A 20% deposit is an ideological handbrake. Skip Founder Mario Emmanuel explains how 2% deposits and 5.89% rates are helping ‘second chance’ owners escape the rent trap.
A Conversation with Skip co-Founder Mario Emmanuel
Interviewer: You’ve recently rebranded from your former identity Sucasa to ‘Skip.’ What was the catalyst for that change, and what does it signal to the broker market?
Mario Emmanuel: When myself, Adam Trouncer and my brother Marian launched our business we were laser-focused on the mission - helping Australians own property and building a product that could support that. Truthfully, branding was an afterthought, which we underindexed on. Now, as we scale, we see a clearly articulated brand identity as critical in helping us achieve that mission and resonate with as many Australians as possible.
Positioning ourselves as Skip reinforces exactly what we do: we help Australians skip saving for a big deposit and go straight to the owning bit.
The broker channel is moving forward nicely, and we anticipate it will continue thanks to recent integrations like Quickli. However, we believe a stronger brand can boost the broker channel as well as our direct channel.
Interviewer: You’ve spoken candidly about the "deposit handbrake." Why do you believe the current Australian lending landscape is failing so many?
Mario Emmanuel: Australians have been conditioned to believe a double-digit cash deposit is the "right way" to buy. We’ve become used to the idea that your deposit defines your opportunity for home ownership. This is an ideological handbrake that makes home ownership nearly impossible for millions.
While people save, the goalposts move. We’ve seen national rents skyrocket 40% over the last five years, while wages grew just 17%. When the average tenant is under rental stress and paying 33 cents of every pre-tax dollar just to keep a roof over their head, saving a $150,000 deposit isn’t just difficult; it’s statistically improbable. It has created a chasm between owners and renters that will only widen if we don't change the mindset.
Interviewer: You mention a "forgotten" cohort of Australians. Who are the people currently falling through the cracks?
Mario Emmanuel: We are seeing the rise of the "rental class". Hardworking people who can clearly afford mortgage repayments because they are already paying high rents and saving.
Interestingly, seven in ten Skip loans go to what we call "second chance owners." These are Aussies who previously owned property but who are now unwillingly stuck in the rental market, unable to tap into first-home buyer initiatives and weighed down by traditional deposit requirements. They are consistently falling into the cracks of the rigid criteria of traditional lending products. They are fast becoming forgotten.
Interviewer: How is Skip’s product suite specifically addressing these hurdles?
Mario Emmanuel: Our solution is built on the reality of the 2026 market, not the early 90s. We are there for Australians who realise they can start owning with a much smaller deposit than they thought.
We offer 2% deposit home loans with an Owner Occupied rate of 5.89%. Crucially, we’ve removed the most common barriers: we have low fees and no Lenders Mortgage Insurance. If a client can afford the monthly repayments, they are infinitely better off building equity in their own home after they buy, than they are renting and saving for a deposit that the market outpaces every year.
Interviewer: Looking at the data, where are you seeing the most significant growth and demand?
Mario Emmanuel: Skip has experienced triple-digit growth year-on-year across both our direct and broker channels. While Melbourne remains our largest market, Brisbane has seen a remarkable surge.
We’re also seeing the "missing middle" drive demand; the price gap between the median unit and median house has ballooned to over 40%, forcing a lot of people to look for smarter financing to secure a house before they are priced out forever.
Interviewer: What is your final message to brokers who have clients currently stuck in the "rental trap"?
Mario Emmanuel: Stop waiting for the 20% deposit that might never come. The "rent and save" model is failing your clients. By the time they save another $20,000, the property has often gone up by $40,000. We want to work with brokers to help these "second chance" owners and hardworking renters bridge that gap. With a 2% deposit and a competitive 5.89% rate, we can move them from the rent cycle to the wealth-generation cycle - and that’s a skip worth backing.
To find out more go to www.skiploans.com.au
