In Australian Broker’s ongoing spotlight series of outstanding brokers, BDMs and lenders in the industry, we're back with Darwin-based broker Janine Ashmore.
Ashmore launched the award-winning Bliss Home Loans with her husband Murray in 2004. And she’s been a powerhouse ever since, smashing her own targets and tripling expectations in the past year.
We caught up with Ashmore again to dive deeper into her strategies, what she's doing that competitors are not and her thoughts on the market as Australia enters into a new financial year.
The following interview has been edited for grammar and clarity.
AB: What are your thoughts on Australia's loan and property markets as we enter into the back half of 2025? Are you seeing more activity? Or less activity than a year ago?
JA: For me, I was previously with a franchise business and took a year off. I was able to start up again around September 2023. I had a false start with one aggregator and then found my fit with Specialist Finance Group, which is amazing. I have only been able to go up.
The first year, I tripled [the amount] of what I thought I would do, starting up again. So yes, it’s busy. As far as new business enquiries go for me, in the last three months, it has gone up amazingly, with rate cuts and fixed rates ending from the four and five year rates offered. It’s going strong. I am heading [in the direction] of doing more this year than I did in the last year of work when I had the franchise. And that was the biggest year we ever had.
AB: What are some of your strategies, or tips, or best practices for working with clients? And for working with lenders? What are you doing that other brokers are not doing?
JA: Everybody is an individual or has a story. Never ever put everyone in the same basket. And always try to imagine you are in their shoes. Think about, how would you like to be treated? How would you like your situation to be understood?
AB: What can competitors learn from you?
JA: Stop worrying about me and get on with it. Trust in yourself and the value you are creating. If you are worrying too much about competitors you're not helping your customers enough.
AB: With the recent rate cuts, the re-election of the Labor party and the continued threat of US tariffs and global uncertainty, how do you navigate this volatile market? And what advice do you have for clients or would-be homeowners during this time?
JA: With rate cuts, we're going to see more people try and enter the market, or try to before prices move too much. The biggest thing they should do is keep reviewing their mortgages and ensuring the rate cuts are being passed on to them. Or, at least ensure that they are communicating with their broker to help them with managing through this time.
AB: What other trends are you seeing in the market at the moment?
JA: The northern regional markets are in a growth phase now, with the southern markets generally slowing from a property sales perspective. So that northern buying activity will be interesting to watch.
We are also going to see more refinancing, increasing, I believe. And the niche smaller lenders are coming into the light with much cheaper rates than the bigger lenders. Brokers are really going to have to broker as they diverge from the main few lenders. That has to change for customers.
