Getting to know Julie Mahony

How did you start working at Mortgage Choice?

I started at Mortgage Choice about 25 years ago, as the PA to Wendy Higgins, the former owner of the Glenelg franchise. We’d previously worked together at ANZ Bank, before I’d gone on to work in real estate. I think PA was the acronym for Pain in the A*** rather than Personal Assistant! Wendy would always joke that she was the boss but I was the bossiest, but we had a great working relationship. As the business started to grow, Wendy put me through the loan writer course so I could write loans part time and support her and the other loan writer in the business. The funny thing was that I was writing more loans while I was working part time than the full-time loan writer.

What do you love most about being a broker and what are some of the challenges?

I love meeting new people and making their dreams come true. Many of the clients I have today are from the same family – I initially helped their grandparents with their home loan, then their parents and now they come to me as first home buyers. The thing I enjoy least is the paperwork!

How do you think the industry has changed over the years?

I think the industry is so different today. The main difference is the processes, which were much more manual when I started. At the time, there was only Mortgage Choice and Bernie Lewis offering mortgage broking services in South Australia and I felt that we led the way. I think the other noticeable change is that the industry is much more diverse now. People from all walks of life become brokers.

How do you stay motivated after almost 25 years in broking?

I'm lucky to be part of a great team. It really is a well-oiled machine, and everyone is so self-motivated. I am 70 now and I've told Keith that I'd like to work until I'm 73 but who knows, I may keep working beyond that! I’ve never once woken up and thought I don’t want to go to work. I now work a nine-day fortnight, so I have a bit more time to spend with my family.

What do you like doing outside of work?

I love to read. I also love travelling. My girlfriends and I put money away into a joint account every month to save for a holiday. One of them owns a shack in Port Elliot and we try to get there a couple of times a year. We’ve been to France a couple of times and done a self-driven canal tour, which was great. My dream is to visit Scandinavia.