In an age where more and more people in Australia have complex financial situations, a one-size-fits all approach to lending is truly outdated⌛️ Tonight's ABC News reported on MFAA (peak body Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia) data finding 73.7 per cent of all new homes were written by mortgage brokers – up from 55 per cent in 2019.
A bank or lender offers a price, a policy and maybe a handful of different products. At Chatham House, we work across a breadth of more than 30 trusted lenders, each with multiple products and bespoke offerings.
And – as MFAA CEO Anja Pannek explains – we don't just get customers finance. We listen to what the customer needs, offer a simple explanation on how everything works and align this to a lender that will meet their requirements. This is an attempt to educate and equip customers with the financial literacy to understand the complex climate and make good decisions for themselves.
And aside from caring and wanting to help people get on in life, we have a vested interest in a solution being the right fit for a client. If they refinance or sell the security used for the loan in the two years that follow settlement, the lender can clawback commission from brokers. Thus, ensuring we have aligned their best interests when recommending a product with a lender who is at the forefront of this industry.
There's no doubt that using a broker is a better option for those who desire choice – whether straight-forward or complex, employed, self-employed, married, single, with SMSFs, investment properties, commercial equipment and business assets, or not.
The interest rate hikes over the last couple of years have left the consumer with little choice but to look for a better deal on loans as a solution to crippling repayments.
We are policy driven, which means it's not about the cheapest loan. It's about the holistic loan scenario that best works for the customer in the now and the future, knowing it will serve them, their families and their businesses in the best way to set up for success and get on with life.
Vice President, Marketing Manager at Brookline Bank
5moWelcome to the bank Geanie!