The evolution of a mortgage pioneer

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While it won’t make you a cappuccino, ScotPac’s Partner Portal makes helping commercial clients so fast and easy brokers will wonder how they did without it

WHEN JOHN SYMOND launched Aussie Home Loans in 1992, the company disrupted Australia’s home loan market by offering lower interest rates and challenging the banks’ dominance. Three decades later, Aussie is once again reshaping the industry – this time by expanding beyond mortgage broking into a comprehensive property ecosystem. “We’re evolving from a mortgage brokerage into a full-service property ecosystem – one that supports customers not just at the financing stage but across the entire homeownership life cycle,” says Brad Cramb, Aussie Home Loans’ chief distribution officer. What Cramb describes is the new Aussie property hub platform that integrates everything from property search to settlement and beyond, with brokers serving as the central guides through each stage of the process.

For over 30 years, Aussie Home Loans has been a trusted partner to brokers across Australia, supporting them to grow their businesses and deliver outstanding outcomes for clients. As one of the country’s leading mortgage brokerages, Aussie provides access to a panel of over 20 lenders, market-leading technology and comprehensive training and support. With a strong focus on broker success, Aussie’s national network and award-winning platform empower brokers to offer tailored home loan solutions with confidence. Whether you’re looking to scale your business or better serve your clients, Aussie stands by brokers every step of the way.

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BRAD CRAMB, AUSSIE Home Loans

“At the centre of it all is the Aussie broker,” Cramb continues. “The broker remains the key partner in the ‘find, buy, own’ journey, linking everything together – connecting customers with the appropriate products and partners so they can find the right property, secure finance and manage their homeownership long-term.” This expansion comes at a time when mortgage brokers already dominate the Australian home loan market, accounting for 76% of new residential mortgages written. Aussie property hub aims to cement that position by giving brokers the tools to engage with clients well beyond the loan transaction.

Anyone who has purchased property understands the complexity involved. The traditional process requires buyers to coordinate between multiple service providers with little connection between them. “Traditionally, the homebuying journey has been fragmented,” says Cramb. “Buyers bounce between real estate agents, brokers, conveyancers and multiple digital platforms, with little integration between them. Aussie property hub changes that by bringing everything under one roof, with the broker at the core of the experience.” The platform allows customers to discover properties (including off-market listings), engage buyers’ agents, secure home loan pre-approval, complete conveyancing and track their home equity and market trends – all through a single, connected system. This streamlined approach responds directly to changing consumer expectations in a digital world. Buyers increasingly expect the same seamless experiences they receive from technology platforms in other areas of their lives.

Aussie’s expansion into areas like conveyancing and buyer’s agent services marks a significant departure from traditional mortgage broking. However, the company frames these additions as natural extensions of its core business. “Customer expectations continue to evolve, especially in a digital-first world where people expect seamless, connected experiences across every part of their journey,” Cramb explains. “Homebuyers don’t want to deal with disconnected processes or jump between multiple service providers. Instead, they want a streamlined, intuitive path from property search to settlement.”

Perhaps the most ambitious element of the Aussie property hub is its attempt to bring real estate agents into the Aussie fold through a program called ‘Aussie for Agents’. “Aussie for Agents is designed to bridge the gap between brokers, real estate agents and customers,” says Cramb. “It gives agents access to our extensive base of high-intent buyers, while also creating a powerful referral engine for our brokers.” The program aims to position Aussie as the preferred finance partner for real estate agencies by creating a mutually beneficial referral system. Agents gain access to qualified buyers, while brokers receive leads from agents with clients needing finance. “Our vision for Aussie for Agents is to be the number one destination for agents to win and launch their next listing, whether it’s off-market, pre-market or on-market, while being the leading home loan partner for the industry,” Cramb adds. This approach acknowledges the reality that real estate agents often influence homebuyers’ choice of mortgage broker – particularly first-time buyers unfamiliar with the finance process.

