Momentum in Australia’s property and loan markets continues to gain traction, even as the year winds down and Australians gear up for a well-earned holiday break. Alternative lenders that understand the market, like Sydney-based boutique firm Midkey, are well-positioned to capitalize off the market.
The firm, founded in 2021 by Richard Young and Scott Collison, specializes in helping Australian homeowners, particularly those in mid-life, access home equity without selling their properties.
Young told Australian Broker that "in 2025, Midkey experienced a significant increase in demand." But the cofounder and co-chief executive officer added that the firm expects rival lenders in the space to intensify in 2026 and beyond.
"Midkey welcomes competitors in this space," he said. "We believe we will see more direct competitors as the householders and brokers become more aware of Midkey and the need for a product like Midkey’s."
In a second installment, Australian Broker's Spotlight Series — where we showcase standout talent in the mortgage and finance broking sectors — caught up with Young once again to discuss his 2026 outlook, how he helps clients plan ahead and key trends he's noticed that are shaping the market.
The following interview has been edited for grammar and clarity.
RY: We have seen minimal innovation in the home lending market over the last decade. Innovation is challenging, but when executed correctly, it can be highly effective. Importantly, responsible innovation like Midkey’s can be significantly beneficial to borrowers who want to maximise their life’s opportunities, or who are in need of financial assistance. And traditional lenders are limited in their ability to help them.
Midkey welcomes competitors in this space. We believe we will see more direct competitors as the householders and brokers become more aware of Midkey and the need for a product like Midkey’s.
RY: In 2025, Midkey experienced a significant increase in demand for, and awareness of, its loans as more homeowners became aware of the various solutions that our loans can provide, particularly when they have loan serviceability issues.
RY: As Midkey looks to expand, we expect to be on our first aggregator panel in the first quarter of 2026, and by the end of 2026, we anticipate being on two to three aggregator panels. We will also be expanding our reach to brokers who can work off-panel.
RY: Despite the rate cuts in 2025, the general high level of interest rates means that loan serviceability remains a constraint for most households. Inflation continues to create cost-of-living issues, and these often cannot be resolved because of the regular payments required by traditional loans.
To address these issues, Midkey encourages homeowners and mortgage brokers to continue educating themselves about new solutions, such as the Midkey No Monthly Payments Loan.
RY: There are a few trends that are impacting Midkey. With the strong residential markets across the country, we are seeing an increase in home equity that is not able to be released due to serviceability constraints.
Since most of our loans are second mortgages, we arrange a priority deed with the priority lender. We are seeing most traditional lenders increase their familiarity with Midkey, and therefore, the speed and ease of arranging these deeds is improving, with many now being turned around within 48 hours.
Not only are traditional lender priority deeds becoming easier to deal with, but traditional lenders are also starting to recognize the complementarity of the Midkey No Monthly Payments Loan to their own business. Traditional lenders will often be approached by borrowers seeking options to release equity, but are unable to assist them due to serviceability constraints. By referring these borrowers to Midkey, these lenders can provide a safe and effective way to help their customers, and therefore better retain them.
