Helen Avis has held the position of Director of Finance for Specialist Mortgage since 2003.
She is one of Australia’s leading Finance Brokers, having been recognised as the Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia’s Residential Finance Broker National Winner and State Winner for 2022, in addition to numerous state and national awards.
Bridget is our Senior Mortgage Broker covering the Australian and Middle East Regions. Recently, Bridget was recognised as a WA Broker of the Year Finalist at the Specialist Finance Group Awards 2022.
Bridget is a Licensed Australian Mortgage Broker, graduated from Deakin University with a Bachelor of Law and has completed her Diploma of Financial Services.
Carolyn is an accredited Mortgage Broker assisting our clients across the globe.
Having graduated from Edith Cowan University with a Bachelor of Business and later completing a Graduate Certificate in Property Investment at Curtin University, Carolyn has recently achieved her Diploma in Finance and Mortgage Broking Management.
Grace has had a successful career in the finance industry. Previously working as a Senior Relationship Manager in premium banking, where she exemplified her prowess in managing affluent clients, cultivating strong relationships, and driving loan portfolio growth.
Grace consistently surpasses customer expectations with personalised lending solutions and optimal client outcomes.
Helen was invaluable in enabling me to secure my first investment property from Dubai. She matched me with a lender that was suited and could accommodate my personal circumstances, guided me throughout the application process and proactively liaised with the lender to make the process as smooth as possible over the holiday period.
Helen has helped us with multiple loans and refinancing and has made the process so simple and easy. With Helen’s advice we have always felt like we have been able to find the best product in the market for us.
We have now used Helen Avis twice in procuring suitable Home Loans for our two investment properties. Helen and the team at SMATS have a deep understanding of the nuances of being an Australian Expat and we have always had great advice, high value offers and top notch service from her and the team.
Helen is completely client focused, she was able to take our exact requirements and circumstances into account when searching for and procuring a lender to suit us.
Thank you to Bridget, Fanny and the SMATS team for helping us secure the loan for our dream home They clearly know what they are doing and are well versed in every stage of the process. We just provided information, they took care of the rest. I definitely recommend SMATS for expats wanting a mortgage in Australia.
I have now gone through the arduous process of purchasing an Australian property four times. On the last three occasions, Helen Avis has been my first and most important point of contact in the process.
Specialist Mortgage/SMATS was recommended to us by other expats and we are very glad we took the advice. Highly recommend to all.
Carolyn went above and beyond to assist me in finding the perfect mortgage for my needs. Carolyn had extensive knowledge and understanding of the mortgage industry, and she took the time to comprehend my financial goals and personal circumstances.
Even after the loan was approved, Helen worked with my conveyancer to ensure that final settlement was achieved without delay. I recommend Helen without hesitation and look forward to working with her again in the future. Thank you again for all your help!
Bridget made it easy for me to choose a bank and she arranged special finance packages, pre-approval and final loan approval.
Everyone I worked with on this purchase was fantastic. Helen helped me to find a mortgage when my existing bank said no.
Helen and her team absorb so much of the difficulty and tediousness of organizing a home loan, thanks to her meticulous nature and her prompt and effective communication.
We used Specialist Mortgage for several investment house loans as expats. They were easy to work with, responded promptly and made it a stress-free process.
Bridget Bowman recently helped me lower the interest rate on my variable rate mortgage in Australia. The result was an over $100 reduction per month! As an existing customer with an ongoing relationship with SMATS, all it took was one email to Bridget and she was on the case, about 7 days later she sends me an email with the good news.
During the Covid-19 pandemic our purchase and settlement process was handled remotely via phone and emails, Helen and Fanny were very responsive to our questions, the process and acquisition of all the paperwork was very clear.
Helen’s intimate knowledge of the market and pricing of various loans (investment, owner occupier, interest only etc) has made loan selection a breeze and enabled us to have confidence in our decision making.
Bridget made sure that I had the best rate and promptly provided me with clear answers for all my questions. She supported me through every single step in a professional and efficient manner.
Bridget has been an amazing mortgage broker, she is always very accessible, follows through and thinks outside the box!
Helen delivers. She is practical, responsive, efficient and caring.
Helen has helped us many times with our finance over the years. If something can’t be done, Helen will tell you straight – but she will always offer alternatives and solutions.
We trust her completely.
Bridget and Norliana were instrumental in securing us our forever home as Expats. Communication was excellent, answers prompt, feedback was incredible.
Helen Avis did a really outstanding job pushing our formal approval through in 4 days. She was also very helpful in advising me of the risks around unconditional vs conditional exchange which was much appreciated.
I would have long been deterred from property investment in Australia had it not been for the hard work and high standard of service Helen offers.
Bridget’s tireless work to finally find a lender for me with competitive terms was exceptional.
Through Bridget Bowman we were able to structure our home loan in order to secure a second property. Bridget was excellent in her service and advice rapidly securing loan approvals.
We required quite a complicated loan including land and a new build which was handled so smoothly that we then decided to go with Helen for our next purchase and the refinancing of an existing loan away from a bank I had been unhappy with for years.
There was no gain for SMATS in doing this, Bridget just wanted to do what is best for their customer, and we are so grateful for their help and support over the years. I would 100% recommend SMATS for their excellent service offering and customer service, always putting their customers first.
I had the pleasure of working with Carolyn. She explained all the intricate mortgage details in a manner that was easy for me to grasp. Carolyn conducted herself in a professional manner and was always available to address any questions or concerns I had. Thanks to her, the entire process was effortless and free of stress!
We’ve been using Specialist Mortgage for mortgage approvals and renewals for the past 2.5 years and they have dealt with my endless questions very quickly, professionally and tirelessly which is super impressive.
I used the Specialist Mortgage broking team to secure lending in Australia at a time when Australian banks were imposing tight controls on expat lending.
The team were impressively responsive and helpful throughout the whole process and able to secure me a great outcome. I would highly recommend using their services.
Debbie provided continual professional care and attention as we worked through some of the challenges faced when remotely purchasing and financing property investments in Australia.
Helen and John made buying our first property a dream, so seamless and professional. Will definitely be taking up their services again.
It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Grace over the last 2 years. Grace has the ability to build strong customer relationships as she genuinely cares for her customers, she is a very experienced, who is selfless with her time and is always willing to assist her peers.
It’s been such a relief and pleasure having Grace as our personal banker for the past few years. She’s helped us to navigate a number of complex lending related issues, always providing professional, timely and friendly service.
Grace is authentic, honest, and responsive. Grace makes it a priority to understand her client’s needs and her friendly and relaxed nature makes it a pleasure to liaise with her. She continually maintains communication, ensuring her clients have the latest financial information and that they are receiving the best possible service.
Grace has played a major role in supporting my financial investments over the past 16 years. She is a true professional and a wonderful person to work with. I will continue to work with Grace and cannot recommend her highly enough.
Grace took the time to understand our needs and our capabilities and tailored a loan that suited us and our requirements. The loan Grace provided was a unique package that I have never seen before but was perfect in challenging times. This would not have been possible if Grace had not understood us and pushed, challenged and changed internal process’, standards and procedures.
I thank you Grace for your commitment to client satisfaction over a long period.
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