Record smashed: over 80% of buyers turn to a broker for help

The mortgage broking industry has notched up an exciting record with the news that brokers now account for 81% of Australia’s residential lending market. Here’s why.

For some time now, mortgage brokers have been tantalisingly close to clearing the 80% market share benchmark, and we’ve finally smashed our own previous record.

We’re thrilled to announce that brokers facilitated a record high of 81% of new home loans in the first quarter of 2026. 

That’s up from 77% last year, and a big leap from 55% back in 2018.

Those are findings of the industry body, the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia, which says brokers settled $124.88 billion in new home loans in the first quarter of 2026 – the highest volume recorded for any January to March quarter.

It’s quite a milestone, and the benefits all flow your way.

Let’s take a look at why more Australians are turning to a broker for help understanding lending options, comparing products and landing a loan that can turn property goals into reality.

What do mortgage brokers do?

Taking out a home loan is a serious step, and you want to be confident of getting it right.

With over 130 home loan lenders to select from, it’s easy to assume home buyers are spoilt for choice.

The catch is that it takes would-be buyers time – and lots of it – to compare just a fraction of the loans available.

That’s where brokers come in.

Our job is to help you navigate the complexity, and assist you in finding a mortgage that meets your needs.

We start by explaining your borrowing power, letting you know if you’re eligible for any first home buyer support schemes, giving you access to a huge range of lenders, and then doing all the legwork comparing rates and features to short-list a suitable selection of home loans for you.

Then we help you complete the loan paperwork, and we liaise with your chosen lender all the way through to settlement.

All-in-all, this gives you a great combination of confidence and convenience when it comes to organising your home loan.

Why do over 8-in-10 borrowers choose a mortgage broker?

The continued growth of brokers’ market share comes at a time when borrowers are facing housing affordability challenges, cost of living pressures and changing interest rate expectations.

That’s a lot to manage on your own.

Add in more complex lending decisions, and it’s easy to see why more Australians than ever before are turning to a mortgage broker.

Be rewarded with customer satisfaction

Brokers don’t just help streamline the home loan process. We can also make it more rewarding.

Research by Deloitte has found broker customers tend to be more satisfied with their experience than direct-to-lender customers.

One-third of broker customers rated their experience of using a broker a 9- or 10-out-of-10 (with 10 ‘exceeding expectations’), compared to only 20% of direct-to-lender customers.

And, as brokers are required by law to act in your best interests, you can be sure we will only recommend loans and lenders that suit your circumstances.  

Put us to the test

No matter whether you’re a first home buyer, upgrader, investor, or you just want to know if you could benefit by refinancing to a new loan, we’re here to help.

Call us today to discover why more Australians are choosing to partner with a broker.

Disclaimer: The content of this article is general in nature and is presented for informative purposes. It is not intended to constitute tax or financial advice, whether general or personal nor is it intended to imply any recommendation or opinion about a financial product. It does not take into consideration your personal situation and may not be relevant to your circumstances. Before taking any action, consider your own particular circumstances and seek professional advice. This content is protected by copyright laws and various other intellectual property laws. It is not to be modified, reproduced or republished without prior written consent.

5 tips to help you clear your mortgage by retirement

Worried you’ll still be paying off your mortgage in retirement? New research shows you’re not alone. Here are five tips to help clear the slate before you hang up your work boots.

A new trend is emerging that could leave retired home owners with less money to spend than they expected.

A recent study found at least one-in-three Gen X homeowners expect to be paying off a home loan in retirement.

Gen Xers aren’t alone.

Separate research shows one-in-three Millennials and one-in-four Baby Boomers expect to carry mortgage debt into retirement.

Why does this matter? And is it possible to pay off a mortgage by the time retirement rolls around?

Let’s take a closer look.

Why more Australians have a home loan in retirement

There are several reasons why a growing number of Aussies are retiring with a mortgage.

We are tending to buy a first home later in life.

And homebuyers are borrowing more due to rising house prices.

