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RE/MAX Australia has launched Australian Property Finance (APF), its new finance arm this week, following the June announcement of a RE/MAX Australia and Vow Financial joint venture - and the group is on a hunt for brokers to take on board.
Under the joint venture, finance brokers will trade as APF and work with the RE/MAX agents to write a full range of financial services for home buyers.
“Australian Property Finance will be our preferred partner in lending and other financial matters,” says RE/MAX Australia managing director, Michael Davoren.
“Vow Financial is committed to helping its brokers grow their business and saw the joint venture with us as a way to add value while strengthening the position for their brokers. Working collaboratively, the partnership between finance and real estate – between finance brokers and sales agents – means an expanded quality service for consumers.”
Newly appointed CEO of Australian Property Finance, Nathan Swain, has nearly two decades’ worth of finance experience, including recognition in the top 1% property finance performers with a major real estate group.
“I will facilitate the clear synergy between real estate and finance, marrying the two industries so to speak,” says Swain.
He adds that APF is not relying solely on the Vow Financial network for finance brokers and is keen to recruit experienced brokers from elsewhere.
“Joining APF means a broker is backed by Vow, one of Australia’s biggest mortgage aggregators, rather than acting independently - and there is great attraction in being affiliated with RE/MAX, a global real estate company,” says Swain. “These two factors are valued by finance brokers seeking security and longevity.”
APF services span insurance, wealth creation, legals and leasing. Finance brokers will advise new and refinancing borrowers on commercial, residential and personal loans.
There are plans to have at least a dozen APF finance brokers aligned with RE/MAX franchises by the end of the year.
Tim Brown, CEO of Vow Financial says the benefits of the joint venture are two-fold.
“Firstly, RE/MAX franchises are predominately based in Queensland and this is an area that Vow really wants to grow into. In addition, the joint venture will provide brokers with a new source of business leads. This is another value-add for brokers and, at Vow, we are committed to helping our brokers grow their business."
