Perth’s new apartment market recorded its strongest quarter of sales since Q4 2021, with 412 apartments sold in Q1 2026 and a record quarterly sold value of $537 million, according to Urbis’ latest Apartment Essentials results.

Urbis said the March quarter result reflects strong, highly product‑specific demand across both ends of the market, from more attainable projects delivering at scale, through to premium stock being absorbed by equity‑rich downsizers.&nbsp;

David Cresp, Partner at Urbis, said the key story in Perth is not demand, it is the market’s ability to convert demand into delivered housing.&nbsp;

“This is the strongest sales quarter since Q4 2021, and it reinforces that demand in Perth is real and it’s local,” David Cresp said. “But the task now is delivery, turning that demand into projects that can actually be built and completed.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=302785]

<h2>Affordable product leads, premium demand remains resilient</h2>

Sales in Q1 were led by more affordable projects, with The Boulevard (SKS Group) recording 115 sales in the quarter, the presentation noting this is only the second time a single project has surpassed 100 quarterly sales. The project was able to offer more affordable housing product right next to a train station.&nbsp;

Palmyra West (Finbar) also delivered strong results with 28 sales in Q1, following 84 sales in Q4, with an average price of under $800,000, underscoring depth of demand for well‑located, attainable new stock.&nbsp;

At the premium end, Urbis said downsizer demand is continuing, with the results highlighting Romeo (Applecross, Finbar) recording 75 sales and reaching almost 50% sold in one quarter.

Jual (Shenton Park, Celsius Property) also posted a strong quarter with 28 sales, reaching 39% sold in one quarter.

Urbis noted that Perth apartment demand is not speculative, not investor‑led, and not uniform, describing it as localised, often equity‑driven and highly product‑specific, a pattern reflected in the polarisation between strong “attainable” performers and premium downsizer product.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148957 project_image_fid=364102]

<h2>Prices underpinned by costs, and the delivery risk is growing</h2>

Urbis said pricing pressure is cost not demand‑driven: construction costs and delivery risk are now a central constraint, with the results noting build costs remain elevated and volatile, and that energy, fuel and labour uncertainty weigh on feasibility.

David Cresp said a growing challenge for private Build‑to‑Sell developers is simply securing a builder in the current environment.

“Developers are really feeling the pressure from a building market that was operating at capacity and securing a builder is challenging,” David Cresp said, adding that even where a builder can be secured, “trying to get to the price that makes the development financially viable is incredibly challenging in the current market.”&nbsp;

Urbis’ broader WA commentary also notes that industry remains at or above capacity with lot and housing creation, and that many builders are limiting new sales to manage stretched workforces and fixed‑price contract pressures, conditions that flow directly into apartment feasibility and delivery timing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108869 project_image_fid=317905]

<h2>Supply: improving later, but still constrained, and Perth lags eastern benchmarks</h2>

While near‑term supply remains constrained, Urbis’ forecast shows completions lifting “Supply is forecast to be back above 1,500 apartments per annum for the first time since 2019”, with 1,775 completions forecast for 2026, and volumes remaining above that level over the following years.&nbsp;

Looking further ahead, completions are forecast to reach 2,500 in 2028, with the report noting 32% of that total is social/affordable, reflecting the role of government‑supported delivery in rebuilding the pipeline.&nbsp;

However, Urbis said Perth remains behind comparable markets on pipeline scale. In a national comparison of projects under construction, the report shows under construction Perth Build‑to‑Sell (BTS) at 3,446 apartments versus the Gold Coast at 7,922. Mr Cresp said “The challenge for Perth is how to we grow the delivery pipeline”.

Urbis’ conclusion is that Perth’s market is increasingly defined by product discipline and delivery certainty, with the research identifying “delivery certainty is key” and calling out builder risk and procurement models as core success factors, alongside “timing and staging”.&nbsp;

Joel Robinson

Perth apartment sales hit strongest pace since late 2021 as builder capacity tightens

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sammut-developments">Sammut Group</a> has secured development approval for its latest Brisbane apartment project, marking the Sydney developer’s next step in expanding its Queensland pipeline following the success of its debut Gold Coast development, Coast.

The approved project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/44-glen-road-toowong-qld-4066">44 Glen Road, </a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a> will deliver a 15-storey riverfront apartment building with 42 residences, significantly increasing the scale of the site’s previous approval for a smaller luxury scheme. Designed by Bureau^proberts, the development will comprise a mix of predominantly four-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments positioned to maximise Brisbane River and city views.

