As part of Money Week, Ms Dickie and her team will be hosting free seminars covering mortgage options, what to look out for, saving for a deposit and how to use KiwiSaver and the first home deposit subsidy.
Buying a first home could be a daunting prospect initially, but the more people knew about their options the better, she said.
''What we see in Dunedin is first-home buyers getting into their homes at the $250,000 mark. With $30,000 as a deposit, we can help them get into their first home.
Houses here are far more affordable than other places like Christchurch, Wellington and particularly Auckland.''
KiwiSaver was one of the main tools used by credit union members to get into first homes, Ms Dickie said in an interview.
Credit Union South had one of the highest uptakes of KiwiSaver among credit union members nationwide.
Those who had been in the scheme for three years qualified for a deposit subsidy of $3000 but those in the scheme for five years qualified for $5000 in extra help.
A couple buying a home, and who had both been in KiwiSaver for the required time, both qualified for the help, she said.
''There are lots of great opportunities for first-home buyers in Dunedin. Helping this group get into the property market is so rewarding. They are motivated and once they have everything explained, and their ducks in a row, they are sorted,'' she said.
The Massey University Home Affordability Report showed national affordability deteriorated 11.4% during the year ended August.
The average annual wage increase of $28.06 was not enough to offset a $30,000 increase in the national median house price and an increase in the average mortgage interest rate from 5.52% to 5.86%.
A deterioration in annual affordability was seen in nine regions: Auckland (14.4%), Canterbury (11.7%), Southland (9.4%), Otago (9.2%) Central Otago-Lakes (8.9%), Waikato (7.8%), Wellington 7.7%, Hawkes Bay (2.1%) and Nelson-Marlborough (1.2%).
Auckland, at 138.6% of the all districts national index (100%), was the least affordable region followed by Central Otago-Lakes at 119.3% and Canterbury at 98.8%.
Southland retained its place as the most affordable region with an index of 51.4% and Otago was on 66%, the second most affordable region in the country.
Ms Dickie said the credit union, which covered the South Island, had an ethos of thrift and saving and, this week, would be providing information on how members could consolidate and pay off bad debt and move into a savings regime.
Credit unions were owned by their members.
