Best Mortgage Brokers in New Zealand
We assessed 190 mortgage brokers in New Zealand and ranked the top 5 on their public review record: rating quality, review volume and how recent the reviews are. The 10 listed below hold 8,060 Google reviews between them. No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Last updated 15 August 2026. How we rank →
Before you hire
A mortgage broker accesses multiple lenders and can often find better rates or structures than going directly to a bank. Ask how many lenders they work with, whether they are paid a commission by the lender, and how they will explain your options if the cheapest rate is not necessarily the best structure for your situation.
Top 5 Mortgage Brokers in New Zealand
The top 5 mortgage brokers in New Zealand are Squirrel, Squirrel Mortgages, Loan Market Central, Loan Market Paulette Trotter, and MortgageMe, ranked by Top5 score. Scroll for our take on each, plus what to ask before you choose.
-
1
Squirrel (formerly The Home Loan Shop)
★ 5.0 968 reviews Top5 Score 2025★ 951 4★ 12 1★ 5Squirrel gets first home buyers and refinancers to settlement, with named advisers including Nelson, Blake, Steven, Rose, and Oli each working through the full process from initial inquiry to approved loan. When one bank says no, advisers pivot to another lender without drama, and they connect clients with referrals for lawyers and insurance so the whole purchase stays coordinated.
Reviews most often describe: First home buyers wanting patient, plain-language guidance
- ✓ Advisers answer repeated questions across the full purchase process
- ✓ Switches lenders mid-process when one bank creates a roadblock
- ✓ Explains mortgage terms in plain language first home buyers can follow
location_on 34 Manners Street, Te Aro, Wellington
-
2
Squirrel Mortgages & Investments
★ 4.9 922 reviews Top5 Score 2015★ 883 4★ 15 3★ 6 2★ 3 1★ 15Squirrel Mortgages matches clients buying first homes, refinancing, and purchasing investment properties with named advisers who carry them through the full process, including loan structuring, fixed-rate options, revolving credit, and bank negotiations. Advisers like Sam, Jessica, Shiva, and Tina are each known for responding outside business hours and securing rates and cashback clients say they could not have found independently.
Reviews most often describe: Buyers wanting a named adviser from inquiry to settlement
- ✓ Advisers available for calls on evenings and weekends when needed
- ✓ Bank negotiations regularly result in competitive rates and cashback
- ✓ First home buyers guided through every question without time pressure
location_on 29 Sale Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland
-
3
Loan Market Central | Mortgage Advisers
★ 5.0 841 reviews Top5 Score 2005★ 834 4★ 7Loan Market Central takes first home buyers, refinancers, and returning clients through loan structuring, KiwiSaver guidance, and insurance checks, with named advisers including Vijay, Cameron, Courtney, and Samantha each carrying clients from first inquiry through to settlement. Beyond the loan itself, advisers flag savings opportunities in connected areas like insurance, and clients on tight settlement timelines credit the team for keeping everything on track without needing to be chased.
Reviews most often describe: First home buyers and refinancers wanting proactive mortgage structuring
- ✓ Advisers check insurance and KiwiSaver deals alongside the mortgage
- ✓ Tight settlement deadlines met without clients needing to follow up
- ✓ Regular, proactive updates kept clients informed at every stage
location_on 381 Remuera Road, Remuera, Auckland
-
4
Loan Market - Paulette Trotter East Auckland
★ 5.0 1,028 reviews Top5 Score 2005★ 1,024 4★ 4Loan Market Paulette Trotter fights for approvals on difficult applications, including low-deposit buyers carrying personal debt, and has secured rate matches plus cashback from existing lenders when switching would have cost clients more. Paulette and her team, including Rachel and Maureen, coordinate directly with lawyers and banks to resolve hold-ups, so clients are not left chasing answers themselves.
Reviews most often describe: Complex or unconventional cases other brokers might avoid
- ✓ Advised clients to stay put when switching would cost them more
- ✓ Negotiated cashback deals alongside competitive rate fixes for clients
- ✓ Multiple reviews cite repeat use across several years and purchases
location_on 5h Aviemore Drive, Highland Park, Auckland
-
5
MortgageMe
★ 5.0 785 reviews Top5 Score 1985★ 769 4★ 13 3★ 1 1★ 2MortgageMe guides first home buyers through the full purchase process, with named advisers including Marie, Hayden, Becky, and Daryl each handling loan structuring, deposit breakdowns, and bank submissions from start to settlement. Advisers take the time to explain loan options clients did not know existed, and prepare structured to-do lists and expectation guides so buyers always know what is coming next.
