The Best Mortgage Brokers in Adelaide
Six Adelaide mortgage brokerages chosen on review depth, lender panel breadth and post-settlement service. Compiled from Word of Mouth, RateMyAgent, Three Best Rated and direct broker research. Updated quarterly.
Position #1 is the featured slot, a paid placement that is openly labelled in the entry itself. Featured businesses still have to clear our published editorial bar to be on the list at all. Paying does not bypass quality. All other positions are editorial selections presented in no particular order, these are recommendations rather than a strict ranking. We re-walk every list every six months.
A broker is usually free, here is why
For a standard owner-occupier or investor loan, a mortgage broker costs you nothing. They are paid a commission by the lender at settlement, not by you. Some brokers do charge a fee for complex commercial or self-employed cases, and a good one tells you that up front.
The value is choice. A broker compares 30 to 70 or more lender products in a single application, where a bank only sells its own. For first-home buyers, refinancers and anyone outside the standard salaried profile, that comparison almost always beats walking into your own bank.
Check the licence, and ask about clawback
Every broker must hold or work under an Australian Credit Licence, which you can check on ASIC's registers at asic.gov.au. Membership of the MFAA or FBAA is a further positive signal, as both run disciplinary registers and require ongoing training.
Then ask one specific question: how do you handle clawback? If you refinance or pay out the loan within 18 to 24 months, the lender reclaims part of the broker's commission. Some brokers wear it, others pass it to you as a disclosed fee. You want to know which before you sign, not after.
Solo broker or a brokerage
A solo broker means you deal with the same person from the first call through to settlement and beyond, which suits clients who value one relationship and one point of contact. A larger brokerage brings more capacity and backup, at the cost of sometimes being handed between people.
Neither is better in the abstract. If your situation is straightforward and you just want it handled, capacity helps. If it is complex or you want someone who knows your whole picture, the single-broker model usually serves you better.
Judge on post-settlement, not settlement day
Almost every broker looks good on settlement day. The real test is the years after: whether they review your rate when the market moves, flag a worthwhile refinance and pick up the phone when you call. That is where most of the long-term value of a broker actually sits.
The brokers on this list were chosen partly because their reviews keep mentioning service after the loan settled, not just the deal itself. When you read reviews, weight the ones written months or years later.
Comparison table
| # | Name | Area | Best for | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Rise High Financial Solutions | Adelaide | Award-winning brokerage with deep lender panel | 5(4) |
| 02 | Rachael Howlett (Mortgage Broker) | Adelaide | Highest-rated individual broker, 2026 RateMyAgent Award winner | 4.9(115) |
| 03 | Loans Combined | Adelaide | Strong general-purpose brokerage, well-rated team | 5(378) |
| 04 | Loan Market Lee Banh | Adelaide CBD | 5.0 / 168 reviews, 60+ lender panel, bilingual capacity | 5(168) |
| 05 | Zanda Wealth Mortgage Brokers | Adelaide | Wealth-focused approach with mortgage as part of broader financial plan | 4.9(140) |
| 06 | Castle Mortgages | Fullarton | Adelaide local boutique, 5.0/39 reviews, handles bad-credit options | 5(39) |
Rise High Financial Solutions
Adelaide-based brokerage with a 5.0 rating across 839 Google reviews, one of the deepest review counts of any Adelaide broker. Won Industry and Community Broker Group of the Year 2023 at the Australian Finance Group Broker Awards. Access to over 200 green loan products and 70+ trusted lenders, materially broader than most brokers. Strong fit for first-home-buyers, investors and clients with green-loan eligibility.
- •5.0 rating across 839 Google reviews
- •AFG Industry & Community Broker Group of the Year 2023
- •Access to 70+ lenders and 200+ green loan products
- •First home buyer, investor, refinance specialists
Rachael Howlett (Mortgage Broker)
Individual broker with 5.0 across 272 reviews on RateMyAgent. 2026 Award Winner, both State Winner and National Winner on RateMyAgent. Single-broker model means you deal directly with the same person from initial enquiry to post-settlement service. Best fit for clients who want a personal relationship rather than a brokerage handover model.
- •5.0 / 272 reviews on RateMyAgent
- •2026 RateMyAgent State and National Award Winner
- •Solo broker model: single point of contact
- •Strong post-settlement engagement
Loans Combined
5.0 overall star rating on Google across 258 reviews. Team brokerage format, multiple brokers, each handling a slice of the client load. Best fit for general home loan, refinance and investor cases. Lower profile than Rise High and Natloans but consistent five-star performance over a meaningful sample size.
- •5.0 / 258 Google reviews
- •Team brokerage with multiple brokers
- •General home loan, refinance, investor focus
- •Consistent service over a meaningful sample
Loan Market Lee Banh
Adelaide CBD broker operating under Loan Market's ACL 390222, with access to a 60+ lender panel. 5.0 across 168 Google reviews plus 183 five-star aggregated reviews across other platforms. Specialises in refinances, investment properties, first-home buyers and construction loans. Reviews repeatedly cite securing finance after major banks declined. Strong post-settlement engagement and bilingual capacity (Vietnamese) widens reach. Adelaide-based with a clear track record, not a satellite of an interstate brand. Best fit for clients who want a high-touch service from a single broker through settlement and beyond.
- •5.0 / 168 Google reviews + 183 aggregated five-stars
- •60+ lender panel via Loan Market (ACL 390222)
- •Refinance, investment, first-home, construction specialty
- •Bilingual (Vietnamese), CBD office
Zanda Wealth Mortgage Brokers
4.9 star rating across 118 reviews. Differentiator is the wealth-focused framing, mortgage is positioned as one component of a broader financial plan rather than a standalone product. Best fit for clients who want their broker to think about cash flow, offset structure and long-term equity build, not just rate.
- •4.9 / 118 Google reviews
- •Wealth-management framing on mortgage decisions
- •Cash flow and offset structure planning
- •Suits longer-term financial planning clients
Castle Mortgages
Fullarton-based family-owned boutique brokerage with 10+ years operating. 5.0 across 39 Google reviews. Works with a 60+ lender panel covering home loans, vehicle, commercial, asset finance and specialty bad-credit options that most brokers turn away. Personal-service model where clients deal with the same broker from first call through to settlement and beyond. Smaller review base than the top picks on this list but represents the genuine Adelaide local broker category, best fit for clients who want a single relationship rather than passing through a national-brand pipeline.
- •5.0 / 39 Google reviews, 10+ years operating
- •60+ lender panel including bad-credit specialty
- •Same broker from first call to post-settlement
- •Family-owned Adelaide boutique, no national overlay
Frequently asked
Do mortgage brokers cost me anything?+
Almost always no. Brokers are paid commission by the lender at settlement, not by you. Some brokers charge a fee for complex commercial or self-employed cases, they will tell you up front if so. For standard PAYG owner-occupier and investor loans, broker service is free to the borrower.
How do I check if my broker is properly licensed?+
Search ASIC's Professional Registers at asic.gov.au. Every broker must hold or work under an Australian Credit Licence. MFAA or FBAA membership is an additional positive signal, both maintain disciplinary registers and require ongoing CPD.
What is a clawback and why does it matter?+
If you refinance or pay out a loan within 18-24 months of settlement, the lender 'claws back' part of the broker's commission. Some brokers pass this clawback on to you via a fee disclosed up front; others wear it. Ask before signing.
Should I use a broker or go direct to a bank?+
Brokers compare 30-70+ lender products in one application; banks only sell their own. For first home buyers, refinances or anyone outside the standard PAYG profile, a broker almost always finds a better deal. For very simple cases with a strong existing bank relationship, going direct can also work.
