The Bricks and Mortar of a Financial Revolution

Easing the Financial Burden with the Tech Platform to Make it Seamless

Amidst a national housing crisis and a construction sector still reeling from the instability of the COVID era, Homepay has emerged as a bold and timely solution. Founded in late 2021, the fintech and property technology company is redefining how Australians approach building and financing their homes. Joshua Morse, Managing Director of Homepay, brings a decade of global management consulting experience to the mission of making homeownership more accessible, predictable, and stress-free.

“We started Homepay out of a real need we were seeing in the market,” says Morse. “Clients were coming through our family’s residential construction company in Tasmania, excited to build, but unable to move forward due to the financial burden of managing both rent and the additional repayments on a new construction loan. We knew we had to find a better way.”

From Construction to Innovation

Homepay was born from a collaboration between Morse and his brother Sam, who founded and runs SJM Property Developments, a residential builder completing over 200 homes a year. With Morse’s consulting background in process optimization and operational turnarounds, the brothers aligned their expertise during the pandemic when Morse returned to Australia on one of the last flights before the borders closed. Their efforts initially focused on streamlining and certifying residential construction operations under ISO 9001 standards to enable an ability to scale efficiently. But the real turning point came when workshopping how to solve a financing challenge that sidelined a significant number of eager buyers.

“People were stuck paying rent while trying to build, or as investors, covering loans on unfinished properties with no rental income. It was financially straining and emotionally distressing,” Morse explains.

The solution was Homepay’s flagship offering: a construction loan that allows clients to pause repayments on build and land for 12 months. This innovative structure eases the transition into homeownership by removing the double burden of rent and a mortgage. Combined with generous borrowing capacity and a strict builder accreditation process, the product offers unparalleled peace of mind.

A Builder Network Built on Trust

During a period marked by a rise in insolvencies among construction firms—builder failures more than doubled from 2022 to 2024—Homepay recognized an urgent need to restore trust and transparency to the industry. One of Homepay’s most powerful innovations is their rigorous builder auditing framework which has been critical for their lenders to have the confidence to offer such a compelling financial product. 

“Every builder we work with is independently reviewed for financial health, build quality, business processes and build timeframes,” Morse says. “We’re not just looking at finished homes. We’re inspecting the slab and frame stages—because that’s where the quality issues begin.”

The auditing process includes in-depth financial analysis, on-site inspections using geo-tagged, timestamped video and photo documentation, and a comprehensive review of operational practices aligned with ISO 9001 standards. Builders who pass are awarded Homepay accreditation and gain access to a unique ecosystem of partner lenders, financial products and motivated buyers.

“We often get clients asking us to approve a builder within days. But we can’t compromise. This framework is what protects our clients and our lending partners,” Morse affirms.

As of mid-2025, Homepay collaborates with over 20 builders and is showcased in over 80 display homes across Australia with continued expansion into new regions. These partners collectively complete around 4,000 builds per year, giving clients both scale and choice.

Simplifying the Process, Expanding the Reach

While sophisticated, Homepay’s model is refreshingly simple for users. Clients maintain traditional relationships with their builder and Homepay’s partner lenders. Homepay works behind the scenes to ensure all parties meet stringent standards, thereby facilitating smoother transactions and reducing risk.

“We’re not here to add complexity. Clients still deal with their builder and their mortgage broker as usual,” Morse explains. “We just make sure those partners are best-in-class, and that clients have access to an amazing financial product from our partner lenders.”

Partnering for Success

Partnerships are key to Homepay’s continued success. The company collaborates with mortgage brokers who have extensive experience in construction lending, ensuring clients receive tailored, independent advice. Homepay also relies on third-party financial assessors and data-secure platforms to protect sensitive information from our build partners to uphold industry best practices.

“We aim to remove friction wherever we can. The simpler and more transparent the process, the better the client experience,” Morse says.

One standout partner is Hibbard Homes, a multi-generational builder in Regional New South Wales. “They’ve been a fantastic example of what we look for: high quality, reliable build times, and a loyal workforce that has enabled us to expand outside of capital cities and into major regional markets like Newcastle, Dubbo and Tamworth. That kind of reach is essential to making our solution accessible across the country.”

