Coastal Buys magazine talks to mortgage broker Lindsay Olsen about the industry and his views on the current market.

Original article republished with kind permission from Coastal Buys.

Coastal Buys magazine showcases the stunning coastal suburbs of Kingscliff, Casuarina, Cabarita Beach, Bogangar and surrounding areas, celebrating all things real estate, from buying and selling, to renovating and styling, and everything in between.

What led you to a career as a mortgage broker? 

I’ve been in the industry since completing my training in Sydney in 2019. Before this, I had a lengthy career in engineering as technical manager within the steel industry.

I’ve always had a passion for property investment and financial independence. On my commutes through Sydney traffic I’d listen to all the property and investing podcasts. Then I’d get home and read all the books.

It wasn’t until my wife and I had decided to move north that I decided to pursue a career as a mortgage broker. We arrived on the Tweed Coast in late 2019 and set up the business shortly after.

I’ve always had a head for numbers but I’m truly a people person at heart. My drive behind starting Tweed Coast Home Loans was really wanting to help other young families buy their homes and become financially free through investing in property.

What services does Tweed Coast Home Loans offer?

Tweed Coast Home Loans offers a client centric, one-to-one lending experience. As a mortgage broker I personally work with all of my clients from start to finish for all of their home lending needs.

With the significant growth in property values throughout the Tweed region over the past few years, I’m seeing lots of refinances with people looking to access some of the equity in their homes to pay for renovations and improvements as well as looking to leverage this growth into the purchase of investment properties.

Apart from that, our services also include pre-approvals, purchases, bridging finance and helping first home buyers access the Federal Government’s Home Guarantee Scheme. The scheme allows eligible buyers to purchase with only a 5% deposit, without the need to pay for Lenders Mortgage Insurance – potentially saving them thousands of dollars.

What do you enjoy most about working in this industry?

The most rewarding part of my job, hands down, is helping people buy their first home. There’s something about being a part of this milestone event that makes me smile.

As a mortgage broker I feel honoured to be in a position to educate people about the purchasing process, compare and contrast various loan types and features and also to assist them with accessing Government grants, stamp duty exemptions or incentive schemes.

It’s so true that saving your first deposit is the hardest part of buying property. So it’s humbling to be in a position where people put their trust in you to find a home loan solution that’s going to get them into their first home, after all their hard work.

Tell us about the new office you recently opened in Terranora.

We’re currently based within the Pavilions Marketplace at Terranora. Located between the Coconut Coffee House and Terranora Bakehouse, our office allows for face-to-face meetings Monday to Friday 9am – 4:30pm. We also offer meetings via phone, which allows us to service Australia-wide.

What are your views on the current local market and expectations for the rest of the year?

It’s no secret that we have a very tight rental market here in the Tweed. With a slow-down in price growth of late I think we’ll see more renters looking to purchase their first home as a means to escape the rental market.

Low vacancy rates are also advantageous to investors wanting to secure an asset with reliable cash flow. This dynamic of first home buyers and investors both looking to stake their claim could see healthy competition at the lower purchase price end of the market and generate price growth in the unit and townhouse/duplex market.

In terms of the outlook for mortgage lending, I’m always asked what rates are going to do, so here’s my view on things at the moment. Everyone wants to know if rates are going to go up or go down. A good proxy to gauge the overall sentiment of where people think rates are going to go is to look at the proportion of fixed rate mortgage to variable rate mortgages being issued. In mid-2021 when rates were at all time lows (and the only way they could go was up) we saw about 45% of all lending go to fixed interest rates. Now, in early-2024 when rates are at 12-year highs we’re seeing only 1% of all mortgage funds loaned in the country going to fixed interest rate loans.

So, we’re pretty confident rates will come down. Exactly when remains to be seen but I’m hopeful we’ll see 1 or 2 rate cuts in 2024 before more in 2025 when the RBA is happy with inflation levels being under control.

What do you believe this area offers buyers?

The Tweed Coast provides buyers the perfect blend of space and proximity.

We’re so lucky to live in such an idyllic spot, with long stretches of swimmable beaches, a relaxed yet vibrant street scene and café culture and only minutes to some remarkable rainforests, national parks and swimming spots.

With ready access to the Gold Coast Airport, it’s easy to get to wherever you need to go for work or play.

What are your favourite things to see and do in the Tweed Coast region?

Being a dad to 3 kiddos aged 6 and under, our favourite things to see and do typically involve getting out and about either to the beach or park or some other fun activity that always seems to be happening nearby. We love walking out to the Fingal lighthouse – particularly during whale season!

Special thanks to Coastal Buys; original article available in print and online.