If you see Ben around Newcastle or Lake Macquarie, there’s a good chance he’s chasing after his 6-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son.
Like many local families, life hasn’t always gone exactly to plan.
Before becoming a mortgage broker, Ben McCosh worked as a qualified mechanic before moving into industrial sales. Across both careers, one thing stayed the same — he genuinely enjoyed helping people solve problems.
A few years ago, family health challenges led Ben and his wife to make a big change. Ben stepped into the role of full-time stay-at-home dad while managing the household and supporting the family day-to-day.
Then in 2025, they made another major life decision: selling their 20-acre property in Victoria and moving back to Newcastle, setting up life for his family.
“Moving interstate with young kids was stressful enough,” Ben says.
“But our mortgage broker completely changed the experience for us. They made everything feel manageable and gave us confidence through the whole process.”
That experience inspired Ben to retrain as a mortgage broker himself.
Not to work in a bank tower — but to help everyday families who are trying to juggle real life, real budgets, and big financial decisions.
A broker who understands family life
“I know what it feels like to balance kids, work, stress and finances all at once,” Ben says.
“A lot of people feel overwhelmed when they start looking at home loans. My goal is to simplify things and help families feel confident about their options.”
Today, Ben helps Newcastle, the Hunter and families across Australia with:
- First home buying
- Upsizing for growing families
- Refinancing
- Debt consolidation
- Building loans
- Family budgeting and loan structuring
As part of this feature, we asked Ben some questions about the process of working with a mortgage broker and what people need to know.
Why are so many families now using mortgage brokers instead of going directly to a bank?
Mainly because families are busy.
Instead of visiting multiple banks yourself, a broker compares lenders for you and helps find a loan that suits your situation.
Every lender has different policies, borrowing calculators and flexibility. A broker helps navigate all of that and saves families a huge amount of time and stress.
Does it cost anything to use a mortgage broker?
In most cases, no.
Mortgage brokers are generally paid by the lender after the loan settles, so there’s usually no direct cost to the client.
Importantly, brokers in Australia also operate under Best Interests Duty laws, which means we’re legally required to recommend products that are in the client’s best interests.
What’s one thing families often overlook when choosing a home loan?
Offset accounts.
A good loan structure can potentially save families thousands over time.
For example, having your savings and income sitting in an offset account can help reduce the interest charged on your mortgage while still giving you access to your money for emergencies, school costs or family expenses.
A lot of families focus only on the interest rate, but structure and flexibility matter just as much.”
We want to upgrade to a bigger home but haven’t sold our current home yet. What are our options?
This is really common around Newcastle right now.
Bridging finance can allow families to buy their next home before selling their current one, which removes a lot of pressure during the moving process.
It can make the transition much smoother, especially when you’re trying to coordinate school zones, childcare and family life.
How does maternity leave or returning to work affect borrowing power?
Every lender treats this differently.
Some lenders are much more flexible with maternity leave and return-to-work income than others.
This is where speaking with a broker early can really help, because many families assume they won’t qualify when there may actually be good options available.
How much deposit do first home buyers actually need now?
A lot of people still think they need a 20% deposit, but that’s not always the case anymore.
Some eligible buyers can purchase with as little as a 5% deposit through government schemes, and some single parents may be eligible from as little as 2%.
The biggest thing is understanding what options are available before assuming home ownership is out of reach.
Are there still grants or schemes available in NSW?
Yes — there are still several helpful programs available for eligible buyers.
These can include:
- Stamp duty concessions
- First Home Guarantee schemes
- First Home Owner Grants for new builds
The rules and eligibility can change regularly, so it’s worth getting advice specific to your situation.
With rents so high in Newcastle, how do families know when they’re ready to buy?
A lot of families are already managing weekly rent payments that are similar to mortgage repayments.
Sometimes it comes down to understanding your borrowing position properly and having a plan in place.
Even if you’re not ready today, having a conversation early can help you understand what steps to focus on over the next 6–12 months.
If you’d like to chat with Ben about buying, refinancing or understanding your options, feel free to reach out for an obligation-free conversation.
Ben McCosh, Mortgage and Finance Broker
Mobile: 0490 703 536
Email: ben@gainfinancial.com.au
Website: gainfinancial.com.au