Meet Carolyn.

Improve Your Financial Position, Achieve Your Property Goals Sooner.

Carolyn Xaftellis

Carolyn Xaftellis.

Senior Mortgage Specialist.

Carolyn is an accredited Mortgage Broker who assists clients worldwide. She holds a Bachelor of Business from Edith Cowan University, a Graduate Certificate in Property Investment from Curtin University, and a Diploma in Finance and Mortgage Broking Management.

With extensive experience in customer service, Carolyn has a proven track record in the Insurance, Real Estate, and Banking industries. Her previous role at ANZ, specialising in residential home loan lending, in addition to her mortgage broking experience, has made her an expert in arranging and renegotiating finance for Australian residents, expatriates, foreign investors, and prospective migrants looking to purchase property in Australia.

Carolyn is dedicated to understanding her clients’ unique circumstances and goals, and she is passionate about providing the best possible finance options for everyone.

Testimonials.

Dorothy N.

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.

June 23, 2023 Sydney

K. Daly

If you are looking for a knowledgeable, trustworthy, and supportive mortgage broker, I highly recommend Carolyn.

March 18, 2026 S. Korea

W. Beattie

Highly recommended! As returning expats with self-employed income, traditional lenders just aren’t interested. After a failed attempt with another broker we had pretty much given up. Carolyn and her team’s tenacity got us across the line and we were able to borrow more at a better interest rate.

January 17, 2024 Queensland

Belinda V.

Carolyn & Michelle were always helpful answering all questions we had as soon as possible. With Carolyn’s expertise and knowledge she was able to find us a way to achieve our goal of home ownership! Highly recommend the team! Can’t thank them enough!!

September 2, 2025 Victoria

Lianne T.

Carolyn Xaftellis handled my purchase and I couldn’t be happier. She was organised, knowledgeable, efficient and responsive. The entire process was so easy. I would highly recommend her and her team at SMATS Group and would not hesitate to contact her again
in the future.

May 23, 2025 Singapore

F. Monceaux

Our broker Carolyn, and her assistant, Michelle, were excellent from day one. No fuss approach and knowledgeable, they understood our needs and got us the best deal possible. Who knew that refinancing your home loan could actually be enjoyable!

August 2, 2024 NSW

Belinda V.

Big thank you to Carolyn & Michelle, they made what others said ‘impossible’ possible!!! Managed to get our pre-approval done in record time! Such a seamless experience all the way through to the loan settlement.

September 2, 2025 Victoria

K.Daly

I highly recommend Carolyn. From the beginning, she has taken the time to help me understand the entire mortgage process and the financial details involved, which made what can often feel overwhelming much easier to navigate.

March 18, 2026 S. Korea

Luanne & Brendan

Carolyn was there every step of the way, taking our call even after hours to make sure she was available to answer whatever questions we had. Carolyn went above and beyond, and we are forever grateful for her help and support during this important milestone for our family.

September 18, 2025 Singapore

K. Daly

If you are looking for a knowledgeable, trustworthy, and supportive mortgage broker, I highly recommend Carolyn.

March 18, 2026 S. Korea

R. Heatley

Carolyn and Michelle were incredibly thorough and made the process simple. The interests rate movement also meant that they were proactive and quick with paperwork. Highly recommend!

May 29, 2026 WA

B. Leane

Michelle and Carolyn at Specialist Mortgage made our expat loan process smooth and stress-free, negotiating with the bank and settlement agents. I highly recommend them for anyone seeking a loan while living abroad.

February 4, 2026 Dubai

K. Daly

Carolyn is very responsive, communicates clearly, and is always available whenever I have questions. I have never felt hesitant to ask anything, and she always takes the time to explain things thoroughly.

March 18, 2026 S. Korea

S. Chugh

Carolyn and Michelle have been fantastic to work with in the last two years. What I love is their professionalism, their communication and how they are so patient with all our concerns and questions. I could not have asked for anyone better to help us.

April 25, 2025 Victoria

S. Poole

I refinanced and obtained a new, appropriately sized loan within weeks, while living in India. Carolyn and Gino were prompt, thorough, and professional. Excellent job by an outstanding team.

April 28, 2026 India

J. Thomson

Carolyn and her team were excellent. Communication was open, and they gladly explained details when we had questions. Most of all, we felt supported throughout.

April 24, 2026 UK

Dorothy N.

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!

June 23, 2023 Sydney

Melinda

Michelle and Carolyn have both been brilliant, guiding us through the loan process, being so patient when the settlement was delayed and finally getting us to the end game.

July 18, 2025 Macau

L. Rudevics

Carolyn and John have helped me to settle on the purchase of my second investment property. Being an overseas buyer comes with a few extra challenges. They have always been highly responsive, reliable, helpful and patient as they’ve guided me through the very detailed process. Wholeheartedly recommend!

