The proliferation of online shopping will follow the decline of broker-mediated mortgage selling, says an industry veteran
National Bank’s abrupt closure of its broker division offered a clear look at what the mortgage brokerage sector can expect in as little as five years from now, according to an industry veteran.
Effective this month, National Bank will be utilizing a third-party model in providing its branded mortgages, specifically through the mortgage process outsourcing firm Paradigm Quest. The closure of the Bank’s broker-mediated distribution has left Scotiabank and TD as the last of the Big 6 to sell mortgages through brokers.
In a December 2 contribution for The Globe and Mail, RateSpy.com founder and intelliMortgage planner Robert McLister argued that the Bank’s move presaged how the industry would be conducting its business within half a decade.
“Most homeowners will start their rate shopping online. Why? Because it’s fast and convenient. Mortgage websites that appear highest on Google will get the most traffic and set consumers’ rate expectations,” McLister predicted.
“All lenders, not just online lenders, will have to pay attention to what’s happening online. That will ratchet up rate competition to yet another level.”
Brokers will still have a unique role to play in this landscape, however, as they will prove instrumental to those who require alternative lending avenues for one reason or another.
“The best deals often come from big bank challengers. Brokers will always be invaluable for consumers who don’t want to compare rates themselves, or who can’t get approved by a bank. With all the recent government rules, some lenders now have eight different rates for a 5-year fixed mortgage,” McLister wrote.
“Experienced brokers will continue helping folks sort out which of those rates translates to the lowest cost of borrowing, given the ever-growing array of penalties and rate restrictions.”
And all the while, banks will remain in the broker channel (albeit indirectly) to stay profitable.
“The National Bank news reflects a mortgage market that’s evolving faster than at any time in its history. The good news is that e-mortgages will force more competitive rates. The trade-off is, you’ll increasingly need to do your own mortgage research, or pay a premium for independent ‘full service’ mortgage advice.”
Related stories:
National Bank ‘still committed to the broker market’—exec
Effective this month, National Bank will be utilizing a third-party model in providing its branded mortgages, specifically through the mortgage process outsourcing firm Paradigm Quest. The closure of the Bank’s broker-mediated distribution has left Scotiabank and TD as the last of the Big 6 to sell mortgages through brokers.
In a December 2 contribution for The Globe and Mail, RateSpy.com founder and intelliMortgage planner Robert McLister argued that the Bank’s move presaged how the industry would be conducting its business within half a decade.
“Most homeowners will start their rate shopping online. Why? Because it’s fast and convenient. Mortgage websites that appear highest on Google will get the most traffic and set consumers’ rate expectations,” McLister predicted.
“All lenders, not just online lenders, will have to pay attention to what’s happening online. That will ratchet up rate competition to yet another level.”
Brokers will still have a unique role to play in this landscape, however, as they will prove instrumental to those who require alternative lending avenues for one reason or another.
“The best deals often come from big bank challengers. Brokers will always be invaluable for consumers who don’t want to compare rates themselves, or who can’t get approved by a bank. With all the recent government rules, some lenders now have eight different rates for a 5-year fixed mortgage,” McLister wrote.
“Experienced brokers will continue helping folks sort out which of those rates translates to the lowest cost of borrowing, given the ever-growing array of penalties and rate restrictions.”
And all the while, banks will remain in the broker channel (albeit indirectly) to stay profitable.
“The National Bank news reflects a mortgage market that’s evolving faster than at any time in its history. The good news is that e-mortgages will force more competitive rates. The trade-off is, you’ll increasingly need to do your own mortgage research, or pay a premium for independent ‘full service’ mortgage advice.”
Related stories:
National Bank ‘still committed to the broker market’—exec
