When a self-employed client needed a complex bridging loan settled in just five days, Estelle Dejean (pictured) says it became one of the transactions that best captures what broking is really about.
The deal wasn't straightforward. It involved multiple securities, including a recently subdivided property where title records contained incorrect lot information. Coordinating lenders, solicitors, valuers, and the Titles Office within such a short timeframe required constant communication and creative problem-solving, said Dejean, managing director and residential, commercial, and asset finance broker at FINANS Brokers.
Despite the complications, the outcome came together faster than the deadline demanded: the team secured finance within three days and successfully achieved settlement before the deadline.
For Dejean, the experience captured something bigger about the job. Experiences like this reinforce that broking is about far more than submitting applications, she said. It's about remaining calm under pressure, bringing the right people together and relentlessly advocating for your client until the outcome is achieved.
That approach traces back to how Dejean built her business in the first place. She spent 13 years in banking across residential and commercial lending before moving into broking just over four years ago.
In 2024, she founded FINANS Brokers with her business and life partner Devon Mohi, aiming to build "a brokerage that feels different" — one that works across residential, commercial, development finance, asset finance and business lending rather than simply writing home loans.
That same philosophy shapes how Dejean advises newer brokers entering the industry. Relationships are everything in this industry, not just with clients, but with lenders, BDMs, solicitors, accountants, and referral partners, she said.
She encourages new brokers to think beyond individual transactions, adding that every client should feel like they're beginning a long-term relationship, not completing a one-off loan application. If you consistently put clients first and deliver genuine value, growth will naturally follow.
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