Mark Blackwood - Mortgage Broker

Mark Blackwood - Mortgage Broker Experienced Brisbane mortgage broker helping clients Australia wide realise their home or investment dreams. Mortgage brokers are not money lenders.

First home - Refinance - Investment Property Loan Structures - SMSF loans - Debt Consolidation 🏘️ We deliver the best possible loan or mortgage product for your circumstances. Our only goal is to use our contacts to find the loan that helps you achieve your goal. For some, it is the lowest rate, for others it is the maximum possible loan. A good broker understands your needs and negotiates the best possible terms with lenders to meet your requirements. Blackwood Financial Services, a Brisbane based broker, can refinance your current loans and extend your loan for a longer term. They simply act on behalf of borrowers when dealing with a bank. Our objective is 100% client satisfaction. MAXIMUM LOAN VALUATION
LOANS - INTEREST ONLY
PRINCIPAL & INTEREST LOAN
SMSF LOANS

Credit Representative # 487792

Are you an investor being told you’ve hit your borrowing wall? 🧱For many property investors, the journey doesn't stop be...
08/09/2026

Are you an investor being told you’ve hit your borrowing wall? 🧱
For many property investors, the journey doesn't stop because they run out of ambition—it stops because a bank or traditional broker tells them they've reached their borrowing limit.

You might find yourself sitting in a strong position:
✅ Meaningful equity in existing properties
✅ Reliable rental cash flow
✅ Clear long-term wealth goals
❌ Yet standard mainstream bank assessments say "No."

Most people assume that’s the end of the line. But standard major-bank assessment models don't always tell the whole story.

When traditional lenders apply rigid credit caps, conservative shading on rental income, or strict debt-to-income limits, alternative pathways exist:
• Non-bank specialist lenders: Unencumbered by standard APRA assessment rules, non-banks often look at real-world serviceability and offer flexible assessment criteria.
• Entity & Trust lending structures: Structuring purchases through a company or discrete family or discretionary trusts with specialised lenders can ring-fence liabilities and optimise how existing debt is assessed across your overall portfolio.
• Strategic lender sequencing: Aligning each property with the right lender policy in the correct order ensures your borrowing capacity isn't prematurely capped on deal two or three.

These strategies aren't one-size-fits-all. They require precise structuring and careful review to ensure complete alignment with your long-term wealth strategy. But for the right investor, they can reopen doors that appeared locked.

This approach is best suited for investors who:
• Own existing residential or commercial property
• Have built up solid equity
• Are committed to continuing to grow their portfolio
• Have been told by traditional lenders that their borrowing capacity is maxed out

If you’re ready to review your structure and see what options might actually be available to you, let’s sit down for a strategy call over Zoom.

📩 DM me or comment below to set up a time to chat.

Feel like your home loan is taking forever? Try these 5 tipsWe often get asked, "What is the absolute best way to pay of...
06/09/2026

Feel like your home loan is taking forever? Try these 5 tips
We often get asked, "What is the absolute best way to pay off my house faster?"

It’s easier than you think. You don’t need a massive pay rise; you just need to make your money work smarter.

Here are 5 simple tricks that can save you thousands in interest and shave years off your mortgage:
✅ Switch to Fortnightly: Paying half your monthly amount every two weeks means you make an extra full month's payment every year painlessly!
✅ Round It Up: If your payment is $1,850, push it to $1,900. That extra $50 attacks the debt directly.
✅ Use Bonuses: Got a tax refund or a work bonus? Put half of it straight onto the loan.

The BIG mindset shifts:
✅ Stop hoarding cash in savings accounts. The interest you earn on savings is taxable. The interest you SAVE on your mortgage by putting that cash into the loan is tax-free (and usually at a higher rate!).
✅ Are you paying too much in fees? Many people pay up to $400 a year for an "Offset Account" they barely use. Often, a simple, no-fee "Basic Loan" with a redraw facility does the exact same job for free.

Want to know if you're in the right loan? Drop a comment below or send us a message, and we can do a quick check to see if you could be saving money on fees and interest.

BIG BANKS!The double-whammy of 2026 RBA rate hikes and federal budget tax changes is officially showing up in the hard n...
05/09/2026

BIG BANKS!
The double-whammy of 2026 RBA rate hikes and federal budget tax changes is officially showing up in the hard numbers 📊

According to the latest APRA figures, overall home loan growth across Australia’s major banks has slowed, with investor lending taking the brunt of the pullback.

Key takeaways from the numbers:

🔹 The Big Four shift: Lenders like NAB, CBA, and Westpac are seeing investor lending cool down following serviceability adjustments and tax reform changes.
🔹 Macquarie’s pace: While still growing significantly faster than its major peers, Macquarie’s growth pace also eased month-on-month.
🔹 Investor vs. Owner-Occupier: Owner-occupier growth has remained relatively steady across most majors, while investor growth saw a noticeable pull-back in July.

What does this mean for you?
When the big banks tighten their lending standards or slow down, it doesn't mean your options disappear—it means strategy matters more than ever. Tier-two and non-bank lenders are actively competing for quality borrowers, often offering sharp competitive deals.

Whether you're looking to purchase, refinance, or restructure an investment portfolio, having an expert broker in your corner ensures you navigate these changing rules with clarity.

💬 Thinking about your next move or reviewing your current rate? Send a direct message or drop a comment below!

Little investments that add up. Current total $23,764. My advice, start today. It's the waiting that will destroy you 🤩
03/09/2026

Little investments that add up. Current total $23,764. My advice, start today. It's the waiting that will destroy you 🤩

The best retirement plan starts with owning your home debt-free. 🔑🏠A recent Livewire Markets article highlighted the "br...
03/09/2026

The best retirement plan starts with owning your home debt-free. 🔑🏠

A recent Livewire Markets article highlighted the "brutal new maths" of saving a house deposit. Rising property prices and living costs mean many buyers delay buying for years—pushing their final mortgage repayment date dangerously close to (or into) their retirement years.

