Award-winning broker predicts strong property market performance in year ahead
Specialist Mortgage Director, Helen Avis, who has just taken out a title as Best Finance Broker 2024, said low supply, easing interest rates and continued buyer demand would ensure a strong property market into 2025.
With a multi-generational client base that now includes the children of her original property buyers, Specialist Mortgage Director, Helen Avis, has taken out the title as Western Australia’s Best Finance Broker 2024 at The Adviser Better Business Awards.
At the event held at the Hyatt Regency Perth, Specialist Mortgage was also named as Best Customer Service (Office) Finalist, while Ms Avis was additionally a finalist in the Best Residential Broker and Broker of the Year categories.
The state-based awards, sponsored by principal partner NAB, celebrated talent from the mortgage and finance industry, with hundreds of colleagues and peers in attendance at the black tie ceremony.
Ms Avis said her experience in the industry was borne home to her by a recent client trend she had noticed.
“I have been doing this for so long I am now doing loans for my clients’ kids as they move into the first home owner market.
“Providing service to existing clients and the subsequent client referrals keeps me busy and it’s a cumulative effect that keeps delivering added momentum to our business.”
“I am still doing a lot of expatriate lending, but also as our clients move back to Australia I’m now sourcing and processing a lot of loans for our clients in Australia, whether for a home or an investment.”
Ms Avis expected the rest of 2024 and into 2025 to be buoyant times for the national property market.
“I think most clients are expecting a rate cut later this year, so there is already anticipation of this.
“Buyer demand is still strong and there is a shortage of stock, so we expect real estate markets to remain upbeat.”
Ms Avis said she would encourage clients to refinance if their banks wouldn’t consider a better deal on their home loans.
“Refinancing is mixed at the moment, with some banks willing to offer pricing to keep clients, but others won’t, so for those clients we will look at refinancing.”
SMATS Group, of which Specialist Mortgage is a part, are international market leaders in providing Australian taxation, finance, property, foreign exchange and migration services to Australian expatriates, foreign investors and intended migrants.