In this post, we’ll compare the 10 best mortgage brokers that Melbourne has to offer. Purchasing a house is a monumental step in anyone’s life, more so if it’s your first home.
The real estate sector has its own unspoken rules and practices. This means that first-time buyers seeking to find a new home may find it extremely difficult to wade in those waters.
Why You Should Hire a Mortgage Broker
Whether for aspiring home owners or property investors, finding a home is merely one step towards owning it. The real hustle starts when you need to find a lender to finance your purchase. That is where mortgage brokers come in. A good mortgage broker will do the heavy lifting for you, guiding you through every step of the way to make sure that you find the right home loan with the best interest rates and a hassle-free mortgage process.
Expert mortgage brokers do the leg work for you while providing you insight into the best home loan products and best home loan rates. They can also help you understand the entire process of getting commercial or residential loans, allowing you to freely experience the magic of owning an investment property or a new home and find competitive rates.
If you’re reading this post, then you’ve probably chosen the great city of Melbourne for your real estate investment. You’ve chosen wisely for Melbourne is, in many ways, one of the best cities, not only in Victoria but in entire Australia!
We used these factors to rank the best Melbourne mortgage brokers:
- Number of Years in Business — More years in business typically indicate reliability, experience, and trustworthiness. It suggests the broker has a proven track record of handling various mortgage situations, which builds credibility with potential clients.
- Average Customer Review Ratings — Higher ratings generally reflect positive customer experiences and satisfaction. Positive feedback builds trust and encourages new clients.
- Number of Online Reviews — A higher number of reviews can signify popularity and trust within the community. It also indicates that the broker has successfully handled many clients, contributing to their reputation and overall visibility.
- Team Track Record — The experience and history of the broker’s team matter because experienced brokers are better equipped to handle complex financial situations. A strong team track record demonstrates expertise, which can improve clients’ confidence in the service provided.
- Loan Application Approval Rate — Higher approval rate suggests that the broker is effective at matching clients with suitable lenders and managing the application process efficiently. It also indicates the broker’s capability to navigate the complexities of the approval process.
Of all the mortgage brokers we reviewed, these are the top five options (we’ll dive deeper into each one plus five more options later on in this article).
Mortgage Broker | Specialties | Key Features | Customer Reviews |
---|---|---|---|
Clark Finance Group | First home buyers, new home loans, investment loans, refinancing | Accredited by 30+ lenders, 600+ loan products, certified by MFAA & AFCA | High praise for stellar service and team support |
Blutin Finance | First-time home buyers, refinancing, investment loans | Focus on customer service, free online calculators for repayments & borrowing capacity | Excellent reviews for clear explanations, responsive and knowledgeable service |
Bspoke Finance | Home loans, asset finance, commercial lending, debt consolidation | 20+ lenders on panel, assists sole traders, and clients with blemished credit history | Positive feedback on personalised service and thorough advice |
Reventon | Property investment loans, financial services | Offers mortgage, finance, property investment, tax & accounting services under one roof | Praise for stress-free, educational experience with expert advice |
Inovayt Finance | First home buyers, refinancing, property investment loans | Award-winning, climate-positive business, focuses on long-term relationships with clients | Highly rated for excellent communication and walking clients through processes |
Keep reading below to get more information on the top mortgage brokers above and more. Let’s dive in!
1. Clark Finance Group
Strengths: Strong connections with over 30 lenders, certification by MFAA and AFCA, and exceptional customer service.
ABN: 53 179 089 330
Clark Finance Group has built a reputation for going above and beyond best market practices, to ensure that their customers get only the best mortgage services. While financial institutions are known to be steeped in unnecessary tradition and bureaucracy, the Clark Finance Group prides itself on simplicity and clarity.
In the years that this group has been in operation, it has built connections with all major Australian banks. Moreover, beyond being accredited by more than 30 lending institutions, the group is also certified by the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia and the Australian Financial Complaints Authority. This is important to note because a good mortgage broker should be certified- as a bare minimum.
