Mortgage Brokers on the Northern Beaches
We're based in Forestville, and most of our clients live a short drive from the office. Buying, refinancing or investing anywhere from Seaforth to Narrabeen, we compare 60+ lenders and do the legwork for you.
A Northern Beaches brokerage
Sabea was started in 2021 by Mitchell and Loren Shad, and our office is at 16 The Centre, Forestville. The Beaches is home turf. We've financed homes on the same streets our brokers live on, and we know which parts of the area lenders treat differently.
We're a small team, so you deal with the same broker from the first call through to settlement and afterwards. We check in on your loan after it settles too, because a loan that suited you on day one doesn't always suit you two years later.
What lending looks like across the Beaches
The Northern Beaches isn't one market. The questions a lender asks about a Dee Why apartment are different to the ones they ask about a Terrey Hills acreage. Here's what we see most in each part of the area.
The Forest district
Mostly family houses on decent blocks, and a lot of upgraders who want to stay near the same schools. Buying before you've sold is common, and so are knockdown-rebuilds and big renovations on older homes. Those need construction loans with staged payments, which take more planning than a standard purchase.
Manly, Fairlight, Balgowlah and Seaforth
Higher prices and bigger loans, with plenty of apartments near the water and houses with views. Apartments bring building-level checks, and views and slopes make valuations less predictable. Larger loans also narrow the list of lenders that will look at the file without extra conditions.
The beach suburbs north of Manly
A mix of apartment blocks along the beach strip and family houses further back. Dee Why and Collaroy have a lot of units, which suits first home buyers and investors. Some beachfront land has a history of coastal erosion, and valuers and lenders take that into account.
Brookvale, Cromer and Narraweena
Brookvale's industrial and commercial area means we see a lot of business owners, tradies and self-employed borrowers here. Their income is assessed differently to a salary, and some lenders handle it much better than others. Commercial property loans come up more often here too.
Terrey Hills
Acreage and rural-residential land. Many lenders limit how much land they'll accept as security on a standard home loan, so a big block can rule out a lender before your income is even assessed. It's worth checking the property early.
General information only. It is not credit advice and it is not specific to any one lender, and lender policies change. Talk to us about your own situation.
How we work with you
- A conversation first. We talk through what you're buying or changing, your income and your plans, and tell you plainly what looks possible.
- Lenders compared. We look across 60+ lenders for the ones whose policy suits you and the property, not just the lowest advertised rate.
- One application, prepared properly. We lodge with the lender we've agreed on, rather than firing off several applications that all show on your credit file.
- Through to settlement. We deal with the lender, the valuer and your solicitor or conveyancer until the loan settles.
- Afterwards. We check in after settlement to see whether the loan still suits you.
For most residential home loans there is no cost to you. Brokers are generally paid a commission by the lender once a loan settles, and we disclose that to you in writing before you proceed. Some commercial or specialised lending carries a fee, which we would always agree with you in advance rather than at the end.
We also cover the North Shore, and you can see every suburb we serve.
Northern Beaches Mortgage Broker FAQs
Which mortgage brokers are based on the Northern Beaches?
Sabea is one. We're a mortgage brokerage at 16 The Centre, Forestville, started in 2021 by Mitchell and Loren Shad. We work with buyers, refinancers and investors across the Northern Beaches and the North Shore, and compare home loans from 60+ lenders.
How do I choose a mortgage broker on the Northern Beaches?
Look for someone who is licensed, compares a wide panel of lenders, explains how they're paid, and will still be around after settlement. Local knowledge helps too, because lenders treat some property types here differently. Our guide on choosing a mortgage broker on the Northern Beaches goes through the questions to ask.
Does it cost anything to use a mortgage broker?
For most residential home loans there is no cost to you. Brokers are generally paid a commission by the lender once a loan settles, and we disclose that to you in writing before you proceed. Some commercial or specialised lending carries a fee, which we would always agree with you in advance rather than at the end.
Can I meet a broker in person?
Yes. You can come to our Forestville office, or we can meet somewhere local. Plenty of clients prefer phone and video, and that works just as well.
Do you only work with Northern Beaches clients?
No. Most of our clients are on the Northern Beaches and North Shore, but we arrange loans across Sydney and Australia-wide.
What kinds of loans do you help with?
Home loans for first home buyers and upgraders, refinancing, investment loans, equity release, construction and renovation loans, and lending through companies, trusts and SMSFs, along with commercial property finance.
What Clients Say About Working With Sabea
Read the reviews on Google →“Max was amazing in providing assistance with the purchase of my new property and ongoing support with my mortgage. No question was too small for him.”
“He was always easy to contact and communicate with, promptly returning calls and messages and keeping us updated the whole way through.”
“Their communication was excellent throughout the entire process, always responsive, clear, and easy to deal with. They made what can be a stressful experience feel simple and smooth.”
Reviews are published on Google by clients and describe their own experience. They are not a guarantee of any outcome, and every application is assessed on its own circumstances.
Talk to a Northern Beaches mortgage broker
Book a free strategy session with the Sabea team. No obligation, just a clear picture of what's possible.