You can compare mortgage brokers in the table below and click "more info" to learn more about a particular company. If there's no green button on a broker, it means we don't currently have a partnership with this broker. You can contact them directly on their own site.
Leave your details with any of the providers on this page and one of their mortgage brokers will call you. They will talk you through suitable mortgage options for your situation and help you with your home loan application and paperwork too.
How to find the best mortgage broker
Mortgage brokers are like any other business or service: there are good ones, excellent ones and bad ones. Luckily, it isn't too hard to find a good one in a few steps:
Check the broker's accreditation and qualifications. Your mortgage broker should be a qualified professional. You'll also want to ensure your broker is registered with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) either as a licence holder or a credit representative. You can check ASIC's register here. Mortgage brokers are also required to be a member of an industry association, either the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia (MFAA) or the Finance Brokers Association of Australia (FBAA). At a minimum, every mortgage broker needs to hold at least a Certificate IV in Finance and Broking, if not a diploma.
Read reviews online. Read online reviews from previous customers. This is a good way to get a sense of a broker's history and service.
Ask for recommendations. Ask around and see if anyone you know has had some experience with a good mortgage broker.
Do your own home loan research. Mortgage brokers may have access to hundreds of different loan products, but it doesn't hurt to spend a little time researching your options on your own as well.
Approach more than one broker. Shop around and talk to a few brokers before deciding which one you want to go with.
Go with your gut. If a broker is pushy, not responsive or doesn't take the time to explain things to you, go with your gut feeling. Look elsewhere to find a better broker.
How can a mortgage broker help?
With a little research, it's actually pretty simple to find a good home loan yourself. But if you are a bit confused or have a complicated lending situation, then you can talk to a mortgage broker.
Mortgage brokers in Australia are licensed professionals who can do a home loan comparison for you. They'll talk to you about your needs and help you find a suitable loan. Brokers can't compare the whole market, but they have access to a panel of lenders.
Many Australian borrowers, especially first home buyers, turn to a mortgage broker to help them get a loan for their first home.
Did you know?
69.6% of new home loans involve a mortgage broker*
*According to recent figures from the MFAA, 69.6% of all owner-occupier home loans between January and March 2023 were facilitated by a mortgage broker.
How much does it cost to use a mortgage broker?
A broker's service is usually free because they receive a commission from the lender you choose. This means that brokers don't get paid unless your loan gets approved, which gives them a very big incentive to help you gain home loan approval.
There are 2 types of broker commission:
Upfront commission. An upfront commission is the commission a mortgage broker receives for introducing the home loan customer to the lender. It is normally around 0.3-0.5% of the loan value. For example, for an $850,000 mortgage, a 0.3% commission would amount to approximately $2,550 in the broker's pocket.
Trail commission. This is a recurring commission that is calculated based on the remaining loan amount each year, which is paid to them monthly. Some lenders offer an ongoing commission of 0.1-0.2% based on the remaining value of the home loan. This commission is paid for the broker providing ongoing service to the client.
Brokers may charge you a fee if they're providing more services, such as financial planning. Check with a broker before you employ their services to get a clearer idea of potential costs.
What kind of borrowers benefit from using a broker?
While you can go it alone, some borrowers are probably better off going straight to a broker. This includes the following:
Borrowers with a poor credit history. Brokers are useful for borrowers with a poor credit history or discharged bankruptcies. They can help you apply for regular home loans that you may qualify for or specific bad credit products.
Borrowers on Centrelink or pensions. It's often possible to qualify for a loan while receiving welfare payments (and using some of the payment to count as income), but a broker can help you with eligibility requirements for relevant lenders.
Older borrowers. Middle-aged borrowers can have difficulty getting approved for a home loan because they're older and have fewer working years to pay a loan back. Brokers have a good sense of which lenders may accept your application.
Borrowers with complicated situations. If you're looking to set up a complex property investment strategy or have multiple loans, then a broker is a really good idea. A broker can help you structure your loans in a more advantageous and cost-effective way.
How a mortgage broker got the loan approved after banks said no
Graeme Holm, mortgage broker and founder of The Infinity Group, explains how he helped a self-employed couple working in hospitality to secure a loan during the pandemic.
"I had a couple aged in their early 30s who were seeking to purchase an owner-occupier property in Hinchinbrook, Sydney for $810,000. This was during the period where COVID-19 was creating a lot of uncertainty in the market with lenders, especially for self-employed applicants.
"The applicants were initially declined, despite having a healthy deposit of $260,000.
"Conventional lenders had advised that they could not support the clients with this purchase due to their self-employed status and because the industry they were operating in was considered an 'at risk industry': they own and operate two cafes.
"We had approached a non-conforming lender who had also initially declined the deal for the same reason. But because of the strong argument I made, and my experience in the industry, they eventually agreed to take another look at the deal. They then formally approved the application for the client's home purchase. The clients were ecstatic with the outcome and were able to buy their dream home."
Finder survey: How many Australians have used or would use a mortgage broker?
Response
Yes
69.42%
No
30.58%
Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1112 Australians, December 2023
Are there any downsides to using mortgage brokers?
Mortgage brokers do a lot of the legwork for you and may not charge you a cent. What can be wrong with that? Nothing at all. But there are some reasons why you might be better off just finding your own loan.
