks evaluating their value, those assessments are heavily reliant on the time period and what else is available on the market. Those are all things outside of your control. However, more and more buyers are asking for certification of the claims of building and design quality. This is where certification can help you.
Passive House is a world standard in building performance, and special home loan offers for Passive House homes are already available in Australia. Here in New Zealand, Homestar-rated homes (through the certification process) unlock interest rate reductions and developer finance. Proving a better-quality home, rather than just talking about it, is becoming increasingly important to buyers—and this directly impacts the value of your home when you sell.
Not to ignore, a better-than–Building Code minimum home means improved comfort, fewer expensive band-aid fixes, and lower winter power bills—not to mention a home that better supports your health and delivers the outcomes people expect from healthy homes and Smart Homes.
3. The Collaboration Factor
This part is the soft, intangible part. I love having a builder on the project in the design stage. This means that, for a client, they don’t tender their project or get multiple quotes, which historically has been the way to do things.
Why this is a smart move is because builders price buildings all the time—and they also build them. We, as Architects or Designers, design them. Together, we bring the latest and best considerations to create the most affordable solution while honouring your aspirations—whether that’s a high-performance Passive House, a cost-conscious renovation, or a well-considered small architectural home.
It’s so easy to look for the silver bullet solution to solve the cost of building crisis we see, but really the solution is locked into seeing the problems, identifying the reasons they happen, and keying into new ways of doing things that address historic shortcomings and create a home that works today and tomorrow—not just because of yesterday.
To book a call with me and discover whether a Design Consultation is the right next step for your project, choose a time that works for you using the link below:
If you’d like to understand exactly how a Design Consultation works, what it covers, and how it can help you start with confidence, you can learn more and book a suitable time here: