Australia’s Fastest-Growing Mortgage Brokerages |
Fast Mortgage Brokerages 

Australian Broker celebrates 2024’s Fast Brokerages that have achieved more than 20% growth in combined revenue and settlement volume in 2022/23 and 2023/24. These firms are rising to the top in a booming broker market, but with the added challenge that the boom is encouraging brokerages to increase recruitment.

Adam Rakowski, principal at Ortus Financial, a Sydney-based mortgage brokerage, brings over 25 years of industry experience and believes the calibre of the broker has drastically improved.

“The broker that we might come up against in the market – they are a lot more capable than they were even five years ago,” he says. “The market is more competitive, where there are fewer deals and more brokers. The biggest challenge for brokers is that when you’re focusing inwardly, there’s not enough time spent looking externally because you need to nurture relationships.

“We went from three people to 15 in 18 months, and it was a huge change from an internal to an external focus. It’s about to be 20 soon because I’m getting a lot of people reaching out to me who are in the finance industry and want to become brokers. 
 

Data from the FBAA shows that consumers are strongly favouring brokerages compared to banks and other lenders. In all cases of owner-occupier, property investment, first home buyer and refinancing, there is a large preference for using brokerages.

The data also shows that clients are comfortable with the service they receive from brokers and brokerages. Across the sample, 86% of people completely or somewhat trusted their brokers. This again underlines the impressive achievement of AB’s Fast Brokerages to grow and prosper given such competition and high standards of service in the marker.

Rakowski  says, “The numbers suggest that clients will go to a broker to discuss their finances versus going to a bank directly. People are craving more knowledge and intelligence about their options in finance.”

He also explains how there are still areas of relative opportunity in the country.

“While large urban centres like Sydney and Newcastle can be oversaturated, there are developing areas in Australia where brokers can target. When you look at the market, roughly half are the big franchise models. Queensland is a huge growth area with places like Townsville, Cairns, Mackay and the Sunshine Coast. Population growth is massive, and that’s where people need to look.”

Interestingly, over the six months prior to April 2024, the brokerages have had 71% of their clients seeking refinancing, far and away higher than any other type of inquiry.

A report published by IBIS World finds:

• 8,973 mortgage broker companies in 2024
   

• 0.2% business growth over the past 12 months
   

• 0.8% annualised business growth from 2019 to 2024
   

• expected growth over the next five years

 

   

Since being established in October 2022, 7G Finance has seen remarkable growth.

Founder Gina Antonowicz set up the company after working for one of Australia’s big four banks for over 25 years.

 

 

After leaving her previous job, Antonowicz completed a diploma in finance and mortgage brokering and became her own boss.

“My sole purpose is to help and educate as many people as I can. My blinkers are not just on one lender, and I want to be able to empower my clients,” she says.

Organisation is a key principle for Antonowicz.

She says, “Managing the chaos is so important, and I’m a control freak, which helps. It’s about having the processes and technology in place. You must treat it like you’re purchasing that property yourself or for your child.”
 

 

Operating since 2022, Finance Land is quickly becoming a major player.

By expanding its team with industry experts, the brokerage closes deals faster and offers competitive products and rates to attract clients and referrals.
 

 

“What sets us apart is our commitment to speed, transparency and personalised service,” says director Mayooran Kanesh.

“We leverage cutting-edge technology to streamline the mortgage process, allowing us to close deals faster than the competition. Additionally, our team of experienced professionals takes the time to understand each client’s unique situation, ensuring they get the best possible rates and terms.

“We combine the efficiency of a large firm with the personalised attention of a boutique service, making the mortgage process not just quick but also stress-free.”

To drive success, the company has focused on:

• client satisfaction: providing accurate and engaging responses
   

• continuous improvement: regularly updating knowledge base
   

• personalisation: tailoring responses to individual needs
   

• feature expansion: offering new tools such as image generation and browsing
   

• efficiency: optimising processes to engage with more clients
   

• data insights: using analytics to guide improvements

 

 

Noticing a regional gap in the market, Balance Lending Solutions teamed up with a local independent accountancy practice, which has driven its success over the last three years in the Central West area of NSW.