Sammut Director Julian Sammut said the group had been actively searching Brisbane for several years before identifying Toowong as the right fit.

“Brisbane was the right step for Sammut,” Sammut said.

“With the success of Coast we thought we should definitely look to do more in Queensland alone. We then pushed up to look at Brisbane. We've been looking for I'd say two to three years actually and it was hard to find the right location.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.14%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dYAVIL7qdcGA8ojvkslSrLjczXFejSSx" />

Sammut said suburbs including New Farm and Teneriffe were considered before the group ultimately focused on Toowong due to its strong downsizer demographic and limited supply of developable riverfront land.

The site was acquired off-market after what Sammut described as a lengthy negotiation and planning process, with the developer pursuing an uplift to the original approval.

“We are DA approved now which is very exciting,” Sammut said.

“We've had our change approval come through and we've obviously doubled the height, 15 storeys plus rooftop. We've got 42 amazing apartments that are going to be coming to market soon.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ohkRkY0dIZlqdfME2EZePsCQavRiBadE" />

Bureau^proberts said the design responds to Toowong’s evolving urban character, balancing contemporary apartment living with the area’s established residential identity.

“A place where traditional Queensland living has taken place for centuries; Toowong is seeing a shift of contemporary influence, commercial and retail hubs mixed with well-considered residential offerings – all the while maintaining its character and charm,” the architect noted in planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council.

The architecture practice said the project’s form was shaped by its riverfront setting, flood considerations, neighbouring building scales, and view corridors.

“They said the mix of four and two-bedroom apartments capture the ‘fundamental qualities of Queenslander living,’ translated into the context of a contemporary subtropical building.”

The development sits just off Coronation Drive within walking distance of Toowong’s retail precinct and the upgraded Regatta ferry terminal, while also benefiting from proximity to the incoming green bridge connection to West End. Sammut said the accessibility and amenity offering were central to the site’s appeal.

The approval adds to growing residential activity along the Toowong riverfront, joining nearby projects including Consolidated Properties’ Monarch Residences and Spyre Group’s ARC Residences.

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

Developer Lanevick is heading back into Sydney’s apartment market after focusing more heavily on the luxury townhouse and terrace sector in recent years.

Lanevick, founded and directed by Steve Maroun, is expecting to receive approval in the coming months for a new apartment development in Gladesville, with the aim to launch it to the market later this year.

The 51-apartment project, designed by Studio Johnston, will comprise a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments positioned toward the Hunters Hill downsizer market.

“Traditionally it’s been difficult for people in that market to downsize because there just hasn’t been the right product available,” Maroun said.

“We’re targeting buyers who might have 30 to 40 per cent of their house value sitting in the bank after downsizing.

“They still want good spacious entertaining areas, they still want quality design, but they also want flexibility and the ability to enjoy life a bit more after working hard for a long time.”

The project sits near Boronia Park and within close proximity to the Parramatta River foreshore, an area Maroun says offers more of a Hunters Hill lifestyle than a traditional apartment precinct.

“From a lifestyle perspective, it’s really more Hunters Hill than Gladesville,” Maroun said. “You’re close to the foreshore, close to parklands, and still connected back into the village precinct.”

From level four and above, apartments will capture water views&nbsp;toward Sydney Harbour. Communal amenity will include rooftop entertaining areas, wellness spaces, and a gym tailored toward owner-occupier buyers.

“We’ve really designed these apartments around that buyer coming from the Hunters Hill LGA and what they’re actually looking for in their next chapter.”

The proposed development has also been designed to respond to the changing character of the broader Gladesville town centre, where a growing number of mixed-use and residential proposals are expected to emerge over the coming years.

“Gladesville presented a rare opportunity to deliver a genuinely design-led residential project within an evolving lifestyle precinct, just moments from the growing Gladesville town centre, and we’ve approached the project with a strong focus on architecture, liveability and long-term community value,” Maroun said.

Maroun said Lanevick saw a first-mover advantage within the precinct as planning controls continue to evolve to accommodate greater housing density.

“We think there’s a real opportunity there that hasn’t really been serviced properly yet,” he said.

“There’s going to be a broader evolution of the whole Gladesville village precinct over time, particularly with more activation and mixed-use outcomes.”

