Not all apartment amenities are immediately visible.

Swimming pools, gyms, rooftop terraces and residents' lounges have long featured on buyers' wishlists, but as the way Australians live has changed, so too have the features that make apartment living more convenient.

Increasingly, buyers are placing value on the practical aspects of day-to-day life. Fast internet, EV charging, secure bike storage, flexible workspaces and parcel management are becoming just as relevant as lifestyle amenities, reflecting changing habits and expectations.

Online shopping has been one of the biggest drivers of that shift.

Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally, making parcel deliveries a routine part of everyday life rather than an occasional convenience.

For apartment residents, however, receiving those deliveries isn't always straightforward.

Without someone home to accept a parcel, deliveries can be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in building foyers or common areas, or require building management to temporarily store packages. As apartment living continues to grow across Australia's cities, parcel management has become an increasingly important consideration for both residents and developers.

Australia Post's Parcel Locker network is one response to that shift.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KPZ9j5FRdsQ?si=Qztc1dNP3ZvEIUhb" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Rather than relying on home delivery, eligible parcels can be directed to a nominated Parcel Locker, where they're securely stored until collected. Once a parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS and can retrieve it using a one-time code or QR code at a time that suits them.

The network has expanded to more than 1,500 locations nationwide, with Parcel Lockers positioned at Post Offices, shopping centres, supermarkets, transport hubs and, increasingly, within or alongside residential developments.

That growing presence reflects a broader change in how apartment buildings are being planned.

Developers are increasingly considering the operational side of apartment living alongside traditional lifestyle amenities. Just as secure mailrooms, bicycle storage and EV charging have become more common inclusions, parcel management is emerging as another feature that supports everyday convenience.

It also helps preserve the arrival experience within a building. Carefully designed lobbies and communal spaces can quickly become cluttered when deliveries accumulate, while secure parcel solutions reduce the likelihood of missed deliveries or parcels being left unattended.

For buyers comparing apartments, these everyday details are becoming part of the decision-making process.

Location, floorplans and finishes remain fundamental, but the features that simplify daily life are carrying greater weight than they once did. As online shopping continues to shape consumer behaviour, secure parcel delivery is increasingly becoming another amenity worth looking for.

Joel Robinson

Parcel delivery is joining the apartment amenity checklist

Inca Property Group has lodged a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for Dawn, a 53-apartment oceanfront development overlooking Mona Vale Beach.

The proposal, at 35-39 Darley Street East, would replace an existing 18-apartment strata building with a new owner-occupier-focused development comprising 53 two and three-bedroom apartments, including nine affordable built-to-rent residences delivered under the State's infill affordable housing scheme.

Positioned on a 2,679 sqm elevated site around 280 metres from Mona Vale Beach, the development has been designed to maximise panoramic ocean views while responding to the site's sloping topography.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/inca-property-group">Inca Property Group</a> Managing Director Josh Thompson said the State Significant pathway provided greater certainty for projects of this scale.

"This State Significant pathway gives the team real certainty to progress <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/dawn-35-39-darley-street-east-mona-vale-nsw-2103">Dawn</a> through to completion," Thompson said.

"It allows us to acquire a one-off site, design it carefully and deliver the right offering for the suburb, assessed by the NSW Government's planning department."

The project is one of the first developments in the area to be assessed under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy, with the site sitting on the edge of the policy's designated inner area.

The proposal includes three basement levels providing 124 car spaces, alongside a range of resident amenities including a swimming pool, gym, sauna, wellness facilities and private plunge pools for selected ground-floor and penthouse apartments.

<img alt="Dawn" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fc1a1daf-0ce4-4f12-9076-b1fa553c7a91" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-21%20at%208.42.11%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4GZ9h.gpNkTljbxyAET8Jfhv51XUamDm" />

Thompson said Dawn had been designed specifically for owner-occupiers and downsizers, a buyer profile that has driven demand across Inca's recent Upper North Shore developments.

"The majority of buyers in our recent North Shore projects have been downsizers, and we are learning exactly what this market is looking for. Beyond the location itself, we have included resort-style amenities to deliver a genuine lifestyle offering," Thompson said.

Located within walking distance of Mona Vale Beach, the town centre, Mona Vale Golf Club and the Royal Motor Yacht Club, Dawn represents Inca's first Northern Beaches project following the sell-out of Tara on Park in Waitara and Ellis Residences, currently under construction in St Ives.

Construction will be undertaken by Inca's in-house construction arm, GOP Constructions.

Dawn is the latest major apartment proposal for Mona Vale, with the suburb emerging as one of the key beneficiaries of the NSW Government's new Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy.

New developer One Living, led by industry veteran Joseph Scuderi, recently secured a site on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, where it is planning around 140 apartments.

