Do We Need Mortgage Brokers?

For decades prospective homeowners have looked to mortgage brokers to help them to find the best deal on a mortgage product and ensure that they find a product that’s right for their needs.

Not only are they trusted in helping to set up an initial mortgage, they are also relied upon to keep changing the mortgage product over the years as the needs of homeowners change.

Yet, while mortgage brokers are trusted all over the world by first time buyers and veteran homeowners alike… Do we really need them? And are they getting us the fair deal we trust them to?

Peeking behind the curtain

In recent years we’ve had a peek behind the curtain at mortgage brokering practices. And said insights have often portrayed mortgage brokers in a less than flattering light, especially when a line is drawn between the practices of mortgage brokers and the property lending bubble which precipitated the global financial crisis of 2007-2008.

Anyone who’s seen Adam McKay’s biting satire The Big Short will have seen an image of particularly greedy and shortsighted mortgage brokers lining their pockets at the expense of their clients and the greater economy.

They get big fat commissions from the banks whether their client is able to actually pay the mortgage or not so why should they acre whether their client ends up losing their home?

How mortgage brokers are remunerated

In order for us to understand whether or not it’s worth enlisting the services of a mortgage broker it’s worth looking into how they are remunerated. This is not always clear, unlike in the case of a real estate agent whose commission is fully disclosed.

Mortgage brokers are remunerated in a number of different ways. In some cases they are paid on a commission only basis by the lender. Some will charge a fee to the borrower and some do both plus an additional fixed fee.

Why does it matter?

The way in which mortgage brokers are remunerated goes a long way to explaining their practices (it certainly did prior to the financial crisis).

If they are paid hefty commissions by one bank while another pays them a more modest commission they’re more likely to be inclined to sell a product by the bank that pays them more regardless of whether or not their product is right for the needs of the customer.

In this light how can we be sure that they are going to act in our best interests rather than their own.

Property Investors

For investors this may not matter as much. They will be inclined to use a mortgage broker to help them to borrow as much as possible because their rental income will be more than an owner occupier’s mortgage payments would be on the same property.

Owner Occupiers

For owner occupiers who will only ever buy a handful of properties in their lives at the most it’s a slightly different kettle of fish. Owner occupiers need to think about how their financial circumstances will change and how their mortgage product can help them to maintain a balanced household budget without their mortgage payments subsuming all of their income.

Are Lenders Listening?

It’s worth keeping in mind that banks are, slowly but surely changing. It’s taken over a decade for increased regulation of global financial services industries to kick in (at least in ways that are meaningful to most of us). Suffice to say, banks are certainly less cavalier when it comes to whom they lend to and how much they lend.

They are also growing increasingly wary of paying out fat commissions for mortgage brokers.

This means that more and more mortgage brokers are charging a flat fee to their customers rather than relying on heavy commissions from banks.

This is potentially a double edged sword for Australian buyers. They will have to face greater upfront costs, but in return they have greater assurances that the interests of the broker will be more aligned with the interests of the buyer.

The pros and cons of using a mortgage broker

So, as we can see, the question of whether or not we need mortgage brokers is fairly nuanced and depends largely on our circumstances.

Pros

One obvious pro is the fact that hiring a mortgage broker can take a lot of the legwork out of searching through the myriad products on the market.

Buyers will also be more likely to borrow more if they go through a mortgage broker rather than going directly to the lender. Once again, this is a double edged sword.

It’s understandable that owner occupiers may be tempted to go for a home at the upper end of their budget.

However, they may find themselves facing mortgage payments that become untenable if they lose their jobs, take a pay cut or face a long period of sparse work if they are self-employed.

Cons

In terms of cons, unless they are completely clear and transparent in how they are paid, you cannot be sure that they are acting in your best interests. If they are paid on commission by a bank they will be more inclined to push that bank’s products rather than the products which are best for you.

Keep in mind that the larger a mortgage you get, the more a mortgage broker could get paid. Don’t let a broker push you to borrow more than you feel comfortable with.

The bottom line

The decision of whether to go through a mortgage broker or apply directly through the lender depends on your circumstances; the kind of property you have your eye on and whether you can live within your means if you buy at the top end of your budget.

If your broker is transparent about how they are paid and has earned your trust, there’s a good chance that they can be trusted to act in your best interests.