This has seen the 30 year loan term become pretty standard, up from 25 years in the past.

The upshot is that buying a first home at say, age 35 could mean still paying down a mortgage at age 65, which is close to the average age of retirement.

Below are five simple steps that could help you clear the home loan slate and free up some extra cash for your golden years.

1. Partner with a broker

As mortgage brokers, we’re committed to long-term relationships with our customers.

Our annual home loan reviews play a critical role, ensuring you continue to have the loan that matches your needs throughout your home ownership journey.

This is a key starting point to getting on top of your mortgage balance over time.

2. Don’t see your home loan as a ‘one and done’ product  

From your first home loan to your last repayment, life is sure to change.

The loan that was right for you as a first home buyer may not be such a good fit as you progress through life stages.

That makes it worth talking to us regularly to know if you are still getting value from your loan.

Refinancing to a new loan and lender can ensure you enjoy a competitive loan rate, which can help you pay the balance off sooner.

3. Aim to consistently pay a little extra where possible

Consistently paying a little extra off your home loan can reduce your balance, lower future interest charges and fast-track the time taken to pay down your loan.

Even small extra payments made consistently can shave years off your mortgage.

Talk to us to know how much you could save with extra repayments.

4. Consider a home loan offset

An offset account is an everyday account linked to your home loan.

The balance of the account is deducted from your mortgage when it comes to calculating your loan interest payments.

For instance, if you have a mortgage of $500,000 and a balance of $50,000 in the linked offset account, loan interest will be charged on $450,000.

In this way, an offset account can help to lower interest costs over time.

It can make an offset home loan a smart way to put savings to work by paying off your mortgage sooner, while still having spare cash available at-call.

5. Switch up your repayment frequency

The timing of your home loan repayments can make a difference.

Rather than making one monthly payment, it can help to make smaller payments more frequently – either fortnightly or even weekly.  

This sees daily loan interest calculated on a lower amount, which can see more of each repayment whittle away at the loan balance.  

Paying more frequently can also help you make extra repayments.

For example, when you pay half your monthly repayment every two weeks, you can end up making the equivalent of an extra month’s repayment each year.

Call us to know how much you could save with this strategy.

Talk to us to know more

Whether you’re years or decades away from booking in an over-60s cruise or doing the “big lap”, contact us today for more insights on how you can clear the home loan slate before you hang up your work boots.

Disclaimer: The content of this article is general in nature and is presented for informative purposes. It is not intended to constitute tax or financial advice, whether general or personal nor is it intended to imply any recommendation or opinion about a financial product. It does not take into consideration your personal situation and may not be relevant to your circumstances. Before taking any action, consider your own particular circumstances and seek professional advice. This content is protected by copyright laws and various other intellectual property laws. It is not to be modified, reproduced or republished without prior written consent.

Not a housing "crash” – easing growth and plenty of buying opportunities

House price growth is slowing but experts say not to expect a crash. We look at what’s changed, and why today’s market may offer good opportunities for homebuyers.

Recent home price data from Cotality may be just what homebuyers have been waiting for.

The latest figures show zero (0%) increase in home prices nationally in May – quite a change from the past 12 months when the trend has largely been upwards.

But the national picture doesn’t tell the full story, and the numbers certainly don’t indicate a market “crash”.

Property values fell in Sydney (down 0.9%) and Melbourne (0.8%), with a barely perceptible price dip of 0.2% in the ACT for May.

Meanwhile home prices continued to grow in the other state/territory capitals and across regional markets.

Yet there are signs the tide could be turning in buyers’ favour.

Why is home price growth slowing?

The property market varies significantly across cities right now, in what Cotality describes as “multi-speed conditions“.

That said, market momentum is slowing – the result of higher interest rates, the cost of living squeeze, which is impacting consumer sentiment, and the Federal Budget’s proposed tax reforms aimed at creating a more “level playing field” between first homebuyers and investors.