The Venus Street proposal will include a commercial and retail component at ground level designed to contribute to that evolving streetscape activation.

“A big part of the thinking was how do you activate that area properly and create more vibrancy and amenity, which is what Hunters Hill has been looking for,” Maroun said.

Lanevick’s focus since 2020 has largely been on smaller-scale luxury townhouse and terrace developments. The developer recently completed Royale Randwick, also designed by Studio Johnston, where prices reached $3.65 million. The project was featured in the UDIA NSW 2026 Professional Development Prospectus and was also named a finalist for Development of the Year.

&nbsp;

Lanevick to cater for Hunters Hill downsizers with new Gladesville apartment development

Property developer One Living, backed by former Macquarie banker turned investment manager Chris Green’s investment firm, has unveiled plans to bring more institutional capital into housing to help address the national supply crisis.

The New York-based investor has focused his firm, GreenPoint Partners, on addressing the supply shortage hitting middle market housing in Australia.

It is backing the new One Living business to develop more than 1000 units along the eastern seaboard. The new firm is starting with a development on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, with around 140 apartments planned. They are eyeing off more sites across the city.

With cost pressures rising in the industry, One Living’s model is to be a vertically integrated developer-builder, so it can respond directly to the housing gap by removing the cost inefficiencies embedded in traditional residential delivery.

“We are building a platform designed to operate at scale and starting in a market where there’s a clear need for quality, attainable housing,” One Living joint managing director Joseph Scuderi said.

“It’s that missing middle – it’s that attainable end of housing… that’s what most Australians invest into and what Australians can actually afford.”

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="798dfa93-4941-4db6-a696-31e9dc18e81c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.31.50%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=mKBqi5C_DmeiXS.AtJkcR8LQIxqCqmFi" />

GreenPoint Partners brings years of experience assembling and scaling real estate operating businesses across major markets. And Green sees a big opportunity in Australia.

“For its size, sophistication and importance to the community, Australia’s living sector has remained largely under-institutionalised, which represents significant opportunity,” Green said. “GreenPoint identified that gap, assembled the right team, and is backing One Living to build a platform that is aligned to market needs.”

Green said being a builder-developer would give the company the capacity and flexibility it required to deliver reasonably-priced homes.

“We want it to be at that attainable level; not super high end luxury but at that attainable level,” he said.

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="74a5344a-4b26-4d4a-ada3-056b1220be77" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.32.15%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=vY8hXHO4reBMdO8ZXMWCNtGZJofUPQ3j" />

&nbsp;

One Living will undertake a component of affordable housing in its schemes, which it will own and operate, and it could also run build-to-rent on some sites.

Green praised local policy settings.

“The NSW government is being very supportive, strategic and pragmatic in terms of how do we generate more supply of housing,” he said. “We think it’s actually positive for development and the bit that’s been lacking at that attainable level is that it’s lots of relatively small private developers, whereas we want to create an institutional platform.”

One Living is also&nbsp;looking at high-density projects and could take on more institutional funding in the future.

“The way we will be able to achieve economies of scale is through size,” Green added.

One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition

It's been several years since there's been an opportunity to buy a brand new townhome in Melbourne's coastal suburb of Mordialloc. Even apartment developments in recent times have been few and far between in the area.

Local developer LDS Property identified the gap in new housing, securing a site on White Street, directly opposite&nbsp;Woodlands Golf Club Mordialloc. They've recently launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/wm-residences-mordialloc-102-white-street-mordialloc-vic-3195">WM Residences</a>, just 13 townhouses which they have already started building.

Projects by Buxton Director Heath Thompson, who is selling WM Residences, says the townhouses x that perfect middle ground be

"Mordialloc residents have had limited options to downsize within the suburb, often forcing them to look elsewhere despite long-standing ties to the area," Thompson says.

"With very little comparable new supply coming to market, projects like WM Residences are well placed, particularly as buyers look to capitalise on current conditions amid constrained supply."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6109]

The development, designed by regarded architecture firm&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ewert-leaf">Ewert Leaf</a>,&nbsp;adopts a deliberately restrained architectural approach, focusing on simplicity, durability and liveability rather than overt design gestures.

The boutique scale is central to the offering. With only 13 three-bedroom residences, each home is configured to prioritise functional layouts and everyday use, supported by private terraces and secure two-car garages.