Reviews most often describe: First home buyers wanting a named, hands-on adviser
- ✓ Named adviser manages the process from inquiry through to settlement
- ✓ Repeat clients return to the same adviser for subsequent mortgages
- ✓ Advisers present loan options clients were unaware of before meeting
location_on 155 Princes Street, Central Dunedin, Dunedin
Before you choose a mortgage broker in New Zealand
Drawn from 200 customer reviews collected for this page. The first answer is what it costs.
What does a mortgage broker cost, and who pays? expand_more
Using a mortgage broker costs you nothing directly in most cases. Lenders pay brokers an upfront commission of around 0.55% to 0.85% of your loan amount, plus a trail commission of 0.15% to 0.20% per year on your outstanding balance. Under the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013, brokers licensed through the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) must disclose these commissions to you in writing before giving advice. Ask for a breakdown of what each lender pays your broker, so you can judge whether the recommendation suits your needs or the broker's pay packet.
Do brokers have access to all banks and lenders, or just some? expand_more
No broker in New Zealand works with every lender on the market. Most operate from a panel of roughly 10 to 20 lenders, which may include registered banks, non-bank lenders, and specialist lenders, depending on which aggregator group the broker belongs to. Ask any broker upfront for their full lender list and whether it includes non-bank options, since some panels exclude lenders that might suit your situation better. To verify you are getting a competitive deal, approach at least one lender directly and compare what you are offered against what your broker has sourced.
What can a broker do that I couldn't do going direct to a bank? expand_more
A broker compares live offers across multiple lenders at once, which reviewers credit with securing rates and cashback deals that clients could not get by walking into a bank themselves. Brokers also know which lenders are currently open to specific borrower profiles, whether that means a single income, dependants, a complex deposit structure, or a property with issues, saving you from wasting time on applications likely to be declined. Beyond rate hunting, they handle the paperwork, liaise directly with lawyers, and push banks for answers when a due diligence deadline is approaching, which multiple reviewers identified as the difference between a settled purchase and a stalled one.
What are the warning signs of a mortgage broker you shouldn't use? expand_more
- –You are the one chasing updates rather than receiving them; one reviewer described having to follow up repeatedly just to get basic information during an active mortgage process.
- –Key fees or commissions, such as ongoing KiwiSaver adviser payments, are buried in written documents but never explained verbally during your meeting.
- –The broker recommends a product, such as a higher-fee KiwiSaver fund, without explaining why it suits your risk profile better than lower-cost alternatives.
- –Appointments run late or are poorly organised at critical moments like pre-approval deadlines, signalling the broker is not treating your timeline as a priority.
- –Errors or misunderstandings keep recurring during the process, which suggests poor attention to detail on a transaction where the numbers need to be right.
What should you ask before choosing a mortgage broker? expand_more
- –Which lenders are on your panel, and are there any major banks or non-bank lenders you do not have access to?
- –How are you paid, and can you give me a written breakdown of the commission each lender would pay you on my loan?
- –How will you keep me updated throughout the process, and what is your typical response time when I send a question?
- –Will you handle all the paperwork and liaise with my lawyer directly, or will I need to manage those communications myself?
- –How quickly can you realistically get pre-approval in place, and what can delay that timeline for someone in my situation?
- –Have you worked with borrowers in a similar situation to mine, such as the same income structure, deposit size, or property type?
Mortgage Brokers ranked 6 to 10 in New Zealand
They scored below the top 5 on the same public review record.
-
6
Loan Market Dunedin
★ 5.0 816 reviews Top5 Score 1985★ 804 4★ 10 2★ 1 1★ 1Loan Market Dunedin takes first home buyers, repeat purchasers, and clients adding renovation loans through the full mortgage process, with named advisers including Gary, Jacqui, Ben, Ryan, and Sally each carrying clients from first inquiry to settled loan. Clients return across multiple properties and years, with some keeping Gary as their adviser after relocating to another city entirely.