May 28, 2025 Dubai

Luanne & Brendan

Finding our forever home in Melbourne has been a years long journey for us, but through it all, Carolyn and the team has consistently and continuously supported us. Even when we took a house search pause, Carolyn was still checking on us.

September 18, 2025 Singapore

Andrew D.

A remarkably supportive service. Very professional in all aspects of initiating, securing and settling our transaction. I would not hesitate in dealing with SMATS and especially Carolyn and Rozita.

September 4, 2025 Qatar

E. Holmes

Carolyn and Michelle were absolutely amazing throughout the entire mortgage process. Carolyn truly knows her stuff, and I can’t recommend her enough. I’ll definitely be using them again!

April 13, 2026 NSW

D. Gill

Carolyn & Michelle assisted us with a rather complicated mortgage and refinance application, while we were living abroad. We felt fully supported throughout the process, saving us a lot of stress. We strongly recommend them!

February 6, 2026 Taiwan

B. Hastings

A professional service from start to finish.

November 26, 2025 Dubai

W. Loannidis

Great customer service and always available to clarify and respond.

June 2, 2025 Abu Dhabi

I. McClelland

I couldn’t be happier with the advice provided or the outcome achieved. Very good working with foreign clients, brilliant communication throughout. Highly recommend.

March 13, 2026 UK

J. Hoyer

I wouldn’t hesitate to use them again for future loan needs and have already recommended them to friends and family.

February 10, 2026 NSW

M. Hartsuyker

Impeccable service end to end. As a working expat living abroad in a time zone that makes it difficult to deal with in Australia, I found the team to be extremely knowledgeable, responsive, and helpful. They managed the process from initial enquiry right through to settlement to the highest quality.

January 28, 2026 UAE

M. Hartsuyker

Impeccable service end to end. The team managed the process from initial enquiry right through to settlement to the highest quality.

January 28, 2026 UAE

Joseph P.

We recently used Specialist Mortgage again to obtain home loan finance and received the same high level of fast, efficient and reliable service as previously experienced. Great service and great communicators. Highly recommended for finance services.

June 11, 2025 Dubai

R. Whitfield

If you are an Australian and need a mortgage broker – someone who knows how to navigate this tricky area, then Specialist Mortgage will take wonderful care of you. They helped me purchase an investment property while abroad, and their level of service and attention to details were second to none.

May 9, 2025 Shanghai

Shiree M.

Specialist Mortgage/SMATS was recommended to us by other expats and we are very glad we took the advice. Highly recommend to all.

October 20, 2021 Saudi Arabia

MIC S.W

The Specialist Mortgage team provided continual professional care and attention as we worked through some of the challenges faced when remotely purchasing and financing property investments in Australia.

April 10, 2026 USA

W. Beattie

I would highly recommend this service to any expats thinking of returning. My advice would be to start the process as early as possible.

January 17, 2024 Queensland

Mic S.W.

Specialist Mortgage provided continual professional care and attention as we worked through some of the challenges faced when remotely purchasing and financing property investments in Australia.

December 4, 2019 USA

Jamie

My experience with Specialist Mortgage was fantastic, they are extremely knowledgeable.
They pointed out important factors in my settlement which lead me to saving a lot of money.
I highly recommend Specialist Mortgage and I will be using their services again.

August 10, 2022 Australia

J. Singer

It was an absolute pleasure dealing with Helen and Rina, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone looking for knowledgeable, reliable, and genuinely supportive mortgage brokers. Thank you both for your exceptional service!

Doha

A. Wild

EXCEPTIONAL customer service from the Specialist Mortgage team. My housing loan process in Australia was so smooth.

April 4, 2026 China

J. Singer

As I was purchasing a property from overseas, prompt communication and attention to detail were essential, and they exceeded my expectations at every step. No question was ever too much trouble, and they kept me informed throughout the entire process.

July 1, 2026 DOHA

M. Buswell

We appreciate your hard work and complex understanding of our situation. We will definitely recommend you to our friends and family.

June 14, 2025 UK

M. Hartsuyker

As a working expat living abroad and in a time zone that makes it difficult to deal with Australia, I found the team to be extremely knowledgeable, responsive, and helpful.

February 27, 2026 UAE

James

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.

November 19, 2021 Singapore

J. Hughes

A sincere thank you to the Specialist Mortgage team for your dedication, professionalism, and getting me across the line. I honestly thought I’d have to sell my Sydney property before I found you.

September 24, 2025 Australia

Tim & Diana

What we appreciated the most is the response time and continuous support throughout the process of pre-approval all the way up to settlement. They are great professionals that explain everything thoroughly. We really trust them to help build our portfolio. Highly recommended to anyone!