“Traditionally, the homebuying journey has been fragmented. Buyers bounce between real estate agents, brokers, conveyancers and multiple digital platforms, with little integration between them”

“Homebuyers don’t want to deal with disconnected processes or jump between multiple service providers. Instead, they want a streamlined, intuitive path from property search to settlement”

Aussie Home Loans’ new property hub platform aims to consolidate the fragmented homebuying process, positioning brokers at the centre of an end-to-end homeownership experience

While it won’t make you a cappuccino, ScotPac’s Partner Portal makes helping commercial clients so fast and easy brokers will wonder how they did without it

These additional services create new revenue streams while addressing customer pain points that occur before and after the mortgage application. They also encourage longer-lasting relationships between brokers and clients. “By adapting to meet customer expectations, we’re not just making the process easier,” says Cramb. “We’re also creating deeper, longer-lasting relationships between brokers and their clients.” This approach potentially resolves one of the mortgage industry’s persistent challenges: maintaining client relationships between transactions that might occur years apart.

Services brokers can offer via Aussie property hub

Beyond real estate agencies, Aussie is establishing formalised referral partnerships through a program called ‘Aussie Local’ that connects brokers with community businesses. “Aussie Local is all about strengthening community-driven referrals. We know that 70% of broker-originated loans come from referrals and repeat business, yet most of these interactions happen offline in an inconsistent way,” says Cramb. The company is targeting businesses that naturally interact with potential homebuyers, creating structured partnerships that benefit all parties involved.

Breaking down the homebuying maze

Beyond broking to a new service suite

Connecting the property ecosystem

Published 05 May 2025

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“We’re partnering with businesses that naturally intersect with homebuyers – real estate agents, home builders, financial planners and even local businesses like accountants,” Cramb explains. “And at the centre of these partnerships is the broker, who serves as the trusted financial expert guiding customers through the homebuying process.” These partnerships aim to create a steady flow of qualified leads while expanding the broker’s community presence beyond the traditional loan transaction.

For mortgage brokers themselves, Aussie property hub represents both opportunities and challenges. The platform demands brokers expand their expertise beyond finance into broader property knowledge. “The role of the broker is evolving. It’s no longer just about securing a home loan; it’s about being a trusted adviser across the full homeownership experience,” says Cramb. He sees this as a natural progression that positions brokers for long-term success in an increasingly competitive market. “Brokers who embrace this shift will see stronger client relationships, greater business growth and a future-proofed model that extends well beyond traditional broking,” Cramb continues. “The future isn’t just about writing loans – it’s about being the go-to property expert in your community, and Aussie is making that vision a reality for our brokers.” For Aussie Home Loans, the strategy represents a calculated bet that integration – rather than specialisation – represents the future of mortgage broking. By positioning its brokers at the centre of the property journey and equipping them with a comprehensive service suite, Aussie aims to reinforce their place in the value chain against potential digital disruptors. Whether Aussie property hub succeeds will depend on both broker adoption and consumer acceptance. But the initiative represents a significant reimagining of what mortgage broking can be – moving from transaction facilitation to comprehensive property guidance.

The end-to-end property journey seamlessly integrated

Source: Aussie Home Loans

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Authors

E-newsletter

Australian Broker Talk

Events

White papers

Webinar

Australian Broker Talk

Resources

Sector Focus

Power Panel

Independent Feature

Executive Team Profile

Exclusive Leader Profile

Business Update

Business Focus

Big Deal

Premium Content

Technology

Reverse Mortgages

Investment Loans

Specialist Lending

SME

Commercial

Specialty

Best In Mortgage

News

RSS

Sitemap

About us

Conditions of Use

Terms & conditions

People

Firms

Advertising

Authors

E-newsletter

Australian Broker Talk

Events

White papers

Webinar

Australian Broker Talk

Resources

Sector Focus

Power Panel

Independent Feature

Executive Team Profile

Exclusive Leader Profile

Business Update

Business Focus

Big Deal

Premium Content

Technology

Reverse Mortgages

Investment Loans

Specialist Lending

SME

Commercial

Specialty

Best In Mortgage

News

RSS

Sitemap

About us

Conditions of Use

Terms & conditions

People

Firms

IN Partnership with

Buyer's agent guidance

Finance arrangements

Conveyancing coordination

Settlement management

Ongoing property ownership support

Source: Aussie Home Loans

Building local referral networks

BRAD CRAMB, AUSSIE Home Loans