It has both upsized and right-sized to build a reputation, which has seen it reach the 100 loan settlement milestone by March 2024 and passed $40 million settled in June 2024.

“We are a trusted expert in our community, and as a result, we encounter many complex scenarios, including self-employed niches, divorces, and estates,” says principal broker Zane Southwell, who previously employed by a big four bank.

Balance Lending Solutions puts its growth down to:

• strong referral agreements
   

• consistent customer outcomes

The company is a strong advocate for first-time buyers, particularly due to its regional presence.

Southwell says, “They need more guidance than most when navigating the home-buying journey. We take pride in the time and energy put into education and guidance, ensuring they are set up for a life of property ownership and maximising financial outcomes.”
 

Going to bat for their clients is the lifeblood for AB’s Fast Brokerages, particularly when dealing with tricky lenders and high interest rates.

Applying for a mortgage can be a daunting process, particularly for first-time buyers.

Antonowicz had a client, a paramedic, who still lived with her parents and was keen to bring her with them to a meeting about her application.

She says, “She apologised if she seemed stupid, but I told her that ‘I wouldn’t know the first thing about saving people’s lives;  that’s your speciality, and this is mine’, and it really put her at ease.

“I throw myself into it and do my best to make it all about the client. I’ll do the hard work, and I’ll have the arguments and conversations with the lender, if I’m not happy with the interest rates.”

Part of 7G Finance’s success is that its clients are matched with a dedicated mortgage adviser who guides them through the process from pre-approval, gathering documentation and shopping around for the best options.

Swift and continuous communication is also something the firm prioritises.

“We will take on your stress; you don’t need that. Once I hear back from a lender, I relay that information to my clients right away. Let’s try to get that approval, and you can go shopping for that property,” says Antonowicz.

Mirroring this attention to detail is displayed at Balance Lending Solutions. The company worked for a client who lived with her mother, who passed away, and faced losing her home. Despite the circumstances, his main bank had declined to offer a loan.

Southwell says, “We identified a suitable lending solution at a top 10 lender at a market-leading rate and connected her to appropriate legal support to negotiate the intricacies of the estate.”

Balance Lending Solutions also delivered for another client who was a self-employed contract worker in Queensland but had been living in New South Wales. They had a gap in employment so could not show any business income for a few years.

“Even the second-tier lenders could not assist until he had a minimum of one business activity statement, but he wanted to purchase a home before moving north to start the contract,” says Southwell. “Through our knowledge of niche lenders and our ability to frame a client’s situation, we identified a lender to accept the contract income based on the contract.”

Exceptional customer service is also the focus at Finance Land.

Kanesh says, “I’ve had clients who have gone through divorces or are in domestic violence situations, and they are having difficulties with lenders. I ask the lenders to not penalise them for something so traumatic. When I’m able to help them, it can be very humbling. I can be your support person, because that's my job.”

A standout case involved a small business owner who wanted finance to expand his operations but had a less than perfect credit history. There was a tight deadline as a prime location had just become available. Finance Land secured the loan by exploring alternative lending options and improving the client’s creditworthiness.

“Their new location led to a significant increase in revenue, and the client was able to manage the loan repayment comfortably, ultimately improving their credit score,” says Kanesh. “This demonstrates our brokerage’s ability to navigate complex financial situations and deliver tailored solutions that help clients achieve their business goals, even under challenging circumstances.” 

High interest rates are a difficulty for the mortgage industry . The situation is forecast to improve as Westpac and NAB announced in summer 2024 that they were cutting interest rates on fixed-rate home loans.

However, on a micro-level, it can cause uncertainty for brokerages.

“You’re wondering what’s the Reserve Bank of Australia or the government going to do tomorrow. Then there’s regulatory issues that you have to deal with.

“Recently, there’s a particular lender who has merged with another, and all of a sudden, they said, ‘We’re not going to help brokers anymore’, which doesn’t help when you’ve got a specific client that only suits that lender.

