New research has revealed prospective purchasers increasingly want support when navigating home loan decisions.
More than three-quarters of Australians looking to buy property within three years are likely to use a mortgage broker, according to new research commissioned by the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia (MFAA).
The YouGov research, which surveyed 2,057 prospective property buyers, found 77 per cent were likely to turn to a broker for their next home loan, refinance, or property purchase.
The propensity was higher among prospective first home buyers, at 86 per cent, and prospective investors, at 84 per cent.
The research also pointed to a trust advantage for the third-party channel.
Some 58 per cent of prospective buyers said they trusted a mortgage broker when considering a property purchase or home loan, compared with 48 per cent who selected their bank or lender.
The results arrive as the MFAA rolls out the next phase of its Find a Broker consumer campaign and shortly after the Reserve Bank of Australia lifted the cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.60 per cent at its September meeting.
The decision marked the fourth increase in 2026 and took the cash rate to its highest level since 2011.
MFAA chief executive Anja Pannek said the changed rate setting made it an appropriate time for Australians to revisit their property and lending plans.
“Whether you’re working towards your first home, reviewing your current home loan or considering an investment property, there is real value in understanding your options,” Pannek said.
“Find a Broker makes it easier to take that first step and connect with an MFAA-accredited broker who can understand your circumstances, answer your questions, and help you navigate the lending market.”
Pannek said shifting interest rates had heightened the need for borrowers to understand the consequences for their own finances and available choices.
“At a time when interest rates have changed, a broker can help consumers understand what that means for their individual circumstances and explore the options available to them,” Pannek said.
Tools added to campaign
The latest Find a Broker campaign has added five calculators covering borrowing power, loan repayments, buying costs, refinancing, and loan comparisons.
Together, the MFAA said the tools could model more than 100 scenarios.
Pannek said the tools were intended to support early-stage research, rather than substitute for a conversation about a borrower’s broader needs.
“A calculator is a great starting point, but the numbers are only part of the picture,” she said.
“A broker brings the human element, understanding your goals and circumstances and helping you make sense of your options. The new tools and Find a Broker work together to help Australians move from researching to having that conversation.”
The campaign follows the MFAA’s March-to-May 2026 Find a Broker activity, which generated 11.2 million impressions, more than 232,000 broker profile views, 41,000 email reveals, and 13,000 phone reveals.
[Related: Number of borrowers unable to refinance spikes]
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