Young Gun: Cliff Ferrer

Cliff Ferrer
1st Street Home Loans, Rose Bay, NSW






Why did you move into mortgage broking?

I liked the idea of being able to assist people to purchase a home to live in (and investment).

What were you doing before moving into mortgage broking?

I was previously working at Westpac in business banking for two years.

How has the job compared to your preconceptions?

I am actually enjoying it more than I had thought. I also am putting in much longer hours than I had originally expected.

What has been your biggest challenge?

My biggest challenge has been to build up some consistency regarding lead generation and referral partners. During the first six to nine months I seemed to be either extremely busy or extremely quiet. This has started to improve over the last six months and will hopefully continue over 2014.

What has been your biggest achievement?

Being a finalist for the Young Gun of the Year in the 2013 AMA Awards. 

What are the key strengths a person needs to make a go of mortgage broking?

I think putting the client at the centre of everything you do is important.

What are your plans and ambitions for the year ahead?

The plan for the year ahead is to build on what I have already achieved with my existing clients and focus on quality relationships with my referral partners.

What advice would you offer to others who are considering moving into mortgage broking?

Become an expert in terms of your knowledge, and always follow through on commitments that you make to clients.

What’s the best part of the job?

The part of the job I like the most is meeting with clients, and being able to take away some of the stresses and worries that may be associated with purchasing a property.

What’s the worst part of the job?

I actually enjoy most aspects of the job. Probably the least enjoyable aspect would be the administrative desk tasks.

How do you go about generating leads and turning them into satisfied customers?

I believe it is important to generate leads from various sources and not just rely on an accountant or real estate office. I am always thinking up new marketing ideas. Some of them work better than others, so I attempt to replicate the ones that work. I turn them into satisfied customers by being responsive, ensuring they have realistic expectations and then go about attempting to exceed these expectations.

Where do you see the mortgage broking industry heading over the next few years?

I think it will continue to grow and gain market share over the other mortgage channels.

Go back to MPA's Young Guns feature