Who + How?
Jason was born in Hobart, Tasmania in 1986 (don’t worry, he’s officially a Queenslander now and is confirmed to only have 1 x head, not x 2 as commonly suggested!) and relocated to the area of Wide Bay in 2025 after meeting his partner + sweetheart, Monique Griggs – a born and bred Bundaberg lass.
Having spent several years living, working, and sailing up + down the Queensland Coast, Jason relocated to Wide Bay not only for love, (Hey, if that’s not a good reason hit him up for a home loan, I don’t know what is!) but also for the lifestyle…. And the much, much warmer weather!
Jason runs another business – Smyth Loan Co Pty Ltd – a Digital Mortgage Brokerage & parent entity to Wide Bay Home Loans (you may see his email & other correspondence under the Smyth Loan Co banner – don’t worry, it is definitely him), and established WBHL after noticing a genuine need for experienced Mortgage Brokers in the area.
He cannot believe how fast Wide Bay as a whole is growing, and loves how amazing it really is!
Monique will tell you that Jason is a very practical sort of bloke and that he always puts his clients first! He never cuts corners & will always tell you how it is – calls a spade-a-spade if you like!
Jason takes pride in assisting others with their needs and is very approachable for anyone needing assistance with home loan or investment property.
Having been a member of the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia (MFAA) for over 13 years & previously employed in varying roles / departments for other financial organisations including Bennetto Finance, Tassie Home Loans, The Home Loan Shop, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, & MyState Bank (now a part of Auswide Bank – a Wide Bay icon & success story).
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Jason has previously established himself as an elite broker within the Australian mortgage industry, being a top 100 performer within the Professional Lenders Association Network of Australia (PLAN Australia, now Loan Market Group).
Completing his Diploma of Finance and Mortgage Broking Management FNS50311in 2013, Jason had also studied Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Tasmania.
Outside of his work life, Jason spends most of his time with Monique travelling about Wide Bay OR nearby areas. His interests including sailing (he literally froths all things boats!), motor vehicles and earth moving machinery (loves his cars + excavators), with a general interest of anything outdoors, specifically the ocean. He has previously been associated with several sporting clubs where he played Australian Rules Football, Cricket, Basketball, and is also still the Treasurer of Lauderdale Yacht Club, in Tasmania – a position he has held for several years.
How do Brokers work
Mortgage brokers in Australia are professionals who act as intermediaries between borrowers (homebuyers/property owners) and lenders (banks and financial institutions) to help individuals secure home loans or mortgages.
The primary role of a broker is to assist clients in finding the most suitable mortgage product that meets their financial needs and objectives.
Initial Consultation & recommendation
Upon contacting Smyth Loan Co, Jason and his team will conduct an initial consultation to understand your financial situation, borrowing needs, preferences, & objectives. Based on our research, the Jason & his team will present you with a selection of mortgage options that best suit your circumstances. We will explain the differing features, interest rates, fees, and repayment terms associated with each option.
Completion of Fact Find & providing required documents
We will email you a link to complete an online fact find directly into our system. You will need to input all of your basic personal information (full name, date of birth, dependent details), employment & address history (require a minimum 3 x years history for both), assets, liabilities + rough breakdown of your living expenses.
We will also send you a specific list of documents required by your new bank for assessment of your application. As borrowers, this will be the hardest part of the process for you! Once this step is completed, it’s over to us to sort out the rest with the bank.
Application Submission
Once you have decided on a particular loan or mortgage product, we will complete the application and compile the necessary documentation for lodgement. There can be quite a few items a bank asks for on this step. We will email you a Game Plan/Summary of our proposal, as well as the lenders application for lodgement. You will also need to electronically verify your ID at this point – this is a requirement now to prevent fraud!
Approval and Settlement
There may be several phone calls or emails during this process. We are generally pretty thorough and in some cases don’t have any issues raised by a bank at all from submission to approval. As soon the lender approves your application, Jason & his team will notify you immediately. We will then assist in finalising the signing of loan documentation and any requirements such as insurance, guiding you through the settlement process and the funding of your new loan. Happy Days!!
How do Mortgage Brokers get paid for helping?
Mortgage brokers in Australia typically receive money in the form of commissions, paid by banks or lenders for the writing of a loan, after settlement. Typically, they do not get paid until 60 days after settlement.
These commission payments are not paid directly by you as a borrower to a broker, but are paid by the bank as a referral of your business.
Banks generally have large margins, or make lots of money on any given loan (i.e. Margin is the difference
between what it costs them to provide the money, & the rate they charge you to repay it), which is where these commission payments are generally paid from.
There are two main sources of commission paid:
Upfront Commission
When a mortgage broker successfully settles a home loan for a borrower, the lender pays them an upfront commission. This commission is usually a percentage of the loan amount. The percentage can vary depending on the lender and the specific mortgage product, with payments made by a bank 2 x months proceeding settlement. These commissions are fully repayable by a broker-to-a-bank should the loan be repaid within a certain time frame – In most cases it is within 2 years from settlement. Keep this in mind and contact us if thinking about making any changes to your loan within the first 1-2 years.
Trail Commission
In addition to the upfront commission, mortgage brokers may also receive a trail commission, which is an ongoing payment. The trail commission is calculated based on the outstanding loan balance and is paid to the broker for the duration of the loan.
Remember to always speak with us beforehand should you be looking to do anything that may affect your loan.
What will it cost me if I do a loan through Wide Bay Home Loans?
It all depends on what you need us to do and how much work is involved. In most case other than pre-approvals OR complex loan scenarios, the cost will be nothing at all.
We will always disclose any fees prior to undertaking work on your behalf.
One last thing
It’s important to note that the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) regulates mortgage brokers to ensure that they act in the best interests of their clients and provide appropriate advice. Wide Bay Home Loans most certainly agrees with these rules & will always put your interests above everything else.
