Mortgage funder and manager Homeloans Limited yesterday reported growth in loans under management for the December 2006 half of seven per cent, taking the group's loans to $735 million.The WA-based funder, in which Challenger Financial Services has agreed to buy a 40 per cent stake, said net profit increased one per cent to $1.28 million, though a chunk of the profit in the prior period represented a refund of stamp duty.Home said the forthcoming purchase of Independent Mortgage Corp in Victoria (something announced in December) would increase assets under management by a further 25 per cent.