IPM is also planning its third project in Mona Vale, significantly increasing the scale of its previous developments with an 82-apartment proposal at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/159-167-darley-street-west-mona-vale-nsw-2103">159-167 Darley Street West</a>, opposite Bayview Golf Course and less than 800 metres from Mona Vale town centre.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/one-living-enters-sydneys-new-apartment-market-with-northern-beaches-site-acquisition">One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-ipm-plans-third-mona-vale-project">First look: IPM plans third Mona Vale project</a>

First look: Inca eyes Mona Vale with State Significant DA for Dawn apartments

Seasoned Victorian apartment developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/central-equity">Central Equity</a> has logged more than $400 million in sales in its luxury apartment project Palmera Residences at Northcliffe on the Gold Coast.&nbsp;

Central Equity Director Karl Kutner said the sales result reflected a combination of location, product quality and delivery certainty with the project already under construction by building powerhouse Multiplex.&nbsp;

"Surpassing $400 million in sales since launch is a significant milestone and an outstanding endorsement of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/palmera-residences-gold-coast-18-garfield-terrace-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Palmera Residences</a>,” he said.&nbsp;

"We believe one of the key reasons for this strong result is the confidence purchasers have in knowing the project is under construction with Multiplex. Buyers are increasingly looking for certainty. They want to know that the project they commit to today will be delivered by an experienced team with a proven track record."&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365782]

Kutner said it was clear there was still high demand for luxury projects that offered certainty of delivery.&nbsp;

“We are in a market where many residential developments have faced delays due to rising construction costs, labour shortages and financing challenges,” said Kutner.&nbsp;

"But having construction underway has provided our buyers with resounding confidence backed by more than 40 years of development delivery by Central Equity combined with construction by one of Australia's most respected construction companies."&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365785]

Central Equity is one of Australia's most experienced privately-owned property developers. Over more than four decades, the company has delivered in excess of 85 residential developments including 10,000 apartments and many thousands of stand alone homes.&nbsp;

Located on Garfield Terrace at Northcliffe, between Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, Palmera Residences occupies one of the Gold Coast's most sought after beachside locations. The development has been designed to appeal to owner occupiers seeking premium residences that combine generous living spaces and resort style amenities.&nbsp;

Palmera Residences will feature an exceptional collection of resort style amenities, including two swimming pools: a generously sized family pool with safe shallow zones for relaxed recreation, and a 20 metre lap pool positioned to maximise all day sunlight.&nbsp;

Residents will also enjoy exclusive access to wellness and recreational facilities including a magnesium pool, sauna, yoga studio, expansive fitted gymnasium, resident lounge, outdoor BBQ’s&nbsp;and indoor and outdoor dining areas, together with a dedicated concierge and luxurious hotel inspired entrance foyer.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365767]

A unique feature at Palmera Residences has been designed to enhance the Gold Coast lifestyle which includes both indoor and outdoor gymnasium facilities, together with thoughtfully designed indoor and outdoor dining and entertaining areas. A corner café has also been incorporated to provide residents with a destination for their everyday needs.&nbsp;

Kutner said buyer demand had been broad based with purchasers attracted from interstate as well as throughout South East Queensland.&nbsp;

"We're seeing strong interest from owner occupiers, lifestyle buyers and people relocating to the Gold Coast. Many purchasers have been searching for a premium beachside residence where quality, design and delivery are equally important."&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365771]

Kutner said the sales milestone was an important achievement, but the focus remained firmly on delivering an exceptional development.&nbsp;

"While reaching $400 million in sales is an important milestone, our priority remains delivering a project that exceeds purchaser expectations,” he said.&nbsp;

"Palmera Residences has been designed to become one of the Gold Coast's landmark residential addresses, and we look forward to welcoming our purchasers to their new homes."&nbsp;

There are a limited number of residences remaining in selected configurations with pricing from $2,950,000 to $8,950,000. Palmera Residences is also crowned by expansive penthouses with wrap around views.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=108274]

Construction certainty and strong buyer demand drive major sales result for luxury Gold Coast development

Palmera Residences fly out the door as sales pass $400 million

National property developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/goldfields-group">Goldfields</a> has appointed BINAH as its construction partner for Quartet, its new Brisbane apartment development in the undersupplied suburb of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/milton-qld-4064">Milton</a>.

Located just two kilometres from the Brisbane CBD and moments from key 2032 Olympic precincts, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/quartet-milton-33-manning-street-milton-qld-4064">Quartet</a> will deliver 131 one, two, three, and four-bedroom apartments priced from $1 million to $4.2 million, combining elevated design with a wellness-focused lifestyle offering.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108736 project_image_fid=368000]

Goldfields’ Chief Executive Officer, Lachlan Thompson, said the appointment of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/binah-constructions">BINAH</a> marked an important milestone for the project.&nbsp;

“Bringing BINAH on board as our construction partner will allow us to bring our vision for Quartet forward with a team that has a proven track record of delivering high-quality residential projects,” Thompson said.&nbsp;

“We’ve taken a considered approach to progressing the site because we wanted to deliver the whole package. Buyers ultimately back great developers, great projects and great builders, and with Quartet, we’ve made sure all three line up.