Ewert Leaf’s design response leans into a calm, neutral material palette. Interiors are defined by oak flooring, white walls and soft finishes, creating a consistent and understated backdrop. The approach avoids trend-driven detailing in favour of longevity, with an emphasis on natural light and spatial clarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6110]

Beyond aesthetics, the homes are designed to meet contemporary performance expectations. Each residence targets a minimum 6-star energy rating, incorporating double glazing, comprehensive insulation and all-electric Bosch appliances.

The project’s location supports a walkable coastal lifestyle, sitting within close proximity to Mordialloc’s foreshore, Main Street retail strip and the train station. Local cafés and dining venues, including Suburbia Deli and Hendriks Café, are within a short walk, reinforcing the area’s established neighbourhood character.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6116]

While <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/mordialloc-vic-3195">Mordialloc</a> is often defined by its beach and pier, the project taps into other areas of day to day living, offering easy access to local food, casual dining and transport, rather than positioning itself purely as a lifestyle retreat.

WM Residences reflects a continued trend across Melbourne’s coastal suburbs towards smaller-scale, design-led townhouse developments, particularly on infill sites where proximity to amenity is already established.

With construction commenced prior to its market entry, the project aligns with a growing preference among buyers for developments with visible progress and defined delivery timeframes.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134646]

WM Residences fills gap in Mordialloc townhouse market

Mortgage Brokers

<html><body>
Mortgage brokers are adding 16 basis points to a borrower’s cost on every home loan they write, or an average $4,600 commission on a loan, says new research by investment bank UBS.
Nearly $2.5 billion was paid as commission to mortgage brokers by banks in 2015, which is about a quarter of the total cost of running their personal lending operations, UBS analysts John Mott and Rachel Bentvelzen said in the research cited by The Australian Financial Review.
The news comes at a time when banks have been levied with a $6.2 billion tax in the recent federal budget and regulators are reviewing potential conflicts of interest in the way mortgage brokers are remunerated for their services.
The share of new home loans originated by mortgage brokers had risen from below 40 per cent in 2012 to just under 50 per cent in 2016, according to Fitch banking analyst Tim Roche, the AFR reported.
As banks face rising cost pressures while the industry's remuneration structures are under review, these costs will inevitably fall, the analysts said in a note titled "Are mortgage brokers overpaid?"
The average commission was $4600 per mortgage, which the analysts said was "disproportionate for advice provided on a simple, commoditised, single product".
That was especially the case compared to fees charged by financial advisors for "simple advice" ranged from $200 to $700, UBS said.
Broker commissions summed to $2.4 billion in 2015, an 18 per cent per annum increase from $1.5 billion in 2013 and equated to nearly a quarter of the $10.6 billion cost of running the entire consumer and personal lending operations of a major bank, UBS said.
UBS said the cost of mortgage brokers was born by all borrowers and calculated that the sum of commissions added 16 basis points per annum to the $1.5 trillion of all outstanding mortgages.
"Although mortgage broker commissions are paid by the bank, not the customer, commissions are factored into the bank's cost of funding and have been a driving factor in mortgage repricing in recent years."
These payments, UBS said, "are an illustration of excesses built into the financial system following a 26-year economic boom," and they expect them to fall over time.
"We believe the current quantum of economic rent being extracted by the mortgage broking industry is unrealistic and is likely to fall dramatically in coming years.
"We expect these benefits to be passed on to the customer, which could help offset anticipated repricing for the Bank Levy."
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission review of the industry and the Sedgwick Review both found that loans originated by brokers were more likely to lower deposit and interest only, as brokers are paid on the size of the loan.
The ASIC review formed part of a coordinated effort by regulators to counter a rise in debt-fuelled speculation in the property market with broker incentives identified as a factor in encouraging riskier lending.
The credit rating agencies have also highlighted the rise of third-party originated home loans as flagging future risks in the housing market.
However, Finance Brokers Association of Australia’s executive director, Peter White, questioned the UBS report and said they were exaggerated.
White said the average broker commission on a mortgage was closer to $2500 to $3000 and that most brokers earned about $70,000 per annum of income.
"There seems to be grandeur on these numbers that don't make sense. This information is quite simply not correct practically and by examination of regulators' data."
UBS suggested that the robo-advice industry could easily replace brokers providing advice for a single commoditised product.
It said the rising trend of broker-originated loans was worth monitoring because loans not originated by the banks were more likely to be riskier or could contain irregularities in the application.
"We are not saying that all brokers will result in weaker underwriting but we think the compensation structure could encourage mortgage application fraud.
"We don't have hard evidence to suggest part of it is happening and suggests it could be a risk, but it does potentially increase the risk in mortgage portfolios."
While the mortgage broking industry has faced several reviews, they are still regarded as providing a useful service for borrowers keen to get the best terms from their banks, and can handle the administrative complexities.
UBS however "questioned the trade-off between the value received by the customer versus the cost of this service relative to other parts of the financial industry."
"While a mortgage is a large financial commitment, it is a simple, commoditised product."
There were only a few options available to borrowers while APRA's focus on sound lending practices "ensures there should be little difference in underwriting standards or size of loan offered across the banks."
 