Other key partners such as Masterton Homes, Tempo Living, Fairhaven Homes and SJD Homes (2025 HIA Professional Major Builder of the Year) represent the caliber and diversity of Homepay’s network. These firms share a commitment to operational transparency and high-quality construction. 

Auditing for Accountability

Homepay has fully embraced technology to improve efficiency, transparency, and scale in its builder auditing operations. Recognizing the complexity and risk involved in home construction, the company developed a custom auditing framework built atop iAuditor’s safety culture software. This platform allows for highly detailed, real-time reporting, incorporating location verification, media evidence, and standardized compliance checks. 

“It’s not just about ticking boxes. Our audits are thorough, and now, with our tech tools, we can complete them faster and with greater accuracy,” Morse explains. “This lets us scale into regional areas and maintain our operations across the country efficiently”.

Homepay’s builder reviews use a proprietary framework that has been carefully calibrated to reflect the unique operational dynamics of builders producing between 100 and 400 homes annually. Morse emphasizes that this build volume is strategically advantageous, offering a sweet spot where scalability is balanced with financial stability.

“That scale allows for consistency without the risks of overstretching. Once overheads climb past a certain point, profitability can become more volatile. We’re helping our partners strike the right balance,” he adds. “It’s not just about today’s numbers—it’s about ensuring long-term viability, which in turn protects both lenders and future homeowners.”

Client Support and Broker Education

Homepay’s support model extends to both consumers and professionals, fostering a holistic ecosystem designed to demystify the homebuilding journey. A dedicated customer service team is readily available to field inquiries through the company website, offering personalized support that walks prospective homeowners through both the lending and construction processes while ensuring financial guidance is only provided by independent licenced professionals. 

Recommended mortgage brokers—critical intermediaries in the process—are carefully vetted for their expertise in construction financing and remain completely independent from Homepay.  This ensures clients can compare loan products that best suit their individual circumstances, while being supported with the expertise needed to navigate the complexities of staged loan drawdowns and the nuances of financing a new build.

“A lot of our clients are first-time builders. Understanding the drawdown process, which involves the release of funds at each stage of construction, can be confusing. So, we partner with brokers who can walk them through each step with confidence,” says Morse. “We want clients to feel empowered, not overwhelmed.”

This integrated support structure ensures that clients receive not only access to a robust and flexible financial product but also the education and hands-on assistance needed to navigate what is often the most significant investment of their lives. By bridging knowledge gaps, Homepay’s process builds confidence from the ground up.

Adapting to a Changing Market

Recently, Australia’s economic climate has made many clients hesitant to enter the market. However, as interest rates continue to fall, more people are now looking to build—while also seeking finance options that support their goals without compromising their lifestyle. That’s where Homepay’s ability to pause repayments for up to 12 months during construction—combined with builders delivering in exceptional build times—has been critical in helping clients understand how innovative finance solutions can make previously unattainable goals achievable. Continuing to develop and refine these products remains a key priority.

“Our big focus for the next three years is product innovation for both clients and builders,” Morse explains. “The goal is to remove even more friction points from the building and financing experience, creating new opportunities for both clients and builders to thrive in a rapidly changing market.”

A National Vision

Ultimately, Homepay’s goal is to continue building Australia’s most trusted, independently accredited panel of builders – giving both clients and lenders the confidence to access innovative financial products. 

For lenders, this means exclusive access to a network of high-performing, vetted builders—reducing construction risk, enhancing loan performance, and providing a differentiated product offering in a competitive market.

For clients, this means greater peace of mind, knowing their builder has been independently assessed and backed by a finance structure designed to support them through the entire build journey.

“We want to make building a home more accessible, predictable, and stress-free for everyone,” Morse concludes. “It’s not just about a loan—it’s about giving people confidence that they’re making the right choice with the right partners.”

At a Glance

Who: Homepay

What: A platform offering deferred-payment construction loans to simplify the homebuilding process in Australia.

Where: Founded in Tasmania, supporting builds across Australia. 

Website: www.homepayaus.com.au

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