AI-powered broker tools and an expanding commercial lending push signal a new growth chapter for the country's largest listed mortgage franchise
ASX-listed digital property giant REA Group posted group revenue of $398 million for the three months to 31 March 2026, up 11% on a like-for-like basis.
REA Group’s financial services arm – anchored by Mortgage Choice's roughly 1,120 brokers – recorded a strong quarter with a 21% year-on-year jump in settlements and ongoing gains in broker productivity.
The settlement surge at Mortgage Choice builds on an already impressive first-half trajectory. In the six months to December 2025, Mortgage Choice revenue increased 12%, with settlements rising 14% to $13.7 billion and submissions up 24% year-on-year. Today’s third-quarter data suggests that momentum continues to accelerate.
“REA Group’s third-quarter performance reflects our focus on enhancing our immersive consumer experiences, and increasing the value delivered to customers. The result was underpinned by double-digit revenue growth across our Australian businesses and strong double-digit yield growth in our core residential business,” said REA chief executive Cameron McIntyre.
The financial services performance was all the more notable given that it came against a backdrop of global economic uncertainty and three interest rate rises that have weighed on broader consumer sentiment in recent months.
Technology is playing an increasingly central role in Mortgage Choice’s success.
In April, the group launched an AI-powered ‘Policy Search Tool’ within its Lending Toolkit platform, designed to help brokers navigate complex residential lending scenarios more efficiently.
The move reflects a broader industry push to use artificial intelligence to strip administrative burden from brokers and redirect their time toward client relationships – a theme that has dominated industry forums throughout 2026.
REA has also been aggressively expanding Mortgage Choice's commercial footprint.
In February, national commercial finance brokerage Simplicity Loans & Advisory sold a 70% stake to REA Group, a deal covered in detail by MPA, that positions the network to capture a greater share of the business-lending market at a time when commercial broker penetration remains well below the residential channel's dominant 77% market share.
On the listings side, residential revenue increased 12%. Buy revenue growth was driven by a 14% increase in yield and a 1% increase in national listings, while rent revenue growth was partially offset by a 2% decline in listings.
Sydney and Melbourne, the engine rooms of the residential mortgage market, both recorded listing growth in the quarter – up 4 and 7% respectively – providing further fuel for settlements in the months ahead.
Commercial revenue increased during the quarter (although REA Group did not specify by how much), driven by an average 7% price rise and higher listings.
“Strong underlying fundamentals supported the health of the property market and supply kept pace with buyer demand,” said McIntyre. “While global events and interest rate increases impacted broader economic sentiment, listing activity in the two largest property markets, Sydney and Melbourne, remained strong.”
REA Group has also lowered its full-year cost guidance on Thursday, now expecting group operating costs to rise only low to mid single digits, an improvement that should help protect margin in the financial services division as broker payout rates remain elevated.