 
 
 
</body></html>

jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Mortgage brokers overpaid and adding 16 basis points to every loan: UBS report

<html><body>
A survey from mortgage broker iSelect has found more than 34 percent of Australian households with a mortgage have never had refinance.
The survey, from Galaxy Research, found 56 percent of respondents who have not refinanced their home loan in the last ten years (or never) haven't done it because of a to perceived cost, lack of knowledge or hassle.
Laura Crowden, iSelect spokesperson, said research shows of those who refinanced in the last 10 years, 55 percent said the main benefit was lower repayments, 21 percent valued better features (such as an offset account or lower fees) and just 2 percent experienced no benefit whatsoever.
“Many home owners underestimate the savings that could be gained by switching to a new loan with a lower interest rate,” Laura said.
“Switching to an interest rate even just a few basis points lower can not only reduce repayments but potentially shave years off the length of the loan as well.
"For example, for a home owner with a $300,000 mortgage currently paying 5.25 percent, moving to a lower interest rate of 3.75 percent could save up to $267 in interest every month and more than $96,000 over the lifetime of the loan.
“Homeowners should act now to take advantage of the increased competition amongst banks and financial intuitions who are competing heavily for new customers with generous introductory rates.
“Whenever there is an RBA rate change, this should be a reminder to review your options and consult a home loan adviser to discuss your options.
"They will be able to talk you through all the financial jargon and find out whether a loan may offer a rate or features better suited to your lifestyle and budget."
</body></html>

j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Survey finds over a third of Australian mortgage holders have never refinanced

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVER
Businesses need to operate in rapidly changing conditions and this has many brokers wondering how do they grow – or in many cases, simply how to stay afloat in an increasingly tough industry.
Brokers can stay ahead of the curve by focusing on ten key areas.
1. Process improvement
Continually seek out opportunities to complete processes in your business faster and more efficiently. As a broker, you will obtain greater business results if you are not the only resource in your business. If you are, review the alternative options for completing key tasks, to maximise your output and 'income producing hours'. This could include how you capture your clients supporting documents, or outsourcing the file management of your loans.
It helps to set time aside each month to review business processes. Document all the tasks in the business, identify clear steps in each of the processes, and then seek out alternative ways to deliver these processes.
2. Customer feedback
"Feedback is the breakfast of champions" (Ken Blanchard) has never been more applicable than in the digital age where customers are inclined, and encouraged to share their thoughts. The best way to improve your business is to ask the person who just used your services for feedback, and then actively respond to their insights. It’s invaluable and directly feeds into process improvement.
3. Customer referrals
There are three rules when it comes to asking for referrals: ask for them, ask for them, and ask again!
There are also four key points during the customer journey that you should ask for referrals:
<ul>
<li>When you first meet or engage – ask how the customer heard about your business and let them know how import_ant client referrals are to growing your business.</li>
<li>At Conditional Approval - ask the customer if they know of anyone else who is currently seeking financing or advice that you could assist.</li>
<li>Upon Settlement - refine and personalise the question about who the client may refer i.e. do they know of anyone at their school or sporting club (whatever is applicable) who may benefit from your services.</li>
<li>When you ask customers to rate your performance.</li>
</ul>
4. Online referrals
The ‘gold standard’ of a broking business is to secure 5-7 key referral sources. Given that a large proportion of borrowers do their research online, broker businesses should now consider an online lead opportunity as part of their referral network.
5. Time expenditure
Review how you can reduce time wastage in your business and maximise your output. For example, offices are more than simply a 'cost' to a business. Numerous points of research have shown that brokers with a permanent office are more profitable than brokers who drive to meet their appointments. This makes sense as 'income producing hours' are not being spent in a car.
6. Diversified business model
A single broker, offering one product is no longer a sustainable business model. Customers are time poor and require a holistic discussion regarding their financial position. It is beneficial to have key partners within the business to assist with the full suite of client requirements, as well as align with two or more brokers in order to leverage office support and reduce broker effort on administration tasks.
7. Performance tracking
The brokerage business is mostly a numbers game. If you know your ratios and current performance, you know how many leads you need to attract in order to write your annual settlement target.
Generally, industry statistics for leads to lodgement is 60%; and lodgement to settlement is 80%. If a broker applies their average loan size, then it is possible to calculate the total loan volume forecast within a year.
8. Monthly marketing strategy revamps
Marketing is a key aspect to growing your business. Ideally you should be implementing a new initiative each month. It can help to brainstorm 10-11 ideas for the year and then select one to implement each month, starting with the initiative that provides the ‘biggest bang for your buck’.
9. Business disruption
"If you are not disrupting your own business, someone else is" (Andy Groves).
Every broker should ask themselves whether they think they or their business is changing at a faster pace than their customers, or whether their customers are moving and changing at a faster rate than their business.
Implement an 'ideas jam' to see how you can disrupt your own business to continually improve and change. Even small steps can make a huge difference.
10. Work-life balance
Running your own business is challenging and will stretch the best of us, but it is important to keep balance and enjoy the opportunity. Success is the journey, not the destination.
Siobhan Hayden, is chief operating officer of HashChing and can be contacted <a href="https://www.hashching.com.au" target="_blank">here</a>.
</body></html>

