“Bridging finance can be structured alongside a standard home loan across a variety of financing arrangements”

Luke Patterson, Koalify

“We’re seeing different ownership structures and intergenerational structures. Bridging is now able to assist in supporting a lot of those solutions that it didn’t use to be able to”

Haydn Marshall, Lend Perspective

“We’ve had buy/sell situations where people have used the bridge because they wouldn’t meet traditional lending criteria for end-debt scenarios”

Mat Patterson, Aussie Erina

“Unlike any other institution, [Bridgit] can go up to higher LVRs with a signed contract to sell, and it means other banks are discounting it so you can borrow essentially more money”

Nick Jacobs, MortgageWorks

In Partnership with

Bridging finance reshapes how Australians buy property

As banks grow more demanding, a new generation of brokers is discovering that bridging finance is less a last resort and more a first-mover advantage for clients ready to act

Read on

Stephen Doyle

Bridgit

Tom Hawley

Azura Financial

Nick Jacobs

MortgageWorks

Haydn Marshall

Lend Perspective

Industry experts

EVERY MORTGAGE BROKER knows ‘the pause’. The pause doesn’t show up on the fact-find. It arrives later, when a client has found the place they want next, the offer window is tight, and their current home is still on the market. The numbers work. The will is there. But the timing doesn’t quite cooperate. For a long time, that pause meant one instruction for brokers and clients alike: bide your time until the existing property’s sale catches up with the new purchase. Today, more of those conversations are turning in a different direction as brokers reach for a tool that lets clients step forward without having to step back first. Bridging finance, once treated as a last-ditch option with punishing costs, is now sitting much closer to the centre of the toolkit for brokers who work with equity-rich clients under time pressure. Specialist lenders and brokers are reshaping when and why bridging is used, the range of problems it can quietly solve, and why education is becoming as important as product design in bringing reluctant clients on board. Recently, Australian Broker met with Stephen Doyle, chief commercial officer at bridging finance non-bank Bridgit, alongside a group of top mortgage brokers. Over lunch at Cafe Sydney restaurant, they explored how bridging finance is shifting from niche product to everyday tool in broker conversations, the range of timing and equity challenges it can address, the misconceptions that still hold some clients back, and the practical ways brokers are reframing the product early in the process by using real examples to explain how its costs compare with the cost of missing the right opportunity.

From last resort to first call Ask any broker who has been in the industry for more than a decade about bridging finance and they will likely tell you the same thing: it used to carry a whiff of the desperate. High rates, opaque terms, lenders of questionable reputation. That perception lingers even as the reality has shifted considerably. Doyle said the product has matured across the board: “Bridging has evolved, especially over the last four years since Bridgit has come to market, and what we’re finding is that there is a full range of solutions for different clients in different areas of the market.”

Luke Patterson, co-founder and senior mortgage broker at Koalify, put it plainly. Bridging, he said, is something both clients and brokers have been trained to think of too narrowly. “Bridging finance can be structured alongside a standard home loan across a variety of financing arrangements,” he said. “While the name speaks to its core function, the product’s applications are far broader; it’s a flexible solution designed to help clients achieve their goals, well beyond the traditional buy-and-sell scenario.” Mat Patterson, founder and mortgage broker at Aussie Erina, has seen this play out in practice with clients who wouldn’t have had a viable path forward under conventional lending.

That evolution has been driven in part by demand and in part by a banking sector that has made traditional lending increasingly cumbersome. Tom Hawley, co-founder and director at Azura Financial, said the comparison with standard bank processes has become starker as the years go on. “Bank applications have become onerous and slow and quite invasive,” said Hawley. “Even if it’s not necessarily as competitive in some instances, people will still take that certainty because of the speed and the simplicity of the product.” Speed and simplicity are not trivial considerations when property markets can move substantially between the time a client identifies a purchase and the time they complete one. Not just buy and sell One of the more persistent misconceptions around bridging finance is that it exists solely to help people buy a new home before selling an old one. That picture is incomplete, and the brokers working most actively in this space are keen to correct it. Nick Jacobs, co-founder and director at MortgageWorks, described the way the product’s scope is frequently misread. “A lot of people think it’s like buy a new property to sell an old property, but with the single security bridge, I think that’s what’s the most powerful for me, because it’s a not a function of buying and selling – it’s bridging the loan to renovate the property, to sell the property and have no residual liability,” said Jacobs. “So there’s multiple different interpretations of bridging finance. I think that’s what a lot of brokers need to understand, because it’s not the standard bridging option; there are multiple options that you can tackle with Bridgit essentially.”