While home prices seem to be slowing, AMP chief economist Dr Shane Oliver says “any forecasts for a property price crash are likely to be wide of the mark”.

“A crash would require wide-scale forced selling by homeowners – but without much higher unemployment forcing homeowners to sell this is unlikely as Australians will do whatever they can to keep servicing their mortgage,” Dr Oliver explains.

Is the property ‘super-cycle’ over?

You may have seen media reports questioning whether the so-called ‘property super-cycle’ has come to an end.

This super-cycle refers to the strong period of home price growth seen over the last 30 years.

But not everyone agrees that the current softer conditions are a sign that the market is heading south.

The Commonwealth Bank is still expecting property price growth both this year and next.

REA Group (which owns realestate.com.au) suggests only slightly lower home prices – largely as a result of the tax changes for investors.

Cotality points to the shortfall in housing supply, ongoing population growth, and continuing strength in the job market as reasons why we’re unlikely to see a sharp correction.

Opportunities for homebuyers

The good news is that there are plenty of buying opportunities right now, and they’re up for grabs no matter whether you’re an upgrader or first home buyer,

In Sydney and Melbourne, the advertised supply of homes for sale has risen to above-average levels, providing more choice and better negotiating power for buyers.

Auction clearance rates are down, and that’s seeing sellers increasingly open to pre-auction offers.

On top of all this, the expanded 5% Deposit Scheme is giving first home buyers a real chance to get into the market with a smaller deposit.

With all these shifts in favour of buyers, call us to today to discover the opportunities that may be open to you.

Disclaimer: The content of this article is general in nature and is presented for informative purposes. It is not intended to constitute tax or financial advice, whether general or personal nor is it intended to imply any recommendation or opinion about a financial product. It does not take into consideration your personal situation and may not be relevant to your circumstances. Before taking any action, consider your own particular circumstances and seek professional advice. This content is protected by copyright laws and various other intellectual property laws. It is not to be modified, reproduced or republished without prior written consent.

Gen Z races into the property market

A few tweaks to a popular first home buyer scheme has driven a “surge” in Gen Zs buying their first home. And it’s not the only upside giving first home buyers a boost now.

The expansion of the popular 5% Deposit Scheme, combined with recent changes to rules for property investors, may be opening doors for young home buyers.

The scheme, which lets first home buyers get started with as little as 5% deposit, or 2% for single parents, is now open to all first home buyers – with unlimited places, higher property price caps, and no income limits.

These tweaks have made a huge difference, especially for Gen Z buyers aged 18-25.

Let’s take a closer look at what’s happening.

Gen Z demand jumps 22.8%

Last October saw several changes made to the 5% Deposit Scheme.

Annual place numbers were scrapped, income caps were waived, and the upper limit on property prices was lifted to reflect rising values.  

As a result, first home buyer demand has increased by a whopping 16.4%, says credit reporting agency Equifax.

Gen Z is leading the charge, with home loan demand among 18-25-year-olds rising 22.8% since October – the highest of any age group.

That matters because, as Equifax points out, Gen Z has historically found it especially difficult to pull together a 20% deposit.

Older first home buyers aren’t far behind though.

Home loan demand among buyers aged 26-35 is up 17.4%, with demand across first-time buyers aged 35-44 rising 16% since October.

How does the 5% Deposit Scheme work?

The 5% Deposit Scheme aims to help first home buyers get into the property market with as little as a 5% deposit. Solo parents may be able to buy with just a 2% deposit.

Buying with a smaller deposit can take years off your saving timeline.

But the potential benefits don’t stop there.

The 5% Deposit Scheme also sees the federal government guarantee your first home loan, so there is no need to pay lenders mortgage insurance.

This reduces upfront buying costs, leaving more money to put towards your first home.

If you’re keen to buy with a 5% deposit, it’s important to talk to us.

Not all lenders have signed up to the 5% Deposit Scheme, but from those that have, you can rely on us to help you find a home loan that matches your needs.

