Mortgages
Opes Mortgages vs other mortgage brokers – What’s the difference?
Learn the 6 differences between Opes Mortgages and other advisers. That way you can decide if we are a good fit for you (or not).
Mortgages
8 min read
Author: Andrew Nicol
Managing Director, 20+ Years' Experience Investing In Property, Author & Host
Reviewed by: Peter Norris
Mortgage broker for over 10 years, property investor and Managing Director at Opes Mortgages
Based on my experience, the top 10 mortgage brokers in New Zealand are:
Mortgage brokers are the middlemen between you and the banks (or other lenders).
Here at Opes Partners, we often get asked: “Should I use a mortgage broker?” and “If I do use one, which one should I use?”
Around 60% of Kiwi mortgages are arranged through brokers, according to Cotality. In most cases, they don’t charge you a fee directly. Instead, they’re paid a commission by the lender once your loan goes through.
In this article, you’ll learn who the top mortgage brokers are in New Zealand and who they tend to work with.
Location: Auckland and Christchurch
Opes Mortgages specialises in helping property investors get money to grow their portfolios.
That could be for your first investment property, or your 40th. They really specialise in helping investors get loans for New Build investment properties.
They can still help you if you aren’t a property investor. But, investment mortgages are their bread and butter.
Managing Director of Opes Mortgages, Peter Norris leads the team of 17. And the company has two offices in Auckland and Christchurch.
Like some others on this list, Opes Mortgages advisers are salary-based. So they are not incentivised to push you towards a bank that pays them higher commissions.
One thing that makes Opes Mortgages different from others on this list is its focus on technology. Property investors can use their app (Opes+) to analyse their investment portfolio. And then see your mortgage information within the app.
Now, it is important to point out that Opes Mortgages is the company I own, and you’re reading this article on an Opes website.
So, including my own company on this list could seem biased.
That’s why in previous versions of this list, I didn’t include Opes Mortgages. But, then people started saying to me: “Andrew, I didn’t know I could get a mortgage from Opes. I thought you just had a website with lots of content.”
To make sure you know all your options for mortgage advisers, I decided to include Opes Mortgages on this list.
But here are 9 others you might like to choose.

Location: Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch
Squirrel is one of the largest mortgage brokers in the country. They’ve been around for 18 years, and have helped clients with over $22 billion worth of mortgages.
The team of 51 advisers is one of the few mortgage brokers that are paid a salary rather than commission. That means advisers get paid the same no matter which lender you end up with.
Founder, John Bolton feels mortgage brokers offer better impartial advice this way. That way, you can be sure they’re doing the right thing by you, with no other intentions.
Squirrel has its own mortgage products, which can be useful for borrowers who fall outside the banks’ usual criteria.
And last year, Squirrel set up a specialist team called the Property Finance Unit (PFU). This was to help group builders and smaller developers get financing for development projects.
It’s also worth noting that Squirrel has advisers who speak Afrikaans, Cantonese, Hindi and Mandarin.
This could be an attractive option for those who want to converse in their first language.

Location: Christchurch, North Canterbury and Nelson
Tony Mounce Mortgages is one of the largest mortgage brokers in the South Island.
While their mortgage brokers are based in:
They work throughout New Zealand. From first home buyers through to property investors.
Tony Mounce Mortgages was founded and is still led by Tony Mounce. He is a mortgage legend, and we refer to him as “the bank whisperer”.
Tony worked for BNZ for so long he often knows lending policy better than some of the bank’s own staff. He uses that understanding to get mortgages approved.
But Tony is also busy. A lot of people want to work with him.
This means he’s not the sort of broker who will sit down with you over lunch to explain the basics of how a mortgage works.
If that’s the sort of hands-on advice you are looking for, then it may pay to work with another one of his colleagues.
The company has also created a new insurance division, TMx. This means they can advise you on life and health insurance from the providers they work with.

Location: Arrowtown
Roost is the only broker on this list that specialises in the Otago region.
They have access to 31 lenders, both bank and non-bank options. So you’ve pretty much got all the options available.
This can be valuable for borrowers who want flexibility or investors looking to split banks. Roost directors, Mark Pullar and Toby Stanley, feature on NZ Adviser’s best mortgage brokers in New Zealand (2025).
Unlike others on this list, Roost only does mortgages. They don’t do insurance, investments, or KiwiSaver.
Why? They believe in specialising in one area ... and that’s mortgages.
But if you’re looking for expertise in the lower South Island, the team at Roost may be the right fit for you.