August 4, 2025 Qatar

S. Gunaratna

Thank you for the outstanding job you did in refinancing our home loans. Your team truly understood our home loan requirements and provided us with specialist advice that not only met our current needs but also allowed us to plan for future growth.

March 12, 2025 Queensland

Corey

Working with Specialist Mortgage has been nothing short of a pleasure. They went above and beyond what was expected of a mortgage broker.

April 16, 2026 Portugal

Dom

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.

September 17, 2019 Singapore

S. Gunaratna

Your expertise and dedication have made a significant difference, and we are incredibly grateful for your support throughout the refinancing process. Thank you once again for your exceptional service. A very happy customer!

March 12, 2025 Queensland

Fabian Longin

The application process was straightforward, the guidance was clear, and the support never wavered. It was such a relief after so many false starts.

September 22, 2025 UK

Fabian Longin

From the first Zoom call with Grace Neo, I knew I was in expert hands. Grace, Michelle, and Katherine were fast, diligent, and always clear. A truly professional team.

September 22, 2026 UK

Fabian Longin

Don’t waste your time and look no further than Specialist Mortgage! They made the impossible possible for me as an Aussie expat trying to secure a mortgage back home.

September 22, 2025 UK

Matt H.

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.

August 18, 2022 Brisbane

J. Thomson

We recently purchased our first investment property with the help of Specialist Mortgage, and the experience was fantastic.

April 24, 2026 UK

Fabian Longin

As an Aussie expat living in London, I struggled with six other brokers before finding Specialist Mortgage. They were the only ones who got it done.

September 22, 2025 UK

Fabian Longin

In the end, I went with a non-bank lender Specialist Mortgage recommended—and it’s been a great experience so far.

September 22, 2026 UK

C. Tuimaka

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.

March 18, 2021 Victoria

A. Campbell

Over the past 10 years, Specialist Mortgage has supported me in securing finance for several of my property investments. They’ve made the process seamless, even while I was living overseas in Dubai and London.

October 8, 2025 Dubai

Jamie

My experience with the Specialist Mortgage team was fantastic; they are extremely knowledgeable. The Specialist Mortgage team pointed out important factors in my settlement, which led me to save a lot of money.

I highly recommend Specialist Mortgage, and I will be using their services again.

April 1, 2026

A. Wild

EXCEPTIONAL customer service from Specialist Mortgage.

My housing loan process in Australia was so smooth.

March 17, 2021 China

P. Jones

As an Australian citizen, Australian Non Tax Resident and UAE resident, finding a home loan can be challenging and a daunting task. On two separate occasions we have used the Specialist Mortgage team to secure a loan and have found them to be extremely professional, responsive, knowledgeable and have a true partnership approach.

May 7, 2025 UAE

P. Callow

The help that we received from Specialist Mortgage services was superb. Their guidance and support was spot on through the entire process. I have no hesitation in recommending them very highly.

January 19, 2024 Dubai

S. Braniff

Fantastic support throughout the purchasing process.

May 14, 2025 Switzerland

A. Campbell

I was extremely pleased with the outcome and look forward to continuing the relationship with Specialist Mortgage.

October 8, 2025 UK

Doug

Thank you to the SMATS team for arranging finance for my new Australian property. Not an easy task given my China working location and a tightening banking environment for foreign based workers.

June 14, 2018 Shanghai

Corey

We would definitely recommend the Specialist Mortgage team to anyone needing a mortgage broker who knows the ins and outs of borrowing.

April 16, 2026 Portugal

Doug

Thank you to the Specialist Mortgage team for arranging finance for my new Australian property. Not an easy task given my China working location and a tightening banking environment for foreign-based workers.

April 2, 2026 Shanghai

J. Thomson

We’ll definitely be using Specialist Mortgage again in the future and would highly recommend them to anyone looking for expert advice and a smooth property investment journey.

April 24, 2026 UK

Bruce Harrison

Highly recommend Specialist Mortgage and their hard working team. They were very professional and supportive, and persevered to prepare preapprovals and finalise finance over what was a very long and complex (French renumeration structure) and ultimately successful house search.

October 17, 2024 France

J. Hoyer

Excellent service from start to finish. The team was attentive, communicative and always helpful with my queries. Highly recommended.

February 10, 2026 NSW

J. Hughes

We decided to return to Australia from Dubai and needed sound tax and financial advice. We approached the Specialist Mortgage team and they came up with realistic solutions to purchase a property back in Australia. It did not take long to get loan approval and we were able to buy in a subdivision.

April 11, 2024 Australia

M. Buswell

Thank you for all the behind the scenes work you did to get us where we are today. It was a long process, but we got there in the end.

June 14, 2025 UK

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