Private Mortgages Australia: The FY2026 Year in Review
FY2026 was a year where the gap between what banks were willing to lend and what borrowers actually needed kept widening. Private Mortgages Australia (PMA) spent the year stepping into that gap.
Interest rates moved in ways few predicted twelve months ago, bank credit policies stayed tight, and brokers across the country leaned harder on private lending partners who could move quickly and say yes to scenarios the majors wouldn't touch.
It was, in short, exactly the kind of environment PMA was built for.
Here's how FY2026 played out in the numbers.
Have a scenario you want to discuss?
- Submit a quick app form
- Response time in just 4 business hours.
- We'll gladly assist you and let you know if we can be of help.
Activity Ramped Up Significantly
Our settled loan volume increased by 28.39% compared to FY2025, which is a clear sign that more brokers and borrowers turned to PMA as an alternative funding source this year.
From Smallest to Largest: A Loan Book Built for Range
One of PMA's defining strengths is the breadth of scenarios we're able to fund, and FY2026 was no exception.
- Average loan amount: $1,627,044.96 - up 80.07% year-on-year, reflecting a shift toward larger, more complex deals
- Smallest loan settled: $327,000
- Largest loan settled: $8,000,000
- Shortest loan term: 3 months
- Longest loan term: 24 months
- Average loan term: 10.21 months
That spread, from a $327,000 short-term facility to an $8 million, two-year commitment, is a good snapshot of just how differently one borrower's funding needs can look from the next, and PMA's ability to structure around both ends of that range.
LVR and Security Stats
The average loan-to-value ratio (LVR) across the book sat at 52.75%, with individual deals ranging from a conservative 13.4% LVR up to a maximum of 75.0% LVR.
First mortgages continued to dominate the book, accounting for 96.4% of total lending, with second mortgages making up the remaining 3.6%. In FY2027 we’re actively looking for more second mortgages to fund.
By security type, the book was led by:
- Land: 36.85%
- Residential: 19.48%
- Rural: 19.15%
- Development: 15.71%
- Industrial: 5.59%
- Commercial: 3.24%
Land and residential security once again made up the largest share of settlements, but the presence of rural, development, industrial and commercial security across the book underlines PMA's willingness to fund against a genuinely diverse range of Australian real estate.
Where the Funding Went
Borrower purpose told its own story in FY2026. Refinancing and debt consolidation remained the single biggest driver of demand, as SME owners and developers looked to restructure existing debt and free up cash flow in a higher-rate environment:
- Refinance / Debt Consolidation: 56.12%
- Development: 19.32%
- Equity Release: 12.92%
- ATO Tax Debt: 8.93%
- Construction: 2.73%
The remainder of the book was spread across land subdivision, land/property finance and working capital purposes.
Funding businesses across Australia
PMA settled deals across five states in FY2026, with NSW and VIC once again leading the way:
- NSW: 42.59% of settled volume across 8 deals
- VIC: 25.54% of settled volume across 8 deals
- SA: 17.83% of settled volume across 1 deal
- QLD: 8.54% of settled volume across 5 deals
- WA: 5.50% of settled volume across 2 deals
NSW and VIC together accounted for close to 68% of total settled volume, but the presence of SA, QLD and WA in the mix reflects PMA's continued ability to fund quality scenarios well beyond the eastern seaboard's biggest markets.
Looking Ahead to FY27
When bank lending tightens and market conditions get harder to predict, borrowers and brokers need a private lending partner who can still move fast and think commercially. Heading into FY2027, PMA remains focused on delivering fast turnaround times, transparent terms, and the flexibility to structure around scenarios that don't fit a standard credit box.
Thank you to every broker, referrer and borrower who worked with PMA this year. We're looking forward to building on this momentum in FY27.
Free Guide: Build A Better Brokerage
Download PMA’s Referrer Pack
I want to get started now
Have a scenario you'd like to discuss?
Contact Private Mortgages Australia:
Or, you can submit a Quick App Form on our website and we'll get back to you.