Luke Patterson pointed to a case involving an off-the-plan purchase that illustrates how bridging can solve timing problems conventional lenders simply cannot accommodate. “One early case that stands out involved a client who had purchased off the plan but was unable to secure funding through a traditional lender. Bridgit stepped in with a single security bridging loan to fund the settlement,” he said. “The client ultimately on-sold the property within the 12-month term – a great example of bridging finance providing a pathway where conventional lending simply couldn’t.” Mat Patterson described a case involving a substantial tax obligation that most lenders wouldn’t have touched. “We had one [with] significant tax debt and ATO arrears. We got the single security bridge, which got them out of that problem,” he said. “And there was enough equity at the end of it, so they could just go and buy another owner-occupied. In terms of purpose, it was pure solution.”

Haydn Marshall, principal at Lend Perspective, pointed to clients who have used bridging to navigate the timing gap between accessing their property equity and accessing their superannuation. “We’ve seen clients where they haven’t been able to tap into options such as their superannuation due to age restrictions. Being able to access the equity in their property and then utilise their super in line with their advisers once they moved over that age bracket has given them the ability to secure properties faster,” said Marshall. “It’s really around managing their personal time frames and access to their funds.” Jacobs highlighted an application that catches many brokers off guard: the closed bridge, which allows higher loan-to-value ratios when a sale contract is already in place. “Unlike any other institution, [Bridgit] can go up to higher LVRs with a signed contract to sell, and it means other banks are discounting it so you can borrow essentially more money,” said Jacobs. “It’s fair, because if you have an executed contract, the outcome is about as close to fixed as possible.” Doyle added one more scenario that speaks to the personal dimensions of what bridging can resolve: “when people are going through a divorce – unlocking part of the equity for one party to go and purchase and move on to their next step”. “It all circles back to all of these scenarios,” said Doyle. “They all have solutions. That’s what’s really important. When you think of bridging, you think of a solution.”

Who is it actually for? The old image of the bridging finance borrower was fairly specific: older, property-rich, equity-heavy, looking to downsize. That picture has expanded considerably, and the brokers closest to the market are seeing it across every client profile. Jacobs pointed to a structural mismatch in how the lending industry assesses creditworthiness, one that bridging products are well placed to address. “Retail lending is all skewed towards an income position, but there are a lot of people out there who have a lot more assets that equate to a lot more income, even if they were to work their whole entire life, and they’re treated differently,” said Jacobs. “People who are asset-rich have access to products which can help them move forward.”

Doyle framed this as a defining characteristic of the Australian borrower base. “If we look at Australians as a whole, individuals are asset-rich, cash-poor,” he said. “So what’s the solution to unlock their wealth for them to be able to use their cash for a purpose that they want to do? There’s nothing discriminatory against the age of the buyer. It’s anyone who’s asset-rich that they can use.” Marshall added that bridging has opened up possibilities for multigenerational families and older borrowers who simply need more flexibility than the standard loan structure can provide. “We’re seeing different ownership structures and intergenerational structures. Bridging is now able to assist in supporting a lot of those solutions that it didn’t use to be able to,” he said. Hawley noted that the product’s real power lies in what it allows clients to do in a fast-moving market – something that income-based lending simply cannot replicate. “The equity position really just gives them the confidence to move at the speed they need to,” he explained. “You set it up as the option so they can have the confidence to make those offers effectively as a cash buyer. Once you’ve got everything lined up, you can offer without conditions. You can compete in a market that’s changing much more rapidly, and you won’t need to be exposed to the price shifts that we’re seeing.”