A great mortgage broker understands that each client has a unique financial situation. In recognition of this, Clark’s services are truly diverse, as it offers more than 600 different loan products! For simplicity’s sake though, some of Clark’s specialty services include first home buyer loans, new home loans, investment loans, and mortgage refinancing services.
For benchmarking purposes, Clark Finance Group ranks among the best 35 local mortgage brokers in Melbourne CBD according to Yellow Pages.
Client Reviews
“Just settled on our first home. Vaughan and Tabatha were super helpful and patient throughout the process and secured us a great loan. Couldn’t have asked for a better team.” — Francisco
“Amazing experience from Vaughan, Tabitha, Jaquie and the team. Could not recommend them more highly. Absolute pleasure to deal with, nothing was too much trouble.” — Jay Mc
Address: Level 1, 85-87 Grimshaw Street Greensborough 3088
Phone Number: 1300 366 670
Website: clarkfinancegroup.com.au
2. Blutin Finance
Strengths: A focus on long-term client relationships, helpful borrowing calculators, and expertise in first-time homebuyers and refinancing.
Blutin Finance is an independent boutique mortgage broker committed to helping their clients find suitable loans for homes & investment properties. The head finance broker, Nojan Rahimi has been providing financial services to clients for over 8 years.
As the Director of Blutin Finance, Nojan’s vision is to build the most trusted financial company in Australia. He focuses on building long-term relationships with clients which are evidenced in his 5 stars Google reviews.
Blutin Finance takes pride in its high level of customer service. They take the time to understand your financing needs and make sure you can review the best options unique to your situation – whether that be refinancing a current mortgage, getting a loan for the second or nth time, or seeking a new one for the first time.
Their website also has a range of calculators to help customers figure out their repayments & borrowing capacity.
Visit their website to learn more.
Client Reviews
“Nojan helped me purchase my first home. He was fantastic! Talked me through everything and answered all my (stupid) questions, explaining everything clearly and making me feel very comfortable. Would highly recommend working with Nojan.” — C T
“Nojan helped my partner and I with the purchase of our first house. We bought off the plan so for 2.5 years during the build and throughout settlement, he was quick to answer any questions we had and was incredibly helpful in getting everything organised. He clearly explained everything and made the whole process really easy. We greatly appreciate all the work he did for us to get this over the line.” — Lauren Lee
Address: 14/330 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Phone Number: 0435 916 755
Website: blutin.com.au
3. Bspoke Finance
Strengths: Tailored financial solutions, expertise in diverse services, and excellent communication support, even outside working hours.
Financial decisions are difficult to make at the best of times. These decisions are made even harder when you don’t know where to start.
bspoke finance listens to understand your individual situation, so they can provide solutions and options tailored to you. They will educate, guide, and support you to make the best financial decisions, not just today, but with your future financial goals in mind.
Specialising in not just home loans, but also asset finance, commercial lending, and consolidation of any number of debts, bspoke finance believes there’s a solution for everyone.
The team has a wide range of lending experience from your traditional PAYG individuals to sole traders, company and trust entities, blemished credit history and even recently discharged bankrupts – bspoke finance are able to assist where other brokers may not be able to.
With over 20+ lenders on their panel, strong relationships with valued partners, and a great understanding of the full lifecycle of the lending process, bspoke finance would love the opportunity to assist you with your financial needs.
Client Reviews
“Ryan was friendly, professional, and so patient when answering our millions of questions. He took the time to explain all of our options in detail, and always ensured we understood everything. We highly recommend working with Ryan!” — Francesca Tichon
“Ryan was amazing in assisting my partner and I with finance for our first home. He was patient, attentive and incredibly informative. Ryan regularly checked in and made time to speak to us on Friday evenings and Sunday mornings. I couldn’t recommend bspoke finance highly enough for anyone’s mortgage needs and have already referred Ryan to other would be first home buyers.” — Brad Kenny
Phone Number: 1300 386 630
Website: www.bspokefinance.com.au
Email: info@bspokefinance.com.au
4. Reventon
Strengths: Has helped over 3,000 clients, and offering customised solutions for unique financial needs.
