Meet Leanne Johnstone: The Lane Cove Mortgage Broker Helping Locals Find a Way Into the Property Market

This is a sponsored article written in partnership with Mortgage Choice Lane Cove.

Buying a first home can feel overwhelming at the best of times. In the current market, it can also feel completely out of reach.

But if there is one thing Leanne Johnstone from Mortgage Choice Lane Cove has learned after more than two decades helping people with home loans, it is this: many people rule themselves out too early.

They assume they do not have enough deposit. They assume they will not qualify for help. They assume lenders will say no. They assume they need to wait years before they can even ask the question.

Leanne’s approach is different.

She listens, looks at the full picture and works through the options. If there is a way forward, she will try to find it.

A Local Broker Locals Actually Know

Leanne is not just a broker with an office in Lane Cove. She is part of the Lane Cove community.

Her Lane Cove office is at Shop 15, 43–45 Burns Bay Road, opposite Harris Farm and Brewmance. It is also home to Bentley, the much-loved office Groodle, who has become part of the Mortgage Choice Lane Cove experience.

Leanne has also built a reputation well beyond Lane Cove. She has more than 150 five-star Google reviews, access to a panel of 30+ lenders, and has been recognised as Mortgage Choice National Single Operator of the Year and Mortgage Choice NSW Single Operator of the Year over the past three years.

Helping People Who Thought They Could Not Buy

First-home buyers are one of Leanne’s key areas of focus, and it is easy to see why.

For many people, buying a first home is not just a financial decision. It can be emotional, stressful and confusing. There are government schemes, lender rules, borrowing limits, stamp duty concessions, repayments, insurance and plenty of online advice that may or may not apply to your situation.

Leanne helps break that down into plain English.

She works with clients to understand what they can comfortably afford, not just what they may be able to borrow.

It is this kind of approach that can make a big difference for first-home buyers who may have assumed they were nowhere near ready.

What First-Home Buyers May Be Eligible For

Some first-home buyers may be eligible for government support that helps them buy with a smaller deposit, reduce upfront costs or avoid lenders mortgage insurance.

This may include the Australian Government Home Guarantee Scheme, which can allow eligible first-home buyers to purchase with a deposit from 5%, as well as NSW first-home buyer transfer duty exemptions or concessions, depending on the property value and buyer circumstances.

The key word is eligible.

What you can access may depend on your income, deposit, purchase price, property type, whether you are buying alone or with someone else, whether you have owned property before and the lender’s own criteria.

Leanne keeps across government schemes, lender policies and market changes so clients can understand what may apply to them before they make big decisions.

Free First Home Buyer Information Evening in Lane Cove

Leanne is planning to host a free First Home Buyer information evening at her Lane Cove office in July 2026.

The session will be an informal, myth-busting evening designed for people who are thinking about buying, whether they are actively looking now or just trying to understand what may be possible in the next six to twelve months.

The evening will run for approximately one hour and will cover questions such as:

• How much deposit do you actually need?
• What government support may be available?
• How does the loan application process work?
• What should first-home buyers avoid?
• How do you work out repayments you can comfortably manage?

Relentless in Finding Solutions

Leanne’s clients often describe her as patient, knowledgeable and genuinely on their side.

That matters when you are dealing with a home loan. Behind every application is a person or family trying to make a big decision, often while juggling work, children, cost-of-living pressure or uncertainty about what comes next.

Leanne’s background in accounting means she understands the numbers. Her background in human resources means she also understands people.

That combination is part of what makes her approach so personal. She is not just looking for a loan product. She is looking for a solution that fits the person sitting in front of her.

Leanne says her accounting background is particularly useful when working with investors and self-employed buyers, where the numbers can be more complex and the right structure matters.

She also works with clients across Australia via Zoom, and after-hours or weekend appointments may be available on request.

Already Have a Home Loan? It May Still Be Worth a Chat

Leanne also helps locals who already have a home loan and want to know whether their current rate is still competitive.

It is easy to stay with the same lender for years without checking what else is available. But in some cases, a quick review can identify savings or better options.

One local homeowner had not reviewed their loan in nearly five years. Life was busy, as it tends to be. But during that time, their lender had passed on rate rises without picking up the phone to compete for their business.

Within weeks of reaching out to Leanne, she was able to secure them a better rate with cashback, saving them more than $2,000 per year in interest.

Individual savings and loan options depend on personal circumstances, lender criteria and current offers.

Free Property Reports for Locals

Locals can also ask Leanne for a property report.

Whether you are curious about your own home, looking at a property nearby or just trying to understand the market, you can email the address, book a time or pop into the office.

Leanne can provide custom REAA and lender-generated property reports to help locals better understand estimated property values and lending considerations.

No Obligation, No Pressure

Leanne’s services are available at no charge to clients. Whether you are buying your first home, refinancing, investing, upgrading or simply trying to understand your options, you can book a free chat with her in person, by phone or over Zoom.

And if you are walking past the office after hours, there is a QR code on the window to request a property report, rate review or dedicated time to chat.

How to Contact Leanne

If you are thinking about buying your first home, reviewing your current home loan, refinancing, investing or just trying to understand your options, you can contact Leanne directly.

No obligation. No pressure. Just a local expert who knows the market, knows the lenders and genuinely wants to help locals find a way forward.

And if you are lucky, Bentley may be in the office too.

Information in this article is general in nature and does not take into account your personal circumstances. Eligibility for loans, government schemes, concessions and lender offers depends on individual circumstances and lender criteria.

This is a sponsored article written in partnership with Mortgage Choice Lane Cove. As always, the words are ours.