“People want certainty, they want to know the project will be built, that the homes will be delivered as promised, and that the developer stands behind the quality of what they create. That’s something Goldfields has built its reputation on over many years.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108736 project_image_fid=367993]

BINAH’s Managing Director, Khalil Hafza, said the company was proud to be partnering with Goldfields to deliver Quartet.&nbsp;

“Quartet is an exciting project to bring to life, particularly given the level of detail in the residences and the extensive rooftop amenity planned for the building,” Mr Hafza said.&nbsp;

“Our focus is on delivering a high-quality build that brings that design vision to life and creates homes residents will enjoy for many years.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108736 project_image_fid=367999]

The facilities at Quartet have been feared towards the roof, with a&nbsp;25 metre lap pool, spa, sauna and cold plunge, and a communal barbecue area and alfresco.

Town planning was designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> and brought to life by Melbourne-based architecture firm Cera Stribley.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/cera-stribley">Cera Stribley</a> Co-Founder and Managing Principal, Dom Cerantonio, said the project responds to both its riverside setting and Brisbane’s evolving urban character.&nbsp;

“Quartet has been designed to sit comfortably within its riverside context, offering a refined take on urban living through well-planned, generously proportioned residences that will stand the test of time,” Mr Cerantonio said.&nbsp;

“An emphasis on natural light, natural textures and carefully selected finishes from timber and marble to premium appliances, creates calm, considered interiors designed for comfort and long-term liveability.”&nbsp;

Construction of Quartet will commence in July 2026, with completion anticipated in Q4 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=108736]

Construction to commence on 131-residence tower designed around wellness-focused living

Goldfields appoints BINAH for Quartet apartments in Milton

The first partnership between national developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/fortis">Fortis</a> and Adelaide-based developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/otello">Otello</a> has made a strong start, with the pair securing $21 million in unconditional sales at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/one-four-four-hutt-adelaide-144-hutt-street-adelaide-sa-5000">One Four Four Hutt</a>&nbsp;on the edge of the Adelaide CBD.

Over a third of apartments have been snapped up in the boutique 44-apartment project on the corner of Hutt Stret and Wakefield Road. Local downsizers and owner-occupiers wanting to remain in Adelaide's tightly-held southeast quarter have been the most prominent purchasers.

The DKO-designed, mixed-use development is one of the few new apartment projects in the precinct, an area where new housing supply has remained limited despite continued demand from buyers wanting to stay close to the CBD, Victoria Park and Adelaide's established east-end amenities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151233 project_image_fid=375378]

Fortis Head of Development SA Arthur Dendrinos said the early sales reflected both the strength of the local owner-occupier market and confidence in the Hutt Street location.

"The level of early commitment reflects the confidence local buyers have in the Hutt Street precinct," Dendrinos said.

"Many purchasers are long-term east-end residents who love the area and want to stay connected to the neighbourhood. They recognise the value of a well-designed, well-located development.

"Our partnership with Otello has been central to this success, and the number of unconditional sales at this stage only strengthens our confidence in the South Australian market."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151233 project_image_fid=375379]

Otello Director Daniel Harris said the sales result also highlighted the lack of new apartment opportunities within the Hutt Street precinct.

"One Four Four Hutt has clearly resonated with buyers, with strong early sales reflecting both the appeal of the Hutt Street corridor and the lifestyle on offer," Harris said.

"The activated ground-floor retail has also been a key drawcard, with purchasers responding to the vision of a more vibrant and connected streetscape, not just the residences themselves."

One Four Four Hutt will deliver 44 one, two and three-bedroom apartments, alongside a collection of penthouses, above a ground-floor retail offering designed to further activate the Hutt Street precinct.

Construction is scheduled to commence in the third quarter of this year, with completion anticipated in 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151233]

Fortis Head of Development SA Arthur Dendrinos said the early sales reflected both the strength of the local owner-occupier market and confidence in the Hutt Street location.

Fortis makes Adelaide debut with Otello as One Four Four Hutt records strong early sales

Mortgage Brokers

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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."
 
 
 
 
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

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

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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."
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

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

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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>.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

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

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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.
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ANZ to close loophole for investment home loan switch

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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.
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Home loan mortgage bonds at slowest pace for four years

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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.”
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Mortgage aggregator Finsure debuts in BRW 2016 Fast 100

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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.”
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Aussie Home Loans partners with Virgin Money

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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.”
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Finsure reaches 1000 broker milestone

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

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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."
 
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