Australia becomes one of only three countries globally where mortgage brokers exceed 80% of home lending
Australian mortgage brokers facilitating a record 81% of all new residential home loans in the March 2026 quarter, marking a new record high, according to data from Cotality and commissioned by the Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia (MFAA).
The result marks a 4.2-percentage-point year-on-year jump and a 6.9-percentage-point rise from 74.1% in March 2024.
Over the eight-year span of the MFAA's survey data, broker market share has surged from 55.3% in March 2018 to 81% today.
Leading aggregators settled $124.88 billion in new home loans during the quarter, a year-on-year increase of $25.51 billion and the highest volume recorded for any January-to-March period.
The milestone places Australia alongside the UK and the Netherlands as one of only three countries globally where mortgage brokers facilitate more than 80% of mortgage lending.
What's driving the shift
MFAA chief executive Anja Pannek (pictured) said the record figure reflected both consumer trust and the essential role brokers play in a complex lending environment.
"When more than eight in ten new home loans are being facilitated by brokers, it shows the trust consumers are placing in the channel and the value they see in having expert guidance through an increasingly complex lending market," Pannek said.
She pointed to the pressures facing borrowers over the past year – housing affordability challenges, cost-of-living strain, and fluctuating interest rate expectations – as key drivers pushing Australians toward professional advice.
"For many Australians, particularly those entering the property market for the first time, working with a broker has been critical in understanding their options and making informed decisions."
While the market share result is historic, Pannek acknowledged that broking businesses continue to operate in a challenging environment, with economic uncertainty, cost pressures, and shifting consumer confidence all weighing on business resilience.
"Like many small and medium-sized businesses across Australia, broking businesses are having to remain focused, disciplined and adaptable," Pannek said.
She said the record should be read as a reflection of broker professionalism and persistence, not just a favourable market. "Brokers have consistently shown their ability to adapt, support their clients and continue delivering value. This gives us confidence in the resilience of the industry going forward."
