That ability of brokers to guide their clients through difficult and increasingly complex times has been illustrated over the past two and a half years, with the COVID-19 pandemic bringing about a series of new challenges and opportunities alike for homeowners and would-be buyers.

It’s a testament to the robustness of the broker channel, Collu said, that it’s been able to play such a crucial role not just during the unprecedented market conditions of recent years, but equally in other times of upheaval including changes to the qualifying rate, insurer guidelines, and regulatory changes, to name a few.

“The broker channel continues to show its perseverance and its resilience. Not only did we come out of those times, but I would argue that we have flourished,” he noted. “I’ve often said about the broker channel that we should be very mindful not to complain when things get complicated, because times like that really reposition the broker as an expert.

“When there’s all this white noise and uncertainty, people will turn their heads to experts – and I absolutely say that brokers are experts in their fields.”

What’s more, as consumers seek even more authoritative guidance in a complex market environment – for instance, among the first-time homebuyer cohort of borrowers – the expertise and knowledge of brokers comes to the fore.