Reventon helps to create and grow real estate wealth. Simple.
Since 2005, the company has helped over 3,000 Australians achieve their financial goals. Whether you’re a first-time investor or have an established property portfolio, the award-winning team of financial experts has the experience to support you every step of the way.
The Reventon team understands that everyone’s needs and circumstances around mortgage and finance are unique. Not only can they provide customised solutions but with all mortgage, finance, property investment, tax, accounting related services under one roof, it means you don’t have to deal with multiple companies to reach your end goal.
Client Reviews
“I can’t recommend Marcus and the Reventon team enough. Having bought my first property with them, my experience was stress free, educational and exciting. I really felt like I was in safe hands. I consider myself lucky to have had the opportunity to work with people who are not only experts in the industry, but an absolute pleasure to deal with.” — Tanya
Address: Level 9, 420 St Kilda Road, Melbourne
Phone: 1300 039 376
Website: reventon.com.au
5. Inovayt Finance
Strengths: Award-winning industry recognition, commitment to climate-positive practices, and strong, transparent client relationships.
Founded in 2007 by Nick Reilly and Renee Kiley, Inovayt has grown from a mortgage broking business to one of Australia’s most reputable independently owned financial services companies. This award-winning mortgage broker and financial advisor business was named in The Advisor’s Top 25 Broker Awards for two years running and has seen success in the AFG Excellence Awards, The Advisor Better Business Awards and The Advisor Australian Broking Awards.
Inovayt has partnered with the Live for Lily Foundation and donates a portion of every submitted loan application to this cause. They are also a climate-positive business and have partnerships with Trace and Carbon Landscapes. Whether you’re a first home buyer, buying your next home, property investment, refinance home loan or paying your loan off sooner, Inovayt make it simple – online, phone or in person.
This team of mortgage broker Melbourne and mortgage broker Geelong experts are focused on you, Inovayt builds relationships that last beyond the transaction. They act with honesty, integrity and transparency to uphold a standard that far exceeds customer expectations.
On top of mortgage broking, the company also has financial advisor Melbourne team can assist clients with all things pertaining to superannuation funds, money management, retirement planning, estate planning, investment advice, and more.
If you’re looking for expert advice (with a personalised touch!), call 1300 354 355 today.
Client Reviews
“Highly recommend!! Jason was fantastic, great communication and walked us through every step allowing us to fully understand the process. Much appreciated, we will definitely be using the services again!!” — Melanie
Address: 201/55 Walsh St, West Melbourne VIC 3003, Australia
Phone Number: 1300 354 355
Website: inovayt.com.au
6. Steve Keramidas – Mortgage Compare Plus
Strengths: Transparent service focused on client interests, FBAA accreditation, and being featured in The Australian Business Journal.
Founded in 2016 by Steve Keramidas, Mortgage Compare Plus is on a mission to make homeownership affordable and accessible to the everyday Australian.
Steve established Mortgage Compare Plus following an accomplished 5-year career at the NAB as a Bank Manager. During that time, he recognised the need for greater service transparency while providing the benefits of experienced and accredited mortgage brokers.
The Best Interests Duty, a law that came into effect on January 1st, 2021, legally obliges brokers to act in the best interests of their clients. This, combined with the National Consumer Credit Protection Act, effectively regulates the conduct of brokers. Mortgage Compare Plus is 100% compliant and they prioritise their clients’ interests every step of the way.
Steve is an FBAA accredited member and credit advisor which provides clients with the best possible recommendation from all the lenders on his panel. Unlike banks that recommend their own products even if there are better alternatives elsewhere, Steve acts in your best interests. Mortgage Compare Plus doesn’t sell products, they sell expert guidance and advice.
The team’s experienced mortgage brokers are very proud and excited to see Mortgage Compare Plus being featured in The Australian Business Journal as one of the top 20 leading mortgage brokers in Australia.