Here’s the reality: The earlier you get into the property market, the more time you have to clear your debt before you stop working. Entering retirement with a fully paid-off home is one of the single biggest drivers of long-term financial security in Australia.

4 pathways to speed up your purchase and start your payoff countdown sooner:

1️⃣ Pay LMI deliberately to buy earlier: Paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) to buy with a 5% to 10% deposit lets you lock in today's property prices. The capital growth and years saved on your mortgage timeline often far outweigh the one-off cost of LMI.

2️⃣ First Home Guarantee Schemes: Eligible buyers can secure a low deposit option with $0 LMI through government-backed initiatives.

3️⃣ First Home Super Saver (FHSS) Scheme: Accelerate your deposit growth inside super using tax-effective contributions.

4️⃣ Guarantor Loans: Leverage family equity to bypass the deposit barrier entirely and start your 25–30 year payoff clock immediately.

Don't let waiting for a 20% deposit delay your long-term independence. The primary goal isn't just buying a house—it's retiring without a mortgage.

📩 Message or call me today to run your numbers and build your payoff roadmap!

Why getting into your home early is your best retirement strategy 👇A recent Livewire Markets breakdown covered the growi...
31/08/2026

Why getting into your home early is your best retirement strategy 👇

A recent Livewire Markets breakdown covered the growing challenge of saving a house deposit in today's market. But delaying your purchase doesn't just impact your budget today—it impacts your retirement freedom tomorrow.

The goal isn't just getting the keys. It's paying off the loan before you stop working.

Every year spent waiting for a 20% deposit is a year lost off your mortgage payoff timeline. Rethinking your entry strategy helps you buy sooner and retire debt-free:

🔹 Buy early with LMI: Accepting LMI with a smaller deposit lets you start paying down your own mortgage instead of waiting years on the sidelines.
🔹 Explore 5% $0-LMI schemes: Access government spots to minimise upfront capital requirements.
🔹 Utilise tax-effective savings: Speed up deposit accumulation through the FHSS scheme (First Home Super Saver Scheme).
🔹 Structure for early payoff: Set up offset accounts and aggressive repayment structures early.

Secure your home today so you can enjoy total peace of mind in retirement.

📞 Get in touch with Mark Blackwood Broker to map out a clear pathway toward a mortgage-free future!

An extended discussion on what the federal budget has done to investor confidence, why the numbers are deteriorating fas...
28/08/2026

An extended discussion on what the federal budget has done to investor confidence, why the numbers are deteriorating faster than the data can capture, and what the property market realistically looks like from here.

Cotality head of research Tim Lawless also walks through the economics of holding an investment property in 2026, city by city, with unusual candour about where the opportunities may eventually re-emerge.

For the time being, first home buyers are holding until prices stablise and investors will be looking to focus on new builds as buying an established property without negative gearing will be too costly for most.

Tim Lawless is Australia's most closely watched property data analy...

🗞️Higher rates are squeezing household budgets, property prices are sliding and offset accounts are under scrutiny. Here...
27/08/2026

🗞️Higher rates are squeezing household budgets, property prices are sliding and offset accounts are under scrutiny. Here are four stories worth knowing about right now:

▪️The hidden offset problem costing borrowers millions
▪️Cheaper homes are bucking the property downturn
▪️Housing rules blamed for holding back new supply
▪️Five ways to pay off your mortgage sooner

Keep reading for all the news >

25/08/2026

Is Commercial Property the New SMSF "Safe Haven"—Or a Yield Trap?

With the recent ban on new residential Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangements (LRBAs) taking effect, a huge chunk of SMSF investors are pivoting straight toward commercial real estate to keep using leverage inside super.

A recent Australian Broker article highlights that up to 26% of SMSF investors are eyeing commercial assets as their primary path forward. Higher initial yields and lower entry price points in certain markets make it look like a no-brainer on paper.

But is the sudden rush into commercial property ignoring the unique risks involved?

While residential and commercial both sit under the "property" umbrella, the underlying fundamentals couldn't be more different:

🔹 Vacancy Risk is a Different Beast: A vacant residential property usually finds a tenant in a few weeks if priced right. A vacant commercial property can sit empty for 6 to 18 months, completely killing fund cash flow if you aren't holding substantial cash reserves.

🔹 Tenant Dependability & Economic Cycles: Commercial success relies heavily on business performance. If your tenant’s industry takes a hit, your lease—and your fund's income stream—takes a hit with it.

🔹 Capital Growth vs. Income: Commercial is historically driven by rental yield rather than aggressive capital growth. If you are far from retirement, is high yield with lower capital gains really aligning with your long-term SMSF investment strategy?

🔹 Liquidity & Exit Complexity: Offloading a commercial asset during a market downturn is significantly harder and slower than liquidating residential property.

💡 The Verdict: Commercial property can be an outstanding vehicle inside an SMSF—especially for business owners acquiring their own premises (Business Real Property). But chasing high yields without modeling extended vacancy buffers, maintenance, interest rate shocks, and tenant risks can put your retirement funds under serious pressure.

👇 What’s your take?
Are you pivoting your SMSF strategy to commercial property post-ban, or are you sitting tight in cash/shares until the landscape settles?

Good morning Brisbane.A brilliant, sunny morning. Are you looking to build your wealth? Let me help you create a brighte...
24/08/2026

Good morning Brisbane.

A brilliant, sunny morning. Are you looking to build your wealth? Let me help you create a brighter financial future.

🌞

Address

42 Illowra Street
The Gap, QLD
4061

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Saturday 9am - 12:30pm

Telephone

+61422708481

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