More good news for first home buyers

The expanded 5% Deposit Scheme isn’t the only thing working in favour of first home buyers right now.

This year’s federal budget introduced reforms designed to shift the scales in favour of first home buyers, says the government

The budget changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax were introduced with the goal of levelling the playing field between first home buyers and investors.

It’s expected to reduce buyer competition in the more affordable end of the market typically favoured by first home buyers.

In turn, less competition could potentially impact property prices.

The Commonwealth Bank is predicting the federal budget reforms will see home prices rise 3% this year, down from previous forecasts of 5%, followed by price growth of 3% in 2027.

Time to get the ball rolling on your first home

With so many factors potentially working in first home buyers’ favour, it’s worth considering if you are home loan ready right now.

Call us to know for sure, and get the ball rolling on buying your first home.

Disclaimer: The content of this article is general in nature and is presented for informative purposes. It is not intended to constitute tax or financial advice, whether general or personal nor is it intended to imply any recommendation or opinion about a financial product. It does not take into consideration your personal situation and may not be relevant to your circumstances. Before taking any action, consider your own particular circumstances and seek professional advice. This content is protected by copyright laws and various other intellectual property laws. It is not to be modified, reproduced or republished without prior written consent.

Home loan interest rate rising? There may be other options

It was great while it lasted, but the rate cut party is well and truly over. Today we look at how you could potentially reduce your home loan interest rate without relying on the Reserve Bank.

A string of rate hikes this year has pushed the cash rate back up to 4.35% – exactly where it was at the start of 2025. Except this time, there are no rate cuts on the horizon.

These rising interest rates are squeezing many household budgets.

But you don’t have to just resign yourself to another round of belt-tightening.

Switching to a new lender could help you save on home loan interest, lower your regular repayments and take the pressure off your finances.

Let’s dive in and find out more.

Are you paying more than necessary?

The good news first.

Australia has a very competitive home loan market.

There are over 130 different home loan lenders to choose from – from the major banks, smaller banks and credit unions through to online-only lenders and specialist lenders.

It gives home owners looking for a competitive rate a decent chance of finding an offer that suits.

The bad news is that so much choice can be overwhelming.

It may simply seem easier to stick with the familiarity of a well-known brand.

This goes a long way to explaining why more than seven out of ten Aussie home owners have their mortgage with one of Australia’s big four banks.

Yet without the cost of a big branch network to maintain, many of the other 126 or so lenders can afford to offer sharp home loan rates – without scrimping on loan features.

How much could you save by refinancing?

Switching to a new loan with a more competitive rate has the potential to lower your repayments by hundreds of dollars each month.

As a guide, MoneySmart says there can be a difference of more than 2% in variable home loan rates on the market.

On the average home loan of $735,000, a 2% rate saving could cut $14,700 off mortgage interest in the first year of refinancing alone.  

Of course, not every refinancer will pocket a rate cut of 2%, and there can be costs associated with switching.

That’s why we always weigh up savings versus costs to be sure refinancing makes sense for you.

Who’s got time to shop around? We do

Okay, so you can choose from more than 100 different lenders.

That’s great. But who has time to compare a large volume of loans?

That’s where we come in.

Our job is to sort through our extensive panel of lenders to identify the home loans that match your needs.

From there, we’ll work out which loans could help you save on interest (or match another criteria you’re seeking, such as multiple offset accounts).

Once you’ve selected your preferred loan and lender, we’ll guide you through each step of the transition – and we’ll have your back in the years to come, too.

Disclaimer: The content of this article is general in nature and is presented for informative purposes. It is not intended to constitute tax or financial advice, whether general or personal nor is it intended to imply any recommendation or opinion about a financial product. It does not take into consideration your personal situation and may not be relevant to your circumstances. Before taking any action, consider your own particular circumstances and seek professional advice. This content is protected by copyright laws and various other intellectual property laws. It is not to be modified, reproduced or republished without prior written consent.