Editorial

EDITOR’S LETTER

Taking the road to recovery

There is no doubt that the last 12 months have been tough for businesses. Even with restrictions rolling back, 54% of SME owners still reported revenue losses in March, according to the ACA Research Business Sentiment Tracker. While many are now ready and eager to begin investing in their businesses again, it has been a long road.

The entire commercial lending sector has been a ected by the events of 2020. With a complete change to how Australians work, usually-bustling cities have quietened down as people work from home. Many businesses have rethought their large, centrally located o ce spaces in favour of smaller o ces and more fl exible working arrangements. In October 2020, Colliers International released its ANZ Capital Markets Outlook 2021 report, revealing a 58% drop in commercial real

estate transactions in the fi rst three quarters of 2020 in Australia. The hotel sector was the most a ected, followed by the o ce and retail sectors.

MPA spoke to a few of the brokers in this year’s Top 10 Commercial Brokers list about their experiences of the last year in commercial lending and how they overcame any challenges. For mortgage brokers thinking of moving into commercial, these brokers can provide invaluable insights into what to expect.

More than 4,500 mortgage brokers have already taken steps towards diversifying, according to the latest MFAA Industry Intelligence Service report. With more mortgage brokers than ever writing commercial loans, those who do not yet o er a diversifi ed service are up against some sti competition.

Australia is now seeing the light at the end of the tunnel: many restrictions have been lifted, consumers are more confi dent than they have been in over 12 months, the workforce is returning, and businesses are ready to invest. After a di cult and confusing year, and with the myriad of solutions out there, who better than a broker to turn to for help?

Keep reading as MPA takes a deep dive into the di erent areas of commercial lending and what they can do for your business.

With more mortgage brokers than ever writing commercial loans, those who do not yet o er a diversifi ed service are up against some sti competition

Rebecca Pike, editor, MPA

www.mpamagazine.com.au MAY 2021

EDITORIAL

Editor Rebecca Pike Contributors Renée Giarrusso, David Gill, Repa Patel, Gaiti Rabbani Production Editor Roslyn Meredith

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