Summary of Mortgage Brokers

• They hunt the mortgage market to find you a good deal, as well as save a lot of time on form-filling.
• They can advise you on everything you need to know about taking out a mortgage and the house-buying process, as well as KiwiSaver withdrawals and grants if you qualify. 
• They know the key details about each lenders' criteria, and can the right lenders for your situation. 
• The most important thing is to find a mortgage broker you're comfortable with. Real estate agents you meet at open homes will probably recommend brokers (many have existing relationships and get a commission for any business you bring them). You don't need to go with them.

Our guide tells you what you need to know about mortgage brokers. We outline:

• What a mortgage broker is, and what they do
• The pros and cons of using them
• What to be wary of, as well as tips to find one you want to work with
• What questions to ask a broker to make sure you're getting the best deals in the market

​A mortgage broker is a person or company that will arrange a mortgage between you, the borrower, and a lender, such as a bank. A mortgage broker works one-on-one with you to find out your exact mortgage need. For example, if you're a first home buyer, wanting to re-mortgage your home or wanting to buy an investment property. The mortgage broker then offers a range of options from different lenders (usually banks) which are matched to your mortgage needs. 

A mortgage broker has a lot of insight within the housing industry, and can identify the best lenders and mortgage deals available throughout New Zealand. Mortgage brokers must act with your best interests and have a duty of care in how they behave - this means they must be able to explain and justify any mortgage recommendations they make.

Mortgage brokers base their shortlist of suggested mortgage deals on your specific circumstances. These include:

• Whether you're buying an existing home, a new-build or an apartment
• Your income
• The size of your deposit
• Your credit history and how much you can afford to spend on mortgage repayments

Mortgage brokers will shortlist mortgage deals based on:

• The interest rate
• The deposit required
• The fees charged upfront
• The term of the mortgage

In most cases, first-home buyers are reported to make up the bulk of the customer base of mortgage brokers. This is due to an increasing trend for real estate agents to recommend their mortgage broker partners, increased advertising from mortgage brokers all over New Zealand, and a growing distrust of banks.

​A mortgage broker is experienced in the entire process of finding and applying for a mortgage. They also can answer a many related questions regarding the financing of your home purchase. They can incredibly helpful for first-time home-buyers who might otherwise be lost in the detail. A mortgage broker can also save a lot of time by finding out the best offers from every lender, saving you from making individual appointments with banks. A mortgage broker may also help you to assess your financial situation and make an overall recommendation of the best mortgage for your needs.

Unlike a bank which has its own lending criteria, mortgage lenders are motivated to find you a mortgage deal that works. For this reason, they offer expertise for a range of situations, including: 

1. Anyone who is self-employed
2. Anyone looking to refinance and re-fix their existing home loans
3. Anyone wanting a home loan for new build construction loans
4. Anyone who is a first-home buyer
5. Anyone looking to make a property investment
6. Anyone from New Zealand who is currently living overseas

​Mortgage brokers come in all sizes, from one-person-operations to well-known companies such as Mike Pero Mortgages or Squirrel Money. In almost all cases, a mortgage broker will work through a group - this is usually the NZFSG, who is able to negotiate mortgage rates and terms with lenders. The NZFSG and your mortgage broker will both negotiate a commission if you go ahead with a mortgage deal.

While every mortgage broker is different, some cover the 'whole of the market' (or as close to it as possible), meaning they don't have any links to a particular bank or banks. But some mortgage brokers are more limited, which means you may just be offered deals from two or three banks. These deals may not be the best in the market. It's important to ask upfront who your mortgage broker works with - see our questions to ask a mortgage broker below.

In some cases, real estate agents own mortgage brokers. For example, Mortgage Express is mostly owned by Harcourts and its related entities. You are completely free to find your own mortgage broker even if you are recommended one by a real estate agent.

No - mortgage brokers work around the country, either as part of a group (such as Mike Pero Mortgages) or as stand-alone providers. Like any professional service, the exact service you will receive will depend on who your provider is. For this reason, we suggest using Google to search for well-reviewed providers.

There are no upfront or service fees. Mortgage brokers make their money from commissions paid to them by the banks. You won't necessarily pay more for your mortgage either. Mortgage brokers work the same as travel agents who earn commissions from airlines and hotels etc. It is up to you to decide which bank and mortgage deal you want - the mortgage broker will be then paid by the lender you pick. Industry insiders suggest this can be as high as 1% of your loan amount; your broker could earn $5,000 from a $500,000 mortgage. But the law states that mortgage brokers are not required to disclose commission payments.

As mortgage broker expertise and access to deals varies from one to another, by asking two essential questions: 

1. How many lenders do you work with? The more lenders (i.e. banks) the broker has a relationship with, the higher the chances you'll get the best deal. A good answer is at least five banks, but the more they cover the better for you. 
2. What are your fees and commissions? You can ask that, even if they are not legally obliged to tell you. If they do, it will probably create trust and help you understand a little bit more about how mortgage brokerage works.