Fabio De Castro of Oxygen Home Loans wins NSW/ACT Residential Finance Broker of the Year at the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia (MFAA) Excellence Awards.
Oxygen Home Loans broker Fabio De Castro has become the NSW/ACT Residential Finance Broker of the Year at the online annual Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia (MFAA) Excellence Awards.
The peak national body which represents finance brokers announced the winners during an online ceremony on June 18.
“It’s great to see Fabio receive this industry recognition for his dedication and strong work ethic in servicing his customers," said Catherine McFarlane, Acting General Manager of Oxygen Home Loans, a fully owned subsidiary of McGrath Estate Agents.
“What he has accomplished in just four years, coming into the industry as a new broker, is an exceptional achievement.
“He’s grown so fast, so quickly. I’ve never seen anyone so determined, focused and driven.
"With Fabio, it’s all about the client and he always ensures he goes beyond the norm with them in mind.”
Ms McFarlane added that Mr De Castro is a support to the whole Oxygen team.
“He’s very supportive of them; not just as a colleague but as a friend.”
Mr De Castro is thrilled with the honour.
“It’s such a competitive award,” said Mr De Castro.
“I’m quite new to the broking industry having only been a broker for four years.
"As some of my competitors have been in the industry for 15 years, for me to be recognised in this manner is very exciting .”
Mr De Castro can count 15 years’ experience in the finance industry including six years with AMP and time with Bankwest.
He has intimate knowledge of lender policies, products and risk appetites enabling him to offer an efficient and smooth process for his clients.
Through his efforts, Mr De Castro’s clients are rarely declined a loan.
“This is also very exciting for our team,” said Mr De Castro.
“It’s reassurance that we’re on the right track and presenting something special to our clients.
"The people behind me are working just as hard – it’s great to share this award with them.”
Mr De Castro concentrates his work across the Northern Beaches.
“I’ve built relationships with three McGrath offices (Collaroy, Dee Why and Manly) as well as servicing McGrath Projects’ customers,” said Mr De Castro.
During 2019-2020, Mr De Castro grew his business by almost 25 per cent with 83 per cent of his settle loans coming from referrals.
“The pandemic did add a level of complexity to the business," Mr De Castro told WILLIAMS MEDIA.
"We had the government introducing grants and we had a lot of changes in lending with details such as the types of income that would be accepted.
"We have actually been more productive during lockdown. There was no sitting in traffic or loss of time commuting. It proved we can do business remotely.
"People have also had more time to think more closely about their finances. Lockdown gave them the time to look at their financial situations and ask if they can improve them.”
Mr De Castro told WILLIAMS MEDIA that business in the near future will depend on whether a second wave of the pandemic materialises.
"It all depends how quickly as a society we can react to the restrictions," said Mr De Castro.
The MFAA award is the latest in a string of honours for Mr De Castro.
Last year he was awarded McGrath Broker of Year for the second consecutive year as well as rating 19th in the Mortgage Professional Australia Top 100 Brokers awards (up from number 53 in 2018) and was a finalist for Broker of the Year at the Australian Mortgage Awards.
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