Steve’s most recent professional education includes:
- Diploma of Finance and Mortgage Broking Management
- Certificate IV in Finance and Mortgage Broking
- Diploma of Financial Services
- Advanced Diploma of Management
Want expert and honest advice? Contact Steve today on 0412 110 118
Address: G06/2 Winterton Road Clayton Victoria 3168
Phone Number: 0412 110 118
Web Site: www.mortgagecompareplus.com.au
7. Home Loan Advisory Service
Strengths: Free consultations, a strict internal code of conduct, and managing paperwork and loan monitoring at no extra charge.
Home Loan Advisory Service has helped people in Melbourne, find homes for more than 20 years. At the core of their practice are five pillars.
Firstly, Home Loan Advisory Service offers free and tailor-made information, suited to your particular needs. Furthermore, above and beyond government-imposed rules, this brokerage operates on its own strict code of conduct, geared towards ensuring that the customers’ interests come first.
Moreover, they listen. Home Loan Advisory Service understands how stressful and frustrating home purchasing can be. They pride themselves in walking with you to the very end.
Further still, they handle your paperwork and monitor your loan application free of charge! Lastly, Home Loan Advisory Services understands the sensitivity of the information you disclose to them. Where many brokerages overlook the assurance of privacy, Home Loan Advisory Service is in full compliance with the Privacy Act.
Address: LVL 3.03, 448 St. Kilda Road Melbourne VIC 3004
Phone Number: (03) 9866 4433
Website: homeloanadvice.com.au
8. What If We Finance Mortgage Broker
Strengths: 20+ years of experience, free consultations available 7 days a week, and a stellar reputation with 5-star reviews across platforms.
As you can probably tell from the name, this mortgage broker really understands the homeowner’s mindset. Having been in practice for more than 20 years, What If We Finance has really honed its skills of finding the best deals for you. Whether you’re looking to buy a home, invest in commercial property or to refinance a mortgage, you will not go wrong with this mortgage broker.
In highlighting this brokerages customer-centred nature, one added perk that makes this mortgage broker stand out is the fact that they don’t charge you for any of their consultation services! What’s more, they operate 7 days a week, meaning that they are available whenever you are.
What If We Finance’s popularity is evident through the overwhelmingly good reviews it has received online. The website productreview.com gives them a perfect score (5 stars). A quick analysis of the reviews shows that What If We Finance’s popularity mainly stems from their ability to understand individual client needs, their proactivity and their professionalism.
On a similar note, the website Word of Mouth, another product review site gives this brokerage 5 stars out of more than 90 reviews! With this much positive feedback, more likely than not, you will find this brokerage suitable for you!
Address: Tower 4, Level 17, 727 Collins Street Docklands, VIC 3008
Phone Number: (03) 8804 1354
Website: melbournemortgage.com.au
9. Mortgage Broker Melbourne
Strengths: Extensive agent experience, and accreditation by the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia.
There’s something reassuring about a financial services firm that specialises in one service only. The saying- jack of all trades but a master of none, could quite easily apply to the mortgage scene. The folks at Mortgage Broker Melbourne do one thing only, home loans- and they do it well.
Putting all their resources to serve one financial service has allowed this brokerage to cover virtually all of Melbourne. Whether you’re looking for an agent in the CBD or the inner suburbs, the North, South, East or West sides, they have employees ready to help you. It also goes without saying that this brokerage has been accredited by the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia and has more than twenty years of experience in giving credit advice.
On the same thread, what really makes Mortgage Broker Melbourne stand out is the depth of experience in all its agents. Most of them have more than ten years of experience in the lending industry and the local property market!
Address: 9/440 Collins Street Melbourne VIC 3000
Phone Number: (03) 9755 3690
Website: mortgagebrokermelbourne.net.au
10. Freedom Lend
Strengths: Focus on non-bank products, fully online service for convenience, and flexible communication options.
ABN: 49 614 894 503
At the risk of sounding cliché, there is something liberating about this mortgage broker’s name. Indeed, a great mortgage finance broker should free you from the encumbrances that come with seeking financial services, for the purchase of your new home. Established in 2014, Freedom Lend is relatively new in the mortgage financial services scene- and all for the better!