“All this happens in waves, but you just have to keep yourself relevant and stay educated.”

Despite being a young firm, 7G Finance is ambitious and has plans to raise its profile with a new website and social channels.

“So far, it’s been a lot of word of mouth. You help one person, and it snowballs from there. I just want to help as many people as I can, and make sure that everyone’s looked after, because you’d hate to think anyone’s being taken advantage of,” says Antonowicz.

While Finance Land’s modern approach can be particularly beneficial in a volatile interest rate environment.

Kanesh says, “Consumers should be aware of the increasing use of technology to streamline the application and approval processes, making it faster and more convenient to secure a mortgage.”

 

Australia’s Fastest-Growing Mortgage Brokerages | Fast Mortgage Brokerages

Fast Brokerages

• 
  7G Finance
   
  
• 
  Loan Market T/A Client First Wealth
   
  
• 
  Introjuce Capital Partners
   
  

• A4 Finance Group
• Absolut Financial
• AP Loans
• Aria Financial
• Aussie Finance and Home Loans Melbourne
• Ausure Finance Solutions
• B Squared Lending
• Balance Lending Solutions
• Capital Finance Partners
• CJG Finance
• Daybreak Finance
• Easy Finance & Mortgage
• Evoke Capital
• FIDGET
• Finance Land
• Finni Mortgages
• First Light Finance
• Fox & Co Finance
• GFS
• Go Further Finance
• Go Mortgage
• Good Lending Co
• Grow and Co Finance
• Harrow & Co.
• Infinity Group Finance
• Jo Hoskings – Loan Market
• JP Complete Finance
• JS Home Loan Investments t/a The Home Loan Specialists
• JT Finance Group
• Julian Choo – Loan Market
• Katlan Finance Group
• Kelston Capital
• Key Change Finance
• Loan Market – Paul Brazier
• Loan Market Glenelg
• Loan Market Propel
• Loan Market Ronnie Singh
• Loan Worth
• LoanOptions.ai
• Loans Combined
• Megh Castledine Loan Market
• Melbourne Low Rate Home Loan
• Modern Financial Group
• MyLoans Services
• Nadaya Financial
• Ocean Finserv
• Oui Finance
• Protego Finance
• Real Estate Investment Finance
• Reward Financial Services Australia
• RL Financial Group
• RPS Financial Services
• Sabea Financial
• SAT Home Loan
• Savage Money
• SC Brokers
• Search Mortgages
• Sharni Stephens Loan Market
• Sheel Capital
• Southerly Finance Group
• Starlink Mortgage & Finances
• Switch Finance
• TEG Finance
• Two Broker Girls
• VENTURE FINANCE
• Wealth Health Co
• Wealth Management Brokers
• Wealthmax Home Loans

Fast Starters

• 
  7G Finance
   
  
• 
  Loan Market T/A Client First Wealth
   
  

• A4 Finance Group
• AP Loans
• Aria Financial
• Aussie Finance and Home Loans Melbourne
• Ausure Finance Solutions
• Balance Lending Solutions
• Capital Finance Partners
• CJG Finance
• Daybreak Finance
• Finance Land
• First Light Finance
• Fox & Co Finance
• Go Further Finance
• Good Lending Co
• Grow and Co Finance
• Harrow & Co.
• Jo Hoskings – Loan Market
• JS Home Loan Investments t/a The Home Loan Specialists
• JT Finance Group
• Julian Choo – Loan Market
• Katlan Finance Group
• Kelston Capital
• Key Change Finance
• Loan Market Glenelg
• Loan Market Propel
• Loan Market Ronnie Singh
• Loan Worth
• Melbourne Low Rate Home Loan
• Modern Financial Group
• MyLoans Services
• Ocean Finserv
• Oui Finance
• Reward financial Services Australia
• RL Financial Group
• Sabea Financial
• SAT Home Loan
• Savage Money
• Sharni Stephens Loan Market
• Sheel Capital
• Starlink Mortgage & Finances
• VENTURE FINANCE
• Wealth Health Co
• Wealth Management Brokers