'Refinance through MFAA broker'
By
BN
|
4/12/2009 8:30:00 AM
|
6
comments
In light of the recent rate increases imposed by Westpac (45bps) and NAB (25bps) the MFAA has urged borrowers to refinance with an MFAA accredited broker.
"Recent increases to interest rates may prompt consumers to shop around, but we'd encourage consumers to seek out MFAA accredited brokers," said Phil Naylor, CEO, MFAA.
Naylor said brokers accredited through MFAA were best positioned to find the most competitive loan products for consumers from a range of lenders. In addition, he said they held to high professional and ethical standards of conduct, experience and education which non-members are not.
"Our independent research shows that consumers are consistently more satisfied when using a broker than going directly to a lender, and borrowers with loans administered by a broker are less likely to struggle with repayments," Naylor said.
He quoted the mid-year Bankwest/MFAA Home Finance Index which found that people who use mortgage brokers are more likely to be satisfied with their home loan source than those who use other lenders.
"Comparing home loans is not as simple as comparing rates alone. The levels of service offered by a lender, flexibility of repayments and other features of the loan must also be considered," he said.
"These are the issues that a good broker can navigate with a consumer to ensure the most appropriate loan is secured for their individual circumstances and needs," he added.
Related stories:
Major banks lose influence on MFAA board - The major banks no longer have any direct representation on the MFAA board following last week's AGM
Latest Comments
Total:
6
comment(s)
BBB on
04 Dec 2009 11:50 AM
The MFAA is starting to be a positive for brokers , I for one am starting to see a positive in belonging , I suggest all memebers check and see if they are listed on the find a broker for their area
Martin J. Rollins ALMO Australia on
04 Dec 2009 01:22 PM
Triple B is correct.
It is reassuring to witness the MFAA shift its focus
and activities back towards its members.
I have been one of those critics openly discussing what I and others saw as a kind of betrayal that most members sensed.
But in all sensible debate one has to acknowledge the polar opposites as much as one might offer a critical verse.
To that end I offer the following onservation. The MFAA has taken stock of its reason for existing it would appear, and in-light of that review has adopted some organisational reviews, audits and reached out to its members to seek advice and conduct a survey or two.
It takes a while to turn a ship back onto its original heading, and I hope the recent and different noises coming from the MFAA bode well for its long-standing and loyal members.
A fantastic example of what proper balanace can bring to a traditionally one-sided debate (riddled with deliberate misinformation) has been how banks have been left alone to get away with (inferred) professional-slander towards brokers and alike.
The MFAA CAN bring something new to combat this one-sided story.... and recently did.
The ''independent research'' referred to above is a really good example of what our Industry body can do, and amazingly can yield unexpected results such as Brokers originated mortgages (and their clients) are found to be less likely to experience Mortgage Stress.
Revelations such as this require more examination, but ostensibly this targeted research can help to explain why Brokers maybe be better at assessing a borrowers ability to "live with" debt.
I think this research points to how those of us who write home-loans for our clients ultimately do a better job for them because we sit in their homes; experience their day-to-day life and coach our clients to destress, simplify and reduce multiple points of debt and encourage debt-reduction.
Mortgage Stress (in my observation) is always accompanied with adjoining debts such as; Credit Cards, Car Loans and alike.
It is these combined debts and the multiplying points of compound debt that can lead to stress... and has been wrongly and often coined as Mortgage Stress, when a term such as General Financial Stress resulting in Mortgage Stress might be more accurate.
Research such as the one mentioned above can lead to important truths being un-earthed and a light being shone into dark corners often concealed by Marketing departments in banks.
It''s important work and we all benefit from it.... MFAA gets points for that in my book.
Tuff guy on
04 Dec 2009 01:25 PM
BBB, they are urging people to use brokers - how? What media are they advertising in? How is the MFAA creating a brand the general public are aware of? This is just noise to pacify brokers. The only place you''ll ever see Phil Naylor and the like urging people to do things is in the trade press. The public will never have any idea about who the MFAA is.
SteveL on
07 Dec 2009 12:47 PM
The MFAA had their opportunity to represent the brokers. In fact the reason the MFAA came about was to ensure a "Self Regulated" industry, such as the Real Estate (REIV etc). The MFAA failed dismally in this effort, as it was hijacked by lenders and other hangers on. Now they are trying to save face and look like they are doing something for brokers....don''t get sucked in! Where is the push-back on commissons, policies, service etc provided by the Banks? Sure, they tell consumers to refi through MFAA Accredited brokers...but to whom? I have not seen ONE ad in ANY paper, rag or online. What a joke. Trying to justify it''s position prior to licensing when they become FULLY redundant....Too late guys, you have surely missed the boat and put us all in an unwelcome position. And we played right into the lenders hands.....
Lender influenced MFAA on
08 Dec 2009 05:51 PM
Very True SteveL. Here is what MFAA sent to it''s brokers today!
Communique Titled: ‘PROFESSIONAL CREDIT ADVISER’
Under the pretext of lenders segmenting brokers on volume as a surrogate for quality (valid point), MFAA is defining who a "Professional Broker" is & has requested MFAA lender members to accredit on this basis!! A new accreditation system will also be based around this title.
Brokers Watch Out!!! Because You are EXCLUDED!!!
Here is why!!!
1. Settle at least 6 loans per quarter in total from all lenders in broker''s panel & must have at least 10 lenders in the panel. What an oxymoron! Volume vs quality - Crap. While it is unclear, I can see the next step being a minimum number of settled loans for each accredited lender & thus forcing brokers to recommend unsuitable lenders to meet the metric.
2. Conversion ration of 65% (Good intention but why should MFAA have loan metrics? Why not the lender manage this?)
3. Broker''s genuine belief of applicant''s capacilty to repay & appropriateness of loan - Lender''s should be liable for capacity to repay as they determine the lending criteria & not a broker.
SteveL on
09 Dec 2009 10:39 AM
RE: Lender influenced MFAA. Yes it looks pretty ordinary. Again, the MFAA play right into the lenders hands and we sit back and cop it. Time to take a stand I reckon. The FBAA is non-existent, the MFAA is lender complicant. I do know the AIPB is trying to make a difference and build an organisation that is by brokers, for brokers and of brokers. Perhaps a little too late, but going forward us brokers need to band together and work on a strength in unity basis, with an organisation that cannot be corrupted. The minimum of 6 loans per quarter is only a start. Like all political issues, this will be hijacked by special interest groups (Lenders) and our so-called allies (Aggregators) will remain silent and acquescent.....sad really