The second of MPA’s four-part series looks back on the hottest headlines as the year kicked into gear
Evergreen issues and a little something new – 2025 proved to be a year when brokers and mortgage finance professionals were forced to reckon with brand new obstacles while navigating long-term challenges.
Ongoing matters like payroll tax, clawbacks, channel conflict, housing supply shortages and market competition were paired with a new wave of government intervention, heightened regulatory scrutiny, reinvigorated proprietary lending channels, an election, interest rate cuts and more.
It proved to be a year of surprises, as some of Australia’s biggest banks put the lid on company and trust lending; the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) pulled some dramatic decisions out of the hat; new homebuying initiatives came into force; and private credit saw a major regulatory crackdown.
But it was also a year of great success for the broking industry, with record high market share of home lending; increased prominence in the commercial finance market; and accolades aplenty for Australia’s best and brightest mortgage professionals.
MPA was there every step of the way, keeping readers up to date on the latest developments in the dynamic, diverse world of mortgage finance. In the four-part series, we look back on the biggest stories from each quarter that shaped the market.
Heading into the second quarter, we saw an absolute thrashing by Anthony Albanese’s Labor Party in the general election. Housing policy featured prominently in the election cycle, with first-home buyer incentives and LMI waivers having substantial consequences for brokers and their clients.
This quarter also saw the first round of earnings from the banking majors, with results from Westpac, NAB, ANZ and Macquarie showing just how competitive the mortgage lending landscape has become.
Commonwealth Bank, meanwhile, welcomed its new head of broker, who joined MPA for a tell-all discussion about his big plans for Australia’s largest bank’s third-party channel.
Australia's greatest commercial brokers and mortgage brokerages were also revealed.
Top quarterly headlines
- Labor thrashes Coalition, securing second term for Albanese
- Has Labor missed the mark on housing policy?
- Here's how Labor's Home Guarantee Scheme changes LMI for good
- Houses and businesses are getting smashed – why isn't there a recession?
- Did NAB herald the end of white label mortgages? Not likely
- What did ANZ, Westpac, Macquarie, NAB results tell us?
Special features from the quarter
- MPA’s Top Commercial Brokers 2025
- The unwavering resilience of SMEs
- Aussie’s Brad Cramb: Going beyond broking
- The Best Mortgage Brokerages in Australia