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

10 things mortgage brokers should focus on to maximise returns: Siobhan Hayden

<html><body>
ANZ is closing a loophole by tightening rules for investors attempting to switch their investment loan to a standard homeowner loan.
ANZ head of national broker distribution Simone Tilley has advised mortgage brokers it would like to "reinforce that it continues to accept both owner-occupier and investor borrower applications".
But it is also closing down a popular loophole where borrowers switch from investor loan rates to cheaper owner-occupier rates.  
From today, borrowers changing their investment loan to a home loan will need to provide supporting documents to prove it is not being used for investment purposes.
These will include evidence such as utility bills and car licence details.
</body></html>

ANZ to close loophole for investment home loan switch

<html><body>
Home loan providers in Australia are selling mortgage bonds at the slowest pace in four years.
Its suggested they are seeking cheaper debt that doesn’t require collateral.
Some A$14.8 billion ($11 billion) of new residential mortgage-backed securities have been issued so far in 2016 by banks and other housing lenders, 36 percent less than at this stage last year, data compiled by Bloomberg show.
Mortgage-backed bond issuance by the country’s four biggest banks has halved to A$3.58 billion from A$7.85 billion last year.
Issuance by other banks, building societies and credit unions has also declined to just A$4.12 billion from A$10.4 billion.
</body></html>

Home loan mortgage bonds at slowest pace for four years

<html><body>
Mortgage aggregator Finsure Finance &amp; Insurance’s continued growth has been recognised in BRW Magazine’s Fast 100 List for the first time.
It had featuring in its top 100 Fast Starters List the previous two years.
The 2016 Fast 100 List includes Australia’s fastest growing companies which started trading before July 1, 2012, and is ranked by average revenue growth.
Finsure, which placed second overall in the top 100 Fast Starters in 2015, was ranked sixth in the 2016 Fast 100 List after enjoying revenue growth of 191.2% in the 2015/16 financial year.
Finsure managing director John Kolenda said the latest acknowledgement from BRW recognises the rapid growth of the company which recently reached a major landmark by recruiting its 1,000th broker less than five years after it was founded.
He said the speed of Finsure’s growth, which includes surpassing $1 billion in settlements, had exceeded his expectations and was a tribute to the hard work of the company’s brokers and staff.
Since it was founded, Finsure has achieved numerous awards and acknowledgements.
The company was ranked second when the SmartCompany top 50 was named to celebrate Australia’s fastest growing SMEs in 2014-15.
Kolenda said the company’s achievements had been exciting since establishing Finsure in 2011.
“These have been fabulous accomplishments for Finsure to build up the business to this level in just five years and we are determined to keep growing,” he said.
“The ability of the company to increase its growth rate is a tribute to the talented and hardworking team at Finsure as well as our amazing broker partners.”
</body></html>

