Rommel Lontayao

Rommel Lontayao

Rommel is a senior news writer at KM International, where he covers mortgage and financial services news for Mortgage Introducer and Mortgage Professional Australia — two of the industry's most widely read trade publications. 

With nearly two decades of content and editorial writing experience, he covers mortgage market movements, regulatory developments, lender announcements, and broker industry news. His reporting gives mortgage professionals, brokers, and financial advisers the accurate, timely intelligence they need to serve their clients confidently.

Rommel holds a Bachelor's degree in Mass Communication from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, where he was awarded a journalism scholarship in recognition of academic merit and demonstrated writing ability. 

Off the clock, Rommel watches documentaries, follows local news, and listens to The Beatles — habits that are less about leisure and more about craft. Good documentary filmmakers and great songwriters share the same instinct as good journalists: find the truth, strip away the noise, and tell it straight. 

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Budget tax changes push property investors towards commercial assets

Negative gearing reforms set to reshape where capital flows, CommBank research finds

Budget tax changes push property investors towards commercial assets

More than half of auctioned homes fail to sell for third consecutive week

​​​​​​​Combined capital clearance rate plummets as buyer caution deepens

More than half of auctioned homes fail to sell for third consecutive week

HSBC ordered to pay $35m fine over scam protection failures

Bank admits systemic failures across scam investigation, loss allocation, and customer account recovery

HSBC ordered to pay $35m fine over scam protection failures

MFAA names Queensland winners of 2026 Excellence Awards

QLD's top brokers, lenders and businesses recognised at the Brisbane event

MFAA names Queensland winners of 2026 Excellence Awards

Mortgage serviceability costs surge as rate hikes offset price falls

Mid-tier city income barriers hit record highs while rate hikes outpace price falls in the largest capitals

Mortgage serviceability costs surge as rate hikes offset price falls

Banks back 670,000 first-home buyers in five years

Rising refinancing activity cut mortgage costs by up to $2,000 a year, banking group reports

Banks back 670,000 first-home buyers in five years

Mortgage holders pull back on spending as rate burden mounts

CommBank data shows borrowers with home loans cutting back as sustained rate pressure begins to bite

Mortgage holders pull back on spending as rate burden mounts

Economists tip at least one more rate hike in 2026

​​​​​​​August flagged as the most likely timing as RBA leaves door open to further tightening

Economists tip at least one more rate hike in 2026

Regulators propose Financial Accountability Regime reforms

Planned changes to reduce compliance obligations for banks and financial services licensees

Regulators propose Financial Accountability Regime reforms

Rental affordability squeeze deepens as vacancy rate stalls

National rental supply remains severely constrained

Rental affordability squeeze deepens as vacancy rate stalls