Location: Nationwide
Stephanie Murray Mortgages is a well-established advisory firm.
The company has mortgage advisors in:
And many more.
The team works with first-home buyers, investors and homeowners looking to refinance. They have access to a wide range of banks and non-bank lenders.
Stephanie Murray Mortgages has a strong reputation for clear communication and support.
You can work directly with director Stephanie Murray, or choose from one of the other advisers on her team.
Each adviser lists their specialities, making it easier to find the right fit for your situation.

Location: Nationwide
New Zealand Home Loans (NZHL) is one of the largest brokers on this list, with over 70 franchises across the country. That scale means their processes are well-sorted, and they have a reputable brand.
NZHL is unique in that its primary focus is to help Kiwis pay off their mortgages faster.
It’s important to know that NZHL is a sister-company to Kiwibank. They’re both owned by Kiwi Group Capital.
That’s one of the reasons why Kiwibank is one of just three lenders most NZHL advisers work with: Kiwibank, ASB and Liberty Financial.
That’s why NZHL may not be the right fit if you're looking to split-bank ... or if you want a broker who can work with lots of different banks.
Instead, they specialise in helping homeowners pay down debt. And they have their own software (Debtnav) to help you do it.
It’s important to note that while NZHL doesn’t change for consultation, there are some fees.
For home loans, NZHL charges an application fee of:
But if you want a mortgage broker to help you pay off your home loan more quickly, NZHL could be the right fit.

Location: Nationwide
Loan Market is one of the larger mortgage broking groups in New Zealand, with advisers operating nationwide. That scale means:
Importantly, Loan Market is not owned by a bank.
That independence gives its advisers access to a wide panel of more than 25 lenders. (That's both major banks and non-bank options).
This can be valuable for borrowers who want flexibility. Particularly, investors who are considering a split-banking strategy.
If working with a recognised national brand matters to you, Loan Market is a solid option.

Location: Nationwide
The Vega team is a huge advisory firm. There are 91 advisers on staff to help you with mortgages, business loans, insurance and Kiwisaver.
They can even help you get a car loan.
Many Vega advisers highlight banking experience. So they’re bringing genuine insider insight to your mortgage application.
This means they know what their 21 lenders are looking for, and they structure your application strategically.
But unlike some others on this list, Vega brokers often get a commission when a mortgage is approved.
Vega works with clients right across New Zealand, take your pick of who you want to work with.

Location: Auckland
Next on this list is Twine Financial Advisers, from Auckland.
The company was founded in 2017, by Eugene Bartsaikin.
The team works with property investors, first-home buyers and homeowners. That’s both for getting a new home loan, or moving to a new bank.
What sets Twine apart is their strategic approach. Rather than just arranging a loan, they focus on building a personalised mortgage plan around each client’s long-term goals.
They also offer ongoing loan reviews and renewal support. This can be particularly valuable when interest rates and lending rules are constantly changing.

Use this tool and find out in 2 minutes
Quiz: Can I afford an investment property?Location: Auckland
The last broker on our list is Kris Pedersen Mortgages. This company has a strong focus on property investors.
The firm is a recognised supporter of the property investment community. They are one of the sponsors of the Auckland Property Investors’ Association.
The brokerage specialises in investment lending and works with investors using different strategies. On the website, they label themselves “for investors, by investors”.
So, if you’re an investor (just starting out or looking to grow your portfolio) Kris Pedersen Mortgages might be a good fit.
It positions itself as a firm that understands the practical realities of building wealth through property.

Many investors and first home buyers benefit from using a mortgage broker.
But that’s not to try to chase the lowest interest rate. Instead, mortgage advisers will try to find the right lender and set up your loan properly from day one. Get that wrong, and it can cost you for years.
That’s where a broker earns their keep.
They navigate the maze of lenders, policies and fine print every single day. They know which banks suit which situations. They know how to package an application so it actually gets approved.
There aren’t many true “no-brainers” in property, but for me, using a mortgage broker is one of them for most people.
They do the donkey work, and a well-presented application can improve your chances of getting your mortgage approved.
Especially when you don’t typically pay them. Most of the time, they get paid by the bank.
Managing Director, 20+ Years' Experience Investing In Property, Author & Host
Andrew Nicol, Managing Director at Opes Partners, is a seasoned financial adviser and property investment expert with 20+ years of experience. With 40 investment properties, he hosts the Property Academy Podcast, co-authored 'Wealth Plan' with Ed Mcknight, and has helped 1,894 Kiwis achieve financial security through property investment.
This article is for your general information. It’s not financial advice. See here for details about our Financial Advice Provider Disclosure. So Opes isn’t telling you what to do with your own money.
We’ve made every effort to make sure the information is accurate. But we occasionally get the odd fact wrong. Make sure you do your own research or talk to a financial adviser before making any investment decisions.
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