Reviews most often describe: First home buyers and repeat purchasers wanting long-term broker relationships
- ✓ Advisers guide first home buyers through every step to settlement
- ✓ Clients return for multiple purchases and top-ups over many years
- ✓ Complex challenges resolved with advisers working in clients' best interests
location_on 274 Stuart Street, Central Dunedin, Dunedin
-
7
Squirrel South Island (formerly NZ Mortgages)
★ 4.9 669 reviews Top5 Score 1965★ 650 4★ 10 3★ 1 1★ 8Squirrel South Island covers first home purchases, refinancing, and mortgage renewals, with named advisers including Ange, Ed, Mark, Tasmania, Holly, Ari, Jamie, Nathan, Faye, and Adam each working clients through from initial inquiry to settled loan. Advisers are known for sitting down in person to walk through lending options and interest rates, and for staying patient through lengthy timelines when buyers are still finding the right property.
Reviews most often describe: First home buyers and refinancers wanting calm, clear guidance
- ✓ Advisers negotiate rates clients say beat what banks offered directly
- ✓ First home buyers guided through offers, timelines, and lawyer coordination
- ✓ Self-employed and lower-deposit applications taken through to approval
location_on 575 Wairakei Road, Burnside, Christchurch
-
8
Home Loan Factory
★ 5.0 631 reviews Top5 Score 1955★ 628 4★ 1 1★ 2Home Loan Factory takes first home buyers, refinancers, and clients refixing existing loans through the full process, with named advisers including Deepak, Divya, Gagan, Andrew, and Andy each staying available from first inquiry through to settlement. When applications face complications, like single-income households with dependants, advisers map out alternative options and work in the background between client contact so momentum is not lost.
Reviews most often describe: First home buyers and refinancers wanting consistent personal support
- ✓ Secured approvals for single-income applicants with dependant children
- ✓ Cashback and rate negotiation when switching banks at refix time
- ✓ Multiple named brokers each carry their own clients start to finish
location_on 103 Johnsonville Road, Johnsonville, Wellington
-
9
Global Financial Services
★ 4.9 878 reviews Top5 Score 1955★ 842 4★ 21 3★ 1 2★ 4 1★ 10Global Financial Services handles first home purchases, refinancing, and mortgage refixing, with named advisers including Gurjeet, Ayush, Parveer, Kushal, and Rohan each guiding clients through the full process. Beyond initial approval, advisers structure loans to shorten repayment terms, flag refixing opportunities unprompted, and step in for each other so clients stay supported when their usual contact is away.
Reviews most often describe: Clients wanting long-term mortgage management and proactive refixing
- ✓ Advisers proactively contact clients when home loans are due for refixing
- ✓ Backup advisers like Darshan step in seamlessly when primary broker is away
- ✓ Complex financial structures explained in plain language throughout the process
location_on Kudos Business Centre, 19/203 Kirkbride Road, Māngere, Auckland
-
10
Rayen & Wood Financial Services
★ 5.0 522 reviews Top5 Score 1945★ 516 4★ 4 1★ 2Rayen & Wood secured pre-approval for a first home buyer with only a 5% deposit when other advisers declined to explore the option, and helped another client discover they could use KiwiSaver alone as a deposit. Advisers Elina, Logan, and Abby are each known for staying in regular contact throughout the full process, including during quiet stretches when no immediate progress is happening.
Reviews most often describe: Low-deposit buyers and complex cases needing persistence
- ✓ Secured home loan approval with only a 5% deposit for buyers
- ✓ Advisers respond quickly to emails and keep clients regularly updated
- ✓ Loan consolidations and refinancing turned around within hours of contact
location_on 189 Montreal Street, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch
About this ranking
How are the top mortgage brokers in New Zealand chosen? expand_more
This national page is built from our city rankings, so a business appears here only if it already ranks in one of the cities we cover. Each one is scored on its public rating and review record. Businesses outside the area, or whose reviews describe a different line of work, are left out. See how we rank for the full method.
How often are rankings updated? expand_more
Every category and city is recrawled on a rolling cycle, about once a month. This page was last checked on 15 August 2026.
Can a business pay to appear in this list? expand_more
No. Top 5 and Also Recommended positions are merit-only and cannot be purchased. Verifying a business is free. A subscription adds a website link on the card, a public profile page, and competitor and ranking history in the owner's dashboard, none of which affects ranking position. See what a subscription includes.
Why isn't my business listed? expand_more
This national page is built from our city rankings, so a business appears here only if it already ranks in one of the cities we cover. The usual reasons for missing out are a Google Business category that does not match, too few reviews to score near the top, or an address outside the area we cover. At the last update, the smallest review count among the 10 businesses listed here was 522. Check where you rank or read how rankings work.