A broker won't compare all loans. Mortgage brokers only compare lenders in their panel. That's usually a list of between 20 and 30 lenders, including the Big Four. While this gives you plenty of options, it means you will likely miss out on the very lowest home loan rates from small online-only lenders that don't feature in broker panels.
A mortgage broker is a middleman. A mortgage broker will liaise between you and the lender during the entire application process. You might not even deal with your lender until settlement or after. This makes it hard to get a sense of what your lender is like and you'll rely on your broker to answer your questions, at least initially.
Not all brokers are equally good. As with any profession, some brokers are better than others. Some mortgage brokers run very small businesses and may be busy, or you may be dealing with an inexperienced broker who isn't sure how best to help you.
Questions to ask a broker
When talking to a mortgage broker, you should ask a few questions about the loans they're suggesting for you and their service overall.
Questions you should ask include the following:
Do you charge a fee? While most mortgage brokers don't charge their clients, some do, so you should pose the question to the broker at the start so you're clear about all the costs involved.
How many lenders do you have in your network? You want to ensure that the broker has a diverse range of lenders in their panel, including banks and non-bank institutions. Most brokers have access to at least 20 lenders, if not 30.
How much commission do you make? To understand the mortgage broker's motivation, you should ask how their commission structure works. This may help you determine whether there is a conflict of interest at play.
How much of a deposit do I need? Ask how much of a deposit the lender wants, and find out whether the size of the deposit affects the interest rate of the loan. Sometimes a lender will give you a better rate of interest if you put down a larger deposit. A smaller deposit may also mean that you have to pay lenders mortgage insurance (LMI). Your broker should lay this all out for you in easy-to-understand language.
Can I make extra repayments and/or repay my loan early? The quickest way to repay your mortgage and save money in interest is to make overpayments whenever possible. Double-check that your lender is happy for you to do this without penalty. Some lenders charge an admin fee to process the additional payment.
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To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by David Gregory as part of our fact-checking process.
Richard Whitten is a money editor at Finder, and has been covering home loans, property and personal finance for 6+ years. He has written for Yahoo Finance, Money Magazine and Homely; and has appeared on various radio shows nationwide. He holds a Certificate IV in mortgage broking and finance (RG 206), a Tier 1 Generic Knowledge certification and a Tier 2 General Advice Deposit Products (RG 146) certification. See full bio
Richard's expertise
Richard has written 558 Finder guides across topics including:
ChoiceLend offers its loans through Choice Aggregation Services. It has a range of loans including variable, fixed and split rates, as well as equity loans.
Please choose one the brokers on our panel that you’d like to speak with.
If you click ‘enquire’ you’ll be taken to a page where you can enter a few of your details, and a loan specialist will get in touch with you.
Cheers,
Shirley
MarkMay 8, 2014
I am up for my 3rd house purchase in victoria, using the same non bank lender and their local rep. Firstly I have to refinance my old loans to make this $800k purchase work and the rep has gone back on his word that I would only be up for only the government, but no bank charges, obviously to try and secure my business. Given the fees are not consistent with the past loans even after factoring typical increases, cpi etc. My concern is how can I check the initial fees and charges are what they should be. Could you tell me how the title transfer, mortgage discharge and mortgage registration fees are calculated. And does every purchaser have to be up for the lender’s legal fees. Also what recourse do I have with all these broken promises.
Note – haven’t signed the application form yet but only 5 weeks till settlement.
Finder
ShirleyMay 9, 2014Finder
Hi Mark,
Thanks for your question.
You can check the initial fees and charges with the lender, or if its government-related, with your local Office of State Revenue. Things like title transfers, mortgage discharge, and mortgage registration fees are also dependent on the lender, and so every lender has a different way of calculating these fees.
Legal fees are generally included in the cost of buying property to cover the cost of setting up the title of the property, and the contracts being written up. You may refer to our guide on the costs of buying a property including a calculator and step-by-step guide to help you further.
Cheers,
Shirley
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can i talk to someone about a rural lone please
Hi Michael,
Thanks for your question.
Please choose one the brokers on our panel that you’d like to speak with.
If you click ‘enquire’ you’ll be taken to a page where you can enter a few of your details, and a loan specialist will get in touch with you.
Cheers,
Shirley
I am up for my 3rd house purchase in victoria, using the same non bank lender and their local rep. Firstly I have to refinance my old loans to make this $800k purchase work and the rep has gone back on his word that I would only be up for only the government, but no bank charges, obviously to try and secure my business. Given the fees are not consistent with the past loans even after factoring typical increases, cpi etc. My concern is how can I check the initial fees and charges are what they should be. Could you tell me how the title transfer, mortgage discharge and mortgage registration fees are calculated. And does every purchaser have to be up for the lender’s legal fees. Also what recourse do I have with all these broken promises.
Note – haven’t signed the application form yet but only 5 weeks till settlement.
Hi Mark,
Thanks for your question.
You can check the initial fees and charges with the lender, or if its government-related, with your local Office of State Revenue. Things like title transfers, mortgage discharge, and mortgage registration fees are also dependent on the lender, and so every lender has a different way of calculating these fees.
Legal fees are generally included in the cost of buying property to cover the cost of setting up the title of the property, and the contracts being written up. You may refer to our guide on the costs of buying a property including a calculator and step-by-step guide to help you further.
Cheers,
Shirley