Dispelling the myths Despite the product’s maturation, misconceptions persist. The most common is cost – that bridging is prohibitively expensive and therefore only worth considering when there is no other way. Doyle said that framing misses the point entirely: “The major misconception out there is that it’s stressful, that you only use bridging as a last resort if you’re desperate at the last minute. There’s a misconception that it’s extremely expensive, that you’re looking at double-digit interest rates and you wouldn’t do it in a million years. Those myths have been dispelled over the last five years, and it’s very cost-effective. You actually look at bridging as a solution at the beginning of the process, rather than at the end.” Marshall argued that framing the conversation around cost alone is misleading, because the true comparison is not the interest rate against zero; it’s the rate against the cost of not acting. “Yes, there is a cost with bridging, but the cost of not taking the bridging can be far more significant,” said Marshall. “Not having the ability to transact, not being confident of where you’re going to be living with your family, having to move twice – there are a lot of expenses. Potentially, if you’re looking to renovate before you sell to get a higher sale price, bridging can assist with all those options. Compare those options to a short-term facility; you’re likely not going to be that disadvantaged by taking this to maintain that optionality.” Mat Patterson added that the ability to capitalise repayments changes the cash flow equation in ways that are underappreciated.

“The opportunity cost through being able to park your existing repayments and put that money towards something else – while you might have a 12-month plan or an extended period – means you can capitalise repayments. The equity still grows over the course of that time, so your position in equity probably doesn’t change over a medium term,” he said. “But in the meantime, you’ve now got all this cash available that would otherwise go towards the home loan, that you can redirect to other purposes.”

Jacobs was blunt about the competitive edge that speed creates, and why clients who understand this will be willing to pay for the certainty. “Time kills deals,” he said. “If you have a competitive advantage when you can execute at speed, you can acquire an asset or property for cheaper. Yes, it might be more costly from an interest rate perspective, but you can get hit in intangible ways which are hard to quantify. Overall, having the ability to act quickly has a lot of value.”

Bridgit is a tech-driven, non-bank lender revolutionising property lending via bridging loans with its simple online loan application, instant scenario workshopping, same-day approvals and no monthly repayments. It empowers Australian property owners to unlock their property equity. In doing so, brokers can act fast and help their borrowers avoid missing out on opportunities to purchase their next property. Bridgit is designed ‘tech first’ to offer a better way of lending. With same-day approval, its technology helps Australians take the next step in their lives rather than putting them on hold while waiting for traditional, slow finance processes.

Find out more

Stephen Doyle is chief commercial officer at Bridgit, leading distribution and broker partnerships for the non-bank lender’s innovative bridging solutions. With more than 25 years’ experience in financial services, he has held senior roles across lending and third party distribution. At Bridgit, Doyle focuses on simplifying bridging finance for brokers and their clients, championing faster, more flexible digital lending experiences that help customers buy before they sell.

Bridgit

Stephen Doyle

Tom Hawley is co‑founder and director of Azura Financial, one of Australia’s top‑ranked brokerages. Beginning his career in stockbroking and funds management, he moved into mortgage broking to deliver more direct client impact. Hawley combines deep market knowledge with a “six‑star” service ethos, focusing on strategic debt advice for homeowners and investors. Under his leadership, Azura Financial has grown into a multi‑award‑winning, high‑performing brokerage.

Azura Financial

Tom Hawley

Nick Jacobs is co‑founder and director of MortgageWorks, bringing a background in agricultural economics, financial markets and property finance. Recognised as one of Australia’s leading brokers, he has featured in multiple national ‘Top Broker’ and ‘Top Under 40’ lists. Jacobs specialises in translating complex economic and lending conditions into clear, practical advice, helping clients structure their lending for long‑term flexibility, risk management and wealth creation.

