More competition for mortgages needed


Phil Naylor
The Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia (MFAA) will step up its push for the Government to establish a government-backed source of funding for lenders, securing competition in the banking and non-banking sectors.
Phil Naylor, the chief executive of the MFAA, said: “Competition in the market puts downward pressure on rates and helps to ensure that consumers get better variety and choice of home loans.
“We need securitised sources of funding to keep competition alive. The lack of available credit at the moment has the ability to severely impact non-bank lenders in particular, because they don’t take deposits from their customers like the banks do,” he said.
The MFAA will argue its case in a verbal submission to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics.
“We are calling on the Government to give serious consideration to establishing an Australian version of the Canadian Mortgage Bonds program,” Naylor said.
The Canadian mortgage scheme was introduced to allow smaller financial institutions to provide housing finance at comparable rates to larger institutions by providing high quality securities that are backed by a government guarantee.
“The Canadian model improves competition and is an active move by the Government to lower mortgage rates to the consumer. We think this is needed in Australia to ensure competition flourishes,” Naylor said.
Recommended for you
As advisers risk losing two-thirds of FUA during the $3.5 trillion wealth transfer, two co-founders underscore why fostering trust with the next generation is vital to retaining intergenerational wealth.
As advisers seek greater insights into FSCP determinations, what are the various options considered by the panel and can a decision be appealed?
Amid the current financial adviser shortage, advice firm Link Wealth is looking to expand its financial literacy program for high school students across the country.
TAL Risk Academy has updated its range of ethics courses to help financial advisers meet their CPD requirements following adviser feedback, including interpreting FSCP determinations.