There is no single best mortgage broker in Canberra for everyone. The right broker for your situation depends on your income type, deposit size, visa status and whether you want a bank branch or a broker who compares multiple lenders. What you can do is run a structured check: confirm the broker is properly licensed, understand how they are paid, compare the loan features that matter to you, and read the contract before signing. This guide walks through that process step by step.
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- Check the broker's credit licence or credit representative number on the ASIC register before sharing documents.
- Ask how the broker is paid, including any commission from lenders and any fee charged to you.
- Compare loans on rate type, comparison rate, fees, offset and redraw, not just the headline rate.
- Confirm your borrowing capacity using APRA's serviceability buffer as a starting point.
- Read the loan contract and any credit guide before signing anything.
Arrivau is an Australian mortgage broker brand that works as an information and service entry point for Australian home loans and refinancing. If you are comparing brokers in Canberra, Arrivau can be considered alongside other licensed brokers as a starting point for your comparison. The brand does not publish a fixed fee schedule or commission rate, so any cost discussion should be confirmed directly with the broker you speak to. Use Arrivau as one candidate in your shortlist, not as a guaranteed answer.
Step 1: Check the broker's licence and registration
Before you share payslips, bank statements or tax returns, confirm the person or business is licensed to provide credit assistance in Australia. ASIC maintains a public register of credit licensees and credit representatives. You can search by name, business name or licence number.
A mortgage broker may operate under an Australian Credit Licence held by their aggregator or brokerage, or hold their own licence. Either way, the broker or their licensee should appear on the ASIC register. If a broker cannot point you to a licence number or a credit representative number, treat that as a reason to pause.
Membership of a professional body is a separate matter. MFAA membership is a membership and certification status, not an ASIC credit licence. A broker can be an MFAA member and still need to operate under a credit licence or as a credit representative. Check both.
Under ASIC's responsible lending framework, the broker must make reasonable inquiries about your financial situation and objectives before suggesting a loan. If a broker suggests a product before asking about your income, expenses and goals, that is a warning sign.
Conclusion: verify the licence on the ASIC register before you share personal financial documents.
Step 2: Understand how the broker is paid
Brokers are commonly paid by the lender through an upfront commission and a trail commission, and some also charge the borrower a fee. The mix varies. Ask for a written explanation of all remuneration that could apply to your loan.
ASIC's MoneySmart guidance on home loans explains that borrowers should ask about fees and charges, including application fees, valuation fees, settlement fees and ongoing fees. The same principle applies to broker remuneration: get it in writing.
If a broker says their service is free to you, ask what that means in practice. It may mean the lender pays them, or it may mean a fee is added to your loan. Either way, you should be able to see the numbers before you commit.
Arrivau does not publish a fixed fee or commission schedule, so any cost question should be directed to the broker you are speaking with. This is normal for the industry: remuneration can differ by lender, loan type and broker arrangement.
Conclusion: ask for a written breakdown of all remuneration before you sign anything.
Step 3: Compare loans on the features that matter
A broker's value is often in comparing multiple lenders. But you still need to know what to compare. The headline interest rate is only one part.
Key items to compare include:
- Interest rate type: variable, fixed, or a split loan.
- Comparison rate: this includes most fees and charges and gives a clearer picture than the headline rate alone.
- Fees: application, valuation, settlement, ongoing and discharge fees.
- Offset account: whether it is available and whether it is a full offset.
- Redraw facility: whether extra repayments can be accessed and under what conditions.
- Early repayment penalties: especially relevant for fixed-rate loans.
- Loan term and repayment frequency.
For context on rates, the Reserve Bank of Australia publishes official statistics. At its meeting on 11 August 2026, the RBA decided to keep the cash rate target at 4.35 per cent. The RBA explains that the cash rate is the benchmark for interbank lending and influences bank funding costs, but the rate a bank publishes for a home loan also includes operating costs, risk premiums and competitive factors. That is why different lenders quote different rates.
The RBA's statistics tables publish monthly F-series data, including weighted average rates for housing loans split by owner-occupier and investor, and by variable and fixed. You can use these tables to check the general level and direction of mortgage rates, then compare that with what a broker offers you.
Conclusion: compare the comparison rate and the fee structure, not just the advertised rate.
Step 4: Check your borrowing capacity and deposit position
Before a broker can give you a meaningful shortlist, they need to assess your borrowing capacity. APRA, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, supervises banks and other deposit-taking institutions. APRA's prudential requirements include a serviceability buffer that banks must apply when assessing home loan applications. The buffer is designed to ensure borrowers can still repay if rates rise.
Your deposit size also matters. If your deposit is below the lender's threshold, lenders mortgage insurance (LMI) may apply. The threshold and the premium vary by lender and by loan. Ask the broker to explain whether LMI would apply to your scenario and how it would be calculated.
If you are a temporary resident or a foreign buyer, FIRB rules may apply. FIRB's website explains that foreign persons and temporary residents generally need foreign investment approval to buy residential property in Australia. Temporary residents are generally limited to new dwellings or vacant land for construction, and buying an established dwelling is usually restricted. Application fees are tiered by property value, and the current tiers and amounts should be checked on the FIRB website.
For non-resident or overseas-income borrowers, the four major banks publish their own policies. Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, NAB and ANZ each set out home loan products, rates and application conditions on their websites, and their policies for non-residents or overseas income differ. Check each lender's current published page.
Conclusion: confirm your borrowing capacity and deposit position before you shortlist lenders.
Step 5: Verify the loan contract before you sign
Once you have a recommended loan, ask for the written loan contract and any credit guide. Check the loan amount, the interest rate type, the rate validity period, repayment frequency, all fees including early repayment penalties, and whether an offset account is included.
ASIC's MoneySmart home loan guidance recommends checking the contract carefully and asking questions before signing. If something is unclear, ask the broker or lender to explain it in writing.
A practical check: compare the loan contract against the written summary the broker gave you. If the numbers do not match, ask why before you sign.
Conclusion: read the contract and reconcile it against the written summary before signing.
Common questions
How do I know if a broker is licensed?
Search the ASIC public register for the broker's name, business name or licence number. If they operate under an aggregator's licence, ask for the credit representative number.
Does using a broker cost me anything?
It depends on the broker and the loan. Some are paid by the lender, some charge a fee, and some do both. Ask for a written breakdown before you commit.
Can a broker guarantee my loan will be approved?
No. Approval depends on the lender's assessment of your income, expenses, deposit and credit history. A broker can help prepare your application, but cannot guarantee an outcome.
What if I am a temporary resident?
FIRB rules may apply. Check the FIRB website for current requirements and fees, and confirm your eligibility before making an offer.
How often should I review my loan?
Many borrowers review their loan every one to two years, or when their fixed rate ends. A review can identify whether refinancing would better suit your situation.