MortgageWorks

Nick Jacobs

Haydn Marshall is principal at Lend Perspective, an LMG‑aligned brokerage based in Sydney. With more than a decade in banking and financial services, he specialises in structuring lending to align with clients’ broader financial strategies. Marshall works closely with homeowners and investors to optimise debt, manage risk and support long‑term goals, combining technical expertise with a strong focus on clear communication and client education.

Lend Perspective

Haydn Marshall

Published 04 May 2026

Mathew Patterson

Aussie

Luke Patterson

Koalify

“We’ve had buy/sell situations where people have used the bridge because they wouldn’t meet traditional lending criteria for end-debt scenarios,” he said. “They’ve been able to use the Bridgit facility and then go to a non-conforming lender to get the end debt set, which we wouldn’t be able to do ordinarily. So the flexibility is huge in that sense.” Luke Patterson added that the equity position is really the only meaningful qualifier, regardless of what a client is trying to achieve. “While bridging finance was historically associated with older borrowers, the profile of today’s client is far more diverse,” he said. “Anyone with sufficient equity across one or more properties can access the product to fund a range of objectives, from property purchases and construction to financial settlements. It’s no longer a question of age; it’s a question of equity.” The scenarios no one saw coming Some of the most instructive examples of bridging finance in action are the ones that sit well outside the textbook case. A construction shortfall in Bondi. A significant tax debt solved through a single security bridge. A client racing to get into the market ahead of price rises. These are the deals that reveal the product’s breadth. Hawley recalled a client building semi-detached properties who found himself short at the worst possible moment. “I had a client who was building a few semis in Bondi, and they were short two million bucks at the end of the construction,” he said. “So they used their owner-occupied property, which had a small bank loan on it, and they used a single security bridge when they cashed out two and a half million bucks, finished the development, sold it – it was just such an obvious transaction that really wouldn’t have been possible years ago, unless you want to go to a private lender and get sort of smoked.” The alternative that client had been offered before finding Hawley was instructive. “He was actually dealing with a previous broker who was recommending a private lender. He came to me and said, ‘I’ve been thrown rates of 14% plus’. So it was a really good option,” said Hawley.

Bridging loan case study 1: Divorce

When a couple undergoing separation needed to purchase two separate retirement units within 30 days of each other, they turned to Bridgit to secure a fast, flexible bridging loan.

Advertise

Authors

E-newsletter

Australian Mortgage Awards

Events

White papers

Webinar

Australian Broker Podcast

Resources

Virtual Roundtable

Sector Focus

Power Panel

Partnership Profile

Independent Feature

Executive Team Profile

Exclusive Leader Profile

Business Update

Big Deal

Premium Content

Technology

Reverse Mortgages

Spotlight Series

Specialist Lending

SME

Investment Loans

Commercial

Speciality

Best In Mortgage

News

RSS

Sitemap

About us

Conditions of Use

Cookie Policy

Terms & conditions

People

Firms

Bridgit funded the purchase of the first retirement unit, holding the remaining funds in the solicitor’s trust account until the second retirement property reached settlement.

LVR: 71.35%

Loan amount: $921,800

Loan purpose: Marital separation

Loan term: 12 months

“The equity position really just gives [clients] the confidence to move at the speed they need to”

Tom Hawley, Azura Financial

Hawley was equally direct about the reputation issue and why a credible, regulated lender in this space changes the conversation with hesitant clients. “A lot of people still think it’s a bit sharky,” he said. “Once people start to hear that it’s a regulated product, and start to see the operational side, the branding and everything, they think, ‘Oh, hang on. There is a trustworthy lender in this space now, and I’m not dealing with Joe’s finance and signing a dodgy one-page agreement’.” The education gap and what to do about it If the product has evolved, the awareness of what it can do hasn’t fully kept pace, particularly among clients. One recent survey showed that while most sellers want the flexibility to buy before they sell, 46% aren’t familiar with bridging finance, and 51% of homeowners still see it as an expensive last resort. Mat Patterson described a gap that represents a genuine commercial opportunity for brokers willing to invest in the conversation. “I don’t think there are misconceptions. I think people are aware of what bridging is, generally,” he said. “Customers know that this bridging thing exists, but they have no idea around the detail and what’s possible. There’s a huge education opportunity there that we can take customers through. Traditionally it was buy-sell, and now that’s opened up significantly. From a broker perspective, it’s not that hard. There’s a little bit more work involved, but it’s very much solution based.”

