We talk
A free, no-obligation chat in person at Burleigh or over a video call. We listen first, work out what you actually need, and tell you honestly where you stand.
Mortgage Brokers, Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast
Home loans, sorted properly.
We are a boutique brokerage on the Gold Coast. You tell us what you are trying to do. We compare more than 40 lenders, handle the paperwork, and stay with you through to settlement. One conversation, the whole market, no jargon.
- Access to 40+ lenders
- No cost to you
- Gold Coast and Australia-wide
A brokerage built on choice, not commission targets.
- Lenders on our panel
- 0+
Lenders on our panel
- Years in lending
- 0+
Years in lending
- Cost to you to use us
- $0
Cost to you to use us
- Average client rating
- 0.0
Average client rating
We work across a panel of more than 40 banks, credit unions and non-bank lenders. We are not owned by any one of them, so the recommendation you get is the one that suits you, not the one that suits a brand.
How it works
Three steps, no surprises
Most people come to us unsure where to start. The process is simpler than it looks, and we do the heavy lifting.
We compare
One application from you. We assess it against more than 40 lenders, line up the options side by side, and explain the trade-offs in plain English.
We settle
We lodge, chase, and manage the lender, the valuer and the solicitor right through to settlement, and we are still here for the loans you take out after this one.
Loan solutions
Loans we arrange
Whether it is your first place or your fifth, the structure matters as much as the rate. Here is where we spend most of our time.
First home buyers
Deposits, guarantees, grants and government schemes explained without the panic. We will tell you what you can borrow, what you will need up front, and the order to do things in.
Talk to us about thisRefinancing
Rolled off a fixed rate and felt the jump? We review your current loan against the market, do the maths on switching costs, and only move you if you are genuinely better off.
Talk to us about thisInvestment lending
Borrowing capacity, loan structure, offset and equity release for buyers building a portfolio. We work in with your accountant so the lending supports your strategy.
Talk to us about thisConstruction and renovation
Building from scratch or knocking out a wall. We arrange progress-payment construction loans and renovation finance, and help you read the builder's contract before you sign.
Talk to us about thisSelf-employed and low-doc
Been told no because your income looks lumpy on paper? We know which lenders understand business owners, contractors and sole traders, and what they actually want to see.
Talk to us about thisCommercial finance
Owner-occupied premises, commercial investment and business lending. We translate between what your business needs and what a commercial lender will fund.
Talk to us about thisSMSF lending
Buying property inside a self-managed super fund through a limited recourse arrangement. Specialist territory, so we keep it simple and keep your adviser in the loop.
Talk to us about thisWhy Tidewater
Why people choose Tidewater
A mortgage is the biggest financial commitment most people make. You should be able to ring the person who arranged it and have them remember your name.
You deal with a person, not a queue
The broker you meet is the broker who runs your file. No call centres, no being handed off, no starting the story again every time.
We are paid by the lender, not by you
Our service is at no cost to you. The lender pays us a commission when your loan settles, and we will always tell you what that looks like.
Bank-side experience on your side
James spent years inside a major bank approving loans before he started broking. He knows how lenders think, which means fewer surprises and fewer knock-backs.
Local, but not limited
We are based at Burleigh Heads and love a coffee meeting. We also look after clients in Brisbane, Cairns, Sydney and well beyond, entirely over phone, email and video.
“James got us approved when two banks had already said no. Calm the whole way through.”
The team
The people behind Tidewater
James Calder, Principal Broker
Tidewater started with a simple frustration. After fifteen years in lending, including time as a lending manager at one of the major banks, James kept watching good people get knocked back, oversold, or left in the dark, not because they could not afford a loan, but because nobody took the time to package it properly.
He opened Tidewater in Burleigh Heads to do it the other way around. Listen first. Be honest about what is realistic. Then go to the whole market rather than one bank's product list. The brokerage is deliberately small so that the person you meet at the start is the person who is still answering your calls years later.
James lives in Palm Beach with his wife and two kids, surfs badly but often, and has personally arranged more than $400 million in home and investment loans over his career.
15+ years in lending · Former bank lending manager · Diploma of Finance and Mortgage Broking Management · MFAA member
James Calder, Principal Broker
Sophie Nguyen
Associate Broker
Sophie looks after our first home buyers and refinancers. Endlessly patient with first-timers and very good at making a confusing process feel manageable.
Marcus Reilly
Client Services and Settlements
Marcus keeps every file moving, chasing valuers, lenders and solicitors so your settlement lands on time. If you get a friendly progress call, it is probably him.
Repayment indicator
A rough idea of repayments
Move the sliders for a quick, indicative estimate. For a real number based on your situation, the best thing is a quick chat.
$650,000
$100k$2m
6.10%
5.00%7.50%
Loan term
Estimated monthly repayment
$3,939
per month
Principal and interest, indicative only. This is not a quote, a pre-approval, or an offer of credit. Your actual repayments depend on the lender, the product and a full assessment of your situation.
Want a real number for your situation? Book a free chat.
Testimonials
What clients say
“We had a deposit, a baby on the way and absolutely no idea where to start. James walked us through every step, found us a rate two banks could not match, and never once made us feel silly for asking. We are in the house now.”
Emma and Daniel R. · First home buyers, Robina
“Refinanced our home and investment loan in one go. Tidewater saved us just over $640 a month and did basically all of it without us lifting a finger.”
Priya S. · Refinance, Carrara
“As a sole trader I had been knocked back twice. Sophie knew exactly which lender to take me to and what they needed. Approved in under three weeks.”
Liam T. · Self-employed, Burleigh Waters
“We are building in Brisbane and dealt with the whole team over video calls. The progress payments were handled so smoothly the builder commented on it.”
Hannah and Wei C. · Construction loan, Bridgeman Downs
“Third investment property through James now. He understands structure, talks to my accountant, and never pushes me into anything. That is rare.”
Geoff M. · Investment lending, Mermaid Beach
FAQ
Questions, answered
The things people ask us most, before we have even met. If yours is not here, just ask.
Let's talk about your loan
A free, no-obligation chat. Worst case, you leave knowing exactly where you stand.
No cost, no pressure, and no jargon. Just a straight answer about your options.