Mortgage aggregator Finsure debuts in BRW 2016 Fast 100

<html><body>
Australian mortgage franchise Aussie Home Loans has announced a partnership with financial services giant Virgin Money Australia – with the firm’s home loans now on Aussie’s panel of 21 lenders.
“Our link with the Virgin Money brand in Australia brings together two leading challenger brands, both focused on delivering greater competition to the home loan market together with strong customer service,” said James Symond, chief executive of Aussie.
Virgin launched a new mortgage product in May, the Reward Me Home Loan, which offers customers Velocity Frequent Flyer for every $100,000 borrowed at settlement, 1,000 each month for each loan split, plus 30,000 every three years.
“We’re excited to be partnering with Aussie,” said Greg Boyle, chief executive of Virgin Money Australia.
Virgin Money Australia restarted offering home loans through mortgage brokers, taking a page from its success in the United Kingdom in order to make their home loans profitable.
“The mortgages there (in the UK) have worked really well,” said Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson earlier this year.
“Learning from that and asking lots of questions in Australia, the team has launched this product in Australia.”
</body></html>

Aussie Home Loans partners with Virgin Money

<html><body>
Mortgage aggregator Finsure Finance &amp; Insurance has recruited its 1,000th broker less than five years since it was founded.
Finsure Managing Director John Kolenda said experienced residential lender Bill Dale has joined the Queensland Finsure team to become the 1,000th broker.
It is one of Australia’s fastest growing aggregation businesses.
“Bill has settled $250 million in the past two years at BOQ Specialist, and he has recently launched his new brokerage BD Professional Mortgages."
Mr Kolenda said the speed of Finsure’s growth, which includes surpassing $1 billion in settlements, had exceeded his expectations.
The company was ranked second overall by BRW Magazine in its 2015 top 100 Fast Starters list and the company was ranked second when the SmartCompany top 50 was named to celebrate Australia’s fastest growing SMEs in 2014-15.
Mr Kolenda said mortgage brokers are becoming increasingly important in the highly competitive home finance market during an unprecedented era of low interest rates.
“More than 50 per cent of Australian home loans are now written by mortgage brokers.”
</body></html>

Finsure reaches 1000 broker milestone

<html><body>
Westpac Banking Corp has invested $16.5 million in the fintech firm uno, which allows mortgage customers to broker their own home loan.
Around 400 mortgage products are offered through uno. 
uno will compete against two ASX-listed companies, AFG and Mortgage Choice, and Aussie Home Loans and also compete against the banks. 
In the three months since the startup launch, uno has attracted more than a thousand active users and the dollar value of mortgages sold through the platform is more than $400 million.
It allows users to see and compare all of the information about a loan that a traditional broker would access.
The founder Vincent Turner told the Australian Financial Review the company was founded after he spent the past five years in Silicon Valley
The commission paid by banks using uno is roughly equivalent to what is paid to traditional mortgage brokers.
</body></html>

Startup uno secures $400 million in mortgage deals in first three months

<html><body>
HashChing, an online marketplace for pre-negotiated home loans, has announced $1 billion of home loans and signed up Claire Wivell Plater of The Fold Legal to its Advisory Board.
HashChing offers home loans with interest rates below 4 percent and below banks’ standard advertised variable rates.
More than 1200 mortgage brokers have signed up to the platform since launch
Mandeep Sodhi, chief executive officer of HashChing said more Aussies are turning to technology to compare rates advertised by different lenders.
“Customers aren’t just looking to save time. The key to our success is that our offer extends far beyond convenience. We’re able to offer pre-negotiated home loan deals from different lenders with equal features, the same products, but with an even better rate,” he said.
“We’re growing at a rapid pace. One of the reasons we’ve been able to scale the way we have is because we don’t charge per lead, which is a great incentive for them to join.
Atul Narang, chief information officer of HashChing said the broker registration process has been automated to make it really easy and quick by allowing them to digitally sign the contract which instantly activates their account and saves the paper clutter at both ends.
“We have utilised AI capabilities into our platform and our proprietary algorithm learns from the broker behaviour while matching a consumer lead with a broker," he said.
"I am in the process of bringing predictive analytics into our platform to target visitors with a specific home loan rate based on their geographical location and other attributes for a better consumer experience."
 
</body></html>

Mortgage Brokers

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

Mortgage Brokers

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News