Brokers Settle Record 81.6% of Home Loans as Complexity Soars
Mortgage brokers now settle more than 4 in 5 new Australian home loans as elevated rates and economic uncertainty send more borrowers to the advice channel.
If you are shopping for a home loan right now, chances are a mortgage broker is already involved somewhere in the process. Data from the Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia (MFAA) shows that brokers settled a record 81.6 per cent of new residential home loans in the most recent quarter — meaning fewer than one in five new mortgages are now written without a broker's involvement.
That milestone reflects a shift that has been building for years, but has accelerated sharply as conditions in the mortgage market have grown more demanding.
Why more Australians are choosing brokers
Australian Broker reports that interest rates remain elevated, with the prospect of further rate rises on the horizon. At the same time, persistent inflation and rising living costs are squeezing household budgets, while a nationwide housing shortage, government budget measures, and ongoing global uncertainty are adding further layers of complexity to every lending decision.
It is precisely this kind of environment that tends to drive borrowers toward professional advice. When loan products, lender policies, and borrowing capacity are all shifting at once, matching a borrower with the right structure and the right lender takes more than a quick internet search.
Sydney finance broker Kimberly Linder, speaking to Australian Broker, put it directly: "Volatility is when the value of a good broker really becomes obvious. When everything is easy, almost anyone can get a deal done. When things become more complicated, that's when experience, relationships and the ability to think outside the box really matter."
Linder's approach is deliberately personalised. Rather than treating every application identically, she focuses on understanding the client's full picture — where they are now, where they want to be, and what might be possible in the future. "Sometimes the solution isn't the most obvious one," she said, adding that she stays actively involved throughout the full lending process rather than stepping back after lodgement.
Her advice to borrowers in a volatile market: focus on what you can actually control. That means understanding what you can afford, what your borrowing capacity looks like, and whether you would still be comfortable if conditions did not go to plan. "Nobody really knows where interest rates or property prices are going to be," she said. "Don't try to perfectly time the market."
What investors need to weigh up right now
For property investors, the current environment is creating its own specific pressures. Linder noted that her investor client base has been rethinking strategy in the wake of recent changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax. Rather than selling in a softening market, many investor clients are choosing to hold — a deliberate, long-term posture rather than a reactive one.
"The recent changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax have definitely made investors rethink their long-term strategy," she said. "A lot of our investors are taking a very long-term view and are questioning whether there is any real benefit in selling existing investments."
Linder also identified a growing trend toward reviewing and restructuring existing debt. While investment loans and construction loans remain the largest part of her business, she is seeing more clients return to look at their current positions. With borrowing capacity under pressure, the question is no longer just "what rate can I get?" but "does my loan structure still make sense?"
If you are an investor wondering whether your current lending arrangement is still optimal, compare investor home loan options or use the repayment calculator to model whether a restructure could improve your cash flow.
Choosing a broker in a complex market
Record market share does not automatically mean every borrower's experience will be equally positive. The brokers who add real value in conditions like these are the ones who stay across changing lender credit policies and servicing models — not those who rely on what worked six or twelve months ago.
Bidhan Pandey, founder of Wise Choice Mortgage & Finance and a 2025 Australian Broker 5-Star Broker, described one of the most defining moments of his career: a client at risk of losing a $90,000 deposit because they could not secure finance within the required timeframe. "By understanding their circumstances, exploring different lenders and restructuring the application, we secured the finance and saved their deposit," Pandey told Australian Broker. "It reinforced for me that being a broker is about much more than finding a good interest rate."
Pandey also pointed to a structural tension that affects borrowers directly: some lenders compete against their own broker channel through branches and direct channels, creating inconsistency in pricing and policy that borrowers may not immediately see. Understanding which lenders are genuinely broker-friendly — and which ones offer different terms through different channels — is part of what an experienced broker brings to the table.
Whether you are a first home buyer trying to navigate a complex market or an existing homeowner looking to refinance, working with a broker who understands lender policy in depth can make a meaningful difference. Find affordable home loan options or compare refinancing options to see where the market currently stands.