In a sector known for being aloof to changing times, Freedom Lend is a breath of fresh air. First things first, this mortgage broker focuses in non-bank products. This particular quality carries a lot of advantages.
In the wake of the 2008 worldwide housing sector scare, many banks have made it harder to access mortgage options. Because non-bank lenders don’t share the same model as banks, you might find it easier to meet a non-bank lender’s requirements. Moreover, there is the added advantage of lower down payments.
In terms of flexibility, institutions such as Freedom Lend are less rigid than their more formal counterparts. This means that they specialise in tailor-made solutions.
Many financial institutions pride themselves on being constant- never changing. Although this quality ensures dependability, it is sometimes counterproductive. Freedom Lend is different.
Freedom Lend prides itself on being fully online. One can access this mortgage broker’s services at any time, anywhere. By sticking to the web, Freedom Lend also ensures lower commissions which translate a lower interest rate.
Keeping things online does not detract from Freedom Lend’s customer service score either. The service offers Skype calls and physical meetings if need be. To this end, one customer notes that Freedom Lend was particularly friendly and responsive when he was buying his first home in Ringwood.
Address: 480 Collins Street, Unit 231-Melbourne Victoria 3000
Phone Number: 1300 665 595
Website: freedomlend.com.au
How to Choose the Perfect Broker
We’ve given you a list of some great brokers to consider when investing in real estate, in Melbourne. You may however still be wondering how to pinpoint the perfect broker for you. This section should help with that.
1) Has Client Empathy
Firstly, a good broker should be eager to know you. This shows empathy and care towards clients— not just a desire to get another sale. In as much as we rarely like disclosing information, entrusting a middle man to conduct your business means that they should know as much relevant information about you, as possible.
2) Asks the Right Questions
A good indicator that you have a great broker, is if they ask you many pertinent questions. This is an indication that the broker will most likely find the right loan for your context. This quality is in stark contrast to the broker who simply narrates numerous rates to you.
3) Trustworthy
Next, trust cannot be overstated when it comes to broker selection. A good broker should be one that is trustworthy. After all, you will be entrusting them with a great responsibility as well as a lot of sensitive information.
An indicator of a broker’s trustworthiness is how forthright they are. Do they go out of their way to provide advice? Do they seem genuinely interested in your investment? Do they willingly give you quality information?
When looking for brokers, we often rely on relatives and close friends for points of reference. This is understandable, as they are the ones we trust most. Be that as it may, it is still very important to vet every mortgage broker personally so as to confirm their credibility.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How much does a mortgage broker charge in Melbourne?
Normally, brokers in Australia are paid commissions by lenders, which can vary by lender. The most common commission is a one-time upfront commission of 0.65%–0.70% plus GST, paid around 30 days after settlement.
In certain cases, mortgage brokers also receive a trail commission. This is a small monthly payment that increases slowly over the first five years. The trail commission is usually around 0.15% of the loan balance.
How long until a mortgage broker gets me an approved loan?
A mortgage broker can usually get a mortgage approved in 2 to 4 weeks. Normally, working without a broker can take you around 6 to 8 weeks. The entire mortgage process can take 30–60 days from application to closing, depending on the level of skill and network of your mortgage broker of choice.
Do I need to work with a mortgage broker to get a home loan?
Not necessarily. You can always go directly to any lender for a loan. However, there might be some lenders that will only work through mortgage brokers. So if the lender you prefer is among those, you’ll need to use a mortgage broker.
Conclusion
Purchasing your first home or dream home in Melbourne could be the best decision you’ll make. For you to get the most out of this incredible experience though, you have to select the right people to guide you through your options. With the list above and the tips given, you will not go wrong and take this huge step!
Want to build instead? Check out our list of the best custom home builders in Melbourne.
2 Comments
Thank you so much, I was able to get a good mortgage broker after reading your article and I’m now happily living in my home. Thanks so much
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