This week I celebrate 18 years as a mortgage broker on the Sunshine Coast. In that time I’ve written more than 3,500 mortgages for clients. I’ve helped people to buy their first homes, their dream homes, their family homes, their retirement homes, and their ideal investments. It’s been a rollercoaster, with many highs and lows, but overall an amazing career.
It was 2004 when I first told my husband David that I wanted to start my own mortgage brokering firm. It was a huge risk for us at the time, sacrificing the security of my role with Westpac and being Mum to a three-year-old. But with David’s support, and many months of assuring him that the cheques were coming, I built Orchard Mortgage Brokers from the ground up. The first year consisted of many long days and nights, but I was determined to make it work. In 2006 our second child was born, she was either on my knee or at my feet as I continued to work a full time role.
By 2007, I had settled more than $100 million in loans, and received several industry awards including being named as one of the top 100 mortgage brokers in Australia by Mortgage Professional Australia Magazine.
Of course there have been challenging times, having managed this business through the GFC, the industry royal commission, COVID-19 and countless issues that have hit the property and mortgage industries. But I still enjoy my work, and still get a buzz every time we assist someone achieve their goals.
I’m so grateful for the support of my husband David and my two children, who have never complained even when I was working seventy-hour weeks. They all share in my love for Orchard Mortgage Brokers, and enjoy hearing my stories of new loans for our clients. This is truly a family business.
I’m also grateful for my amazing team who share my vision, each bringing their own unique energy, knowledge and skills to our business. We are a family, and Orchard Mortgage Brokers would not be a success without them.
Cheers to another great year ahead, whatever surprises and challenges it brings, and more loans to add to our growing community of clients.
Nicky