First home buyers are getting a real shot at owning their own Auckland home today - they just need to hope their name is drawn out of the hat.

Nine homes are up for grabs as part of a Special Housing Area roll-out in New Lynn. Successful buyers will be drawn from a ballot of around 200 names.

Project manager Winson Tan said the average house price in Auckland is nearly $750,000 but these are going for just over $461,000 - but only if the buyer meets certain criteria.

"They must be a first home buyer, they must be 18 and above, they must be in New Zealand and they have to stay there for 3 years," Tan noted.