Shawn Thomas asked:


Many individuals who are in the market for a mortgage loan will go directly to the bank that they are used to doing business with, or at best will take the time to shop around at two or three different banks in order to try and find the best deal. While there is obviously nothing wrong with this practice, better deals on mortgage rates and terms can often be found through the use of a mortgage broker instead of dealing with banks or other mortgage lenders directly. Using a mortgage broker can help you to find a wider range of loan offers without having to do nearly as much work, and may even be able to find you loan options that you were previously unaware of or may not have even been able to apply for on your own.

But what is a mortgage broker? In simple terms, the broker is not a lender. He or she may work for a company that has a bank-sounding name, but they really serve as independent sales people representing a variety of banks and financial institutions who will ultimately make the loan and service the payments. The mortgage broker does not represent any one financial institution; therefore they act as your representative when shopping for a home loan. Mortgage brokers work solely on commission and they do not get paid anything if the loan does not close. It is in their best interest to get you approved and to secure terms that are beneficial and affordable to you. In contrast, your local bank can only make loans strictly according to the terms of what their institution is currently offering. Bank loan officers are typically compensated by a combination of salary and commission.

There are a number of advantages to using a mortgage broker instead of applying for your loan through a local bank. The most obvious of these advantages is the fact that the broker already has contacts with a number of different banks and mortgage lenders, letting you take advantage of this to receive competing loan quotes without having to seek out each one individually. Many mortgage brokers will even be able to bring you loan offers from banks and other lenders outside of your local area, giving you loan options that you might not have had access to otherwise.

In addition to simply having a larger number of loan options, you may also be able to receive deals on your mortgage loan that you simply would not be able to get if you were not using a mortgage broker. Many mortgage brokers will be able to use the relationships that they have built with lenders over the years to negotiate better rates and mortgage loan terms than an individual would be able to find on their own, helping you to save money both on interest rates and other costs that may be associated with your mortgage. Your local bank simply may not be able to match the interest rates and loan terms that a mortgage broker can offer.

Another advantage of using a mortgage broker instead of applying for a mortgage loan at a local bank is the fact that many mortgage brokers are able to arrange a variety of different payment options. While local banks may have specific payment options that they use, your mortgage broker may be able to find a loan that fits your specific payment needs. With almost any lender you can make payments using automatic withdrawal, by making deposits into a specified account, by sending in a check or money order each month, or other payment options that your broker can specify for you.

Should you later need to refinance your mortgage loan, using a mortgage broker can be a major asset here as well. They will be able to compare interest rates and loan terms for you easily, helping you to find the best deal available on your mortgage refinance so that you can adjust your mortgage as needed. Your refinanced loan may be with the same bank or mortgage lender that the broker connected you with when the original mortgage loan was taken out, or they may be able to find you a better deal elsewhere without you having to do all of the legwork of checking all of the lenders that the broker has access to.

If you do decide to use a mortgage broker instead of a local bank, keep in mind that you should take a little bit of time to compare different mortgage brokers in your area so that you will be able to get the best deal possible on your mortgage loan. Speak with several brokers and find out the average interest rates that they might be able to get for you, comparing them just as you would different banks if you were shopping for your mortgage without the broker. This will help you to find the mortgage broker that has the right connections to get you a great deal on your mortgage loan, and will also help you to make sure that you have fully explored your options.

Nandini asked:


These are tough times if you need a loan but don’t have sufficient or unencumbered property to offer as a collateral to the Bank or other financial institution. Cash is King and if you need more liquidity fast but your first mortgage lender will not advance any more or cannot act quickly, you might be in unforeseen trouble. A Second mortgage might be the best possible option at this difficult time.

Like many other countries of the world, the mortgage market in Australia has tightened considerably and extensions or increases to existing facilities that might have been offered 12 months ago are simply not available today. Many people in Australia, especially those in small business have been able to overcome short-term financial hazards or “cash crisis” and improve their position through a short-term second mortgage.

Second Mortgage

You may or may not have heard about second mortgages. In simple terms, a second mortgage is made against the same property, which is offered as a collateral in the first mortgage but usually to a different lender. Hence, it is considered subordinate to the first mortgage and ranks behind the first mortgage in terms of security.

The interest rate of second mortgage is higher than the first mortgage. This is because, in case of default, the first mortgage is paid out first then the second mortgage is satisfied from the remaining equity.

Usability of Second Mortgage

In a nutshell, a second mortgage is most beneficial when the borrower needs finance for a specific purpose for a short period of time and they can see how the second mortgage finance can be repaid in the short term. It is a good source of finance for opportunistic investments, or to satisfy an urgent unexpected expense. It is often used as a short-term cure for a business cash crunch or even to take advantage of a business opportunity that presents itself where the business operator can see that he or she can make money, IF they have some money NOW!

Other reasons for a short-term second mortgage might include the need of improvement of existing homes prior to sale, or bridging finance for the purchase of a new property prior to the sale of an existing property.

Overview of mortgage market in Australia

The Australian mortgage market witnessed a tremendous boom during 2003 and 2004. However, earlier this year the market observed a sharp decline in its rate of growth with 12% growth being recorded in contrast to 22 % in 2004.

An analysis conducted by InfoChoice and The Sheet estimates that the Australian mortgage market presently stands at $922 billion. It has been observed that this estimate is around three times greater than the report of Reserve of Australia. It is noteworthy that this study is also 12% bigger than the all-banks estimate in the mortgage industry of Australian Prudential Regulation Authority.

As a rule all big banks play a major role in the market, but usually only provide loans against first mortgage security and do not operate in the second mortgage space. Finance and mortgage brokers originate an increasing share of this Australian mortgage market and these brokers can usually source either first or second mortgages from a wide range of lenders.

Rise of Second Mortgage in Australia

As traditional lenders become more reluctant to lend to existing customers due to tighter credit requirement and liquidity limitations continue in the banking system, more and more borrowers with a need for a short term remedy are turning to a second mortgage lenders to solve their temporary or short term liquidity problem to take advantage of opportunities or to solve their short terms problems.

To be eligible for a second mortgage, you must have surplus equity in your current property. This means that you must owe less with your current mortgage than the value of the property. The second mortgage lender will need to be comfortable that there is a good commercial reason for the loan and that there is an “exit strategy” for the loan. This means that the second mortgage lender can see how the loan is coming to be repaid through some event or process that will satisfy the advance and the charges for the loan.