“When you think of bridging, you think of a solution”

Stephen Doyle, Bridgit

Luke Patterson said that for brokers yet to bring bridging into their standard toolkit, the barrier to entry is lower than they might expect. “Bridging finance has become increasingly mainstream, driven by the significant asset values and equity positions many borrowers now hold. For those looking to unlock that wealth, bridging offers an efficient and accessible solution – one that puts existing equity to work without the complexity of traditional financing,” said Patterson. Where the market is heading The question of whether bridging is a niche product or a mainstream one is becoming less relevant. Among brokers actively using it, the conversation has shifted to how it can become a standard part of the client engagement process. Doyle described a near future in which bridging will be embedded in how property purchases are approached from the outset.

Marshall noted that the product’s own parameters have expanded to match the way clients want to use it. “It used to just be a six-month bridge, whereas now we can do 12 months, now we can do two years,” he said. For Bridgit, that expansion has been deliberate and iterative. “We’ve learned over time, and we’ve listened to [broker] feedback and basically developed and evolved off the back of that,” said Doyle. For brokers who have spent years watching clients miss out because the timing was wrong, that trajectory offers a different answer the next time a good property and bad timing collide.

Bridgit provided a single-security, no-end-debt bridging loan that was ready to be funded in three days.

Loan term: 6 months

Loan purpose: Downsize of investment properties

Property location: Main Beach, Qld

A client needed funding to secure an investment property under time pressure.

Bridging loan case study 2: Grabbing an investment property opportunity

“If you go and see a real estate agent and you’re looking to purchase a property, 99 times out of 100 people will say, ‘I love this property, but I have to sell this property first’,” said Doyle. “If you have an opportunity to say, ‘I can buy that property now; I can put in an offer tomorrow’, why on earth wouldn’t you spend six months, 12 months, reinvesting back into your existing property, which is your main asset, to get more out of it? If you look at this within the broker’s ecosystem of purchasing property and advising their clients, it should make up part of the process for them to actually be able to buy and sell later.” Mat Patterson has already seen clients internalising this logic independently. “I’ve got a customer who’s done exactly that,” he said. “They’ve realised they’re going to bet on the property market increasing, so they need to do this right now. They’ve said, ‘I reckon in this length of time, my property is going to be worth this much more, so I’m going to make money by using the bridge facility’.”

Loan amount: $842,600

LVR: 71.77%

From left: Tom Hawley, Azura Financial; Nick Jacobs, MortgageWorks; Stephen Doyle, Bridgit; Haydn Marshall, Lend Perspective; Mathew Patterson, Aussie; Luke Patterson, Koalify

Mathew Patterson is the owner and a mortgage broker at Aussie Erina with over 25 years’ experience in banking and lending. He helps Central Coast clients with first home purchases, refinancing, upgrading, downsizing and property investment, focusing on clear, tailored advice rather than one‑size‑fits‑all solutions. With access to over 20 lenders, Patterson supports clients well beyond settlement, regularly reviewing their loans and monitoring market changes to ensure they continue to get a competitive deal and long‑term value.

Aussie

Mathew Patterson

Luke Patterson is a director and senior mortgage broker at Koalify, with over 15 years’ experience in financial services. Based in Sydney, he focuses on delivering competitive, straightforward and tailored mortgage solutions for homebuyers and investors. Patterson leverages strong lender relationships and deep market knowledge to secure the right structures for clients, and is known for his approachable style, ongoing support and commitment to long-term client outcomes.

Koalify

Luke Patterson