Ben Harris, an MFAA Customer Service Finalist for 2026, has been recognised for his commitment to helping first home buyers navigate the property market with clear guidance, confidence and genuine support. At In Financial Services, we’re proud to celebrate this achievement.
If you’ve ever searched “how to buy your first home” or “best mortgage broker for first home buyers”, you’ll know how overwhelming the process can feel.
That’s exactly why we’re proud to share that Ben Harris, an MFAA Customer Service Finalist, has been recognised as a State Finalist for Customer Service (Individual) at the 2026 Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia Excellence Awards.
You can view the official finalist listing here: NSW/ACT Finalists & Winners
In addition, these awards recognise brokers across Australia who consistently deliver outstanding service, strong industry knowledge, and genuine care for their clients.
More importantly, for Ben, this recognition reflects what he focuses on every day, helping first home buyers understand, navigate and confidently enter the property market.
Buying your first home shouldn’t feel confusing or overwhelming. Most of the time, people just need someone to walk them through what’s possible, explain things in a way that makes sense, and be there when questions come up. That’s what I focus on as a mortgage broker, helping first home buyers feel clear, confident, and ready to take the next step.
Ben Harris – Head of finance and client strategy
In reality, for many people, the biggest challenge isn’t just buying a house, it’s knowing where to start.
Common Questions First Home Buyers Ask
How Ben Helps Simplify the Process
As a result, Ben works closely with first home buyers across Newcastle, Maitland and beyond to simplify this.
His approach is straight forward
Ultimately, it’s about making sure clients don’t just get a loan, they understand what they’re doing and feel confident doing it.
When people search “mortgage broker for first home buyers” or “how to buy your first home in Australia”, what they’re really looking for is clarity.
That’s where Ben stands out.
He takes the time to:
For first home buyers especially, that ongoing support can make all the difference.
Behind the scenes, while Ben is the face many clients work with, the experience is backed by a strong team.
Supporting You Every Step of the Way
It’s this structure that allows us to deliver a smooth, supported experience — especially for clients buying their first home.
Being recognised as an MFAA Customer Service Finalist isn’t just about an award.
It reflects:
And most importantly, it reinforces what we aim to deliver every day, helping people move forward with confidence.
So, whether you’re just starting to explore your options or ready to take the next step, having the right support makes a big difference.
If you’ve been searching:
You’re in the right place.
As an MFAA Customer Service Finalist, Ben Harris and the team at In Financial Services are here to guide you through it clearly, simply and at your pace.
A mortgage broker helps you understand your options, compare lenders, and guide you through the home loan process from start to finish.
Working with a broker like Ben Harris means you have someone explaining everything clearly, structuring your loan correctly, and supporting you all the way through to settlement.
Your borrowing capacity depends on your income, expenses, existing debts, and deposit.
As a guide, lenders look at what you earn, what you spend, and whether you can comfortably afford repayments. You can use our Borrowing Capacity Calculator to get an estimate of what you may be able to borrow before speaking with a broker. From there, we can run the numbers based on your individual circumstances and show you what’s possible before you start looking at properties.
There are a range of options available, including:
The right option depends on your situation, which is why having someone walk you through the differences can make a big impact.
In most cases, yes — but not always as much as people think.
Some buyers enter the market with smaller deposits, and in certain situations (like family guarantees), it may be possible to buy with little to no deposit, depending on the lender and structure.
LVR stands for Loan to Value Ratio — it’s the percentage of the property value you are borrowing.
For example, if you buy a $600,000 property with a $60,000 deposit, your LVR is 90%.
LVR matters because it affects your loan options, interest rates, and whether lenders mortgage insurance (LMI) applies.
The process can vary, but generally:
Having everything prepared early can make this process much smoother.
A bank can only offer its own products, while a mortgage broker can compare multiple lenders and help find an option that suits your situation.
For first home buyers, this can make the process clearer and often opens up more options.
Common costs include:
Understanding these upfront helps avoid surprises and makes planning easier.
The earlier, the better.
Speaking to a broker before you start looking at properties helps you understand your borrowing power, your options, and what your next steps should be.
Start by understanding your position — your income, savings, and goals.
From there, you can map out what’s possible and create a plan to move forward with confidence.
This is where having guidance from someone experienced can make the process feel much more straightforward.
Keep a trusted contact handy for when questions come up along the way.
Have a quick chat, understand your options, and see what your next step could look like, no pressure, just support.
Whatever your goals are, we are here to help you achieve them.
Personalised Guidance
We see you as an individual, not just a number.
Ongoing Support & Education
From start to finish, we make finance simple and fun.
Award Winning Expert Team
With our help, reaching your goals is easy and enjoyable.
Book a meeting with us today to discuss your financial needs.
