diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 5d56073f8..b83d0f88f 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -83,6 +83,16 @@
       <scope>provided</scope>
     </dependency>
 
+    <!--
+    If snakeyaml is in the classpath we will read yml configuration files
+    -->
+    <dependency>
+      <groupId>org.yaml</groupId>
+      <artifactId>snakeyaml</artifactId>
+      <version>1.19</version>
+      <scope>provided</scope>
+    </dependency>
+
     <!--
     Class retention Nonnull and Nullable annotations
     to assist with IDE auto-completion with Ebean API
diff --git a/src/main/java/io/ebean/PrimaryServer.java b/src/main/java/io/ebean/PrimaryServer.java
index 4265b7022..d2f46f180 100644
--- a/src/main/java/io/ebean/PrimaryServer.java
+++ b/src/main/java/io/ebean/PrimaryServer.java
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 package io.ebean;
 
-import io.ebean.config.PropertyMap;
+import io.ebean.config.properties.PropertiesLoader;
 
 import java.util.Properties;
 
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ class PrimaryServer {
    */
   static synchronized Properties getProperties() {
     if (globalProperties == null) {
-      globalProperties = PropertyMap.defaultProperties();
+      globalProperties = PropertiesLoader.load();
     }
     if (defaultServerName == null) {
       defaultServerName = determineDefaultServerName();
diff --git a/src/main/java/io/ebean/config/PropertiesWrapper.java b/src/main/java/io/ebean/config/PropertiesWrapper.java
index 61ff55f94..a3d9f0364 100644
--- a/src/main/java/io/ebean/config/PropertiesWrapper.java
+++ b/src/main/java/io/ebean/config/PropertiesWrapper.java
@@ -10,16 +10,13 @@ public class PropertiesWrapper {
 
   protected final String serverName;
 
-  protected final PropertyMap propertyMap;
-
   /**
    * Construct with a prefix, serverName and properties.
    */
   public PropertiesWrapper(String prefix, String serverName, Properties properties) {
     this.serverName = serverName;
     this.prefix = prefix;
-    this.propertyMap = PropertyMapLoader.load(null, properties);
-    this.properties = propertyMap.asProperties();
+    this.properties = properties;
   }
 
   /**
@@ -29,27 +26,6 @@ public class PropertiesWrapper {
     this(null, null, properties);
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Internal copy constructor when changing prefix.
-   */
-  protected PropertiesWrapper(String prefix, String serverName, PropertyMap propertyMap, Properties properties) {
-    this.serverName = serverName;
-    this.prefix = prefix;
-    this.propertyMap = propertyMap;
-    this.properties = properties;
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Return a PropertiesWrapper instance with a different prefix but same underlying properties.
-   * <p/>
-   * Used when wanting to use "datasource" as the prefix rather than "ebean".
-   * <p/>
-   * The returning instance should only be used in a read only fashion.
-   */
-  public PropertiesWrapper withPrefix(String prefix) {
-    return new PropertiesWrapper(prefix, serverName, propertyMap, properties);
-  }
-
   /**
    * Return the serverName (optional).
    */
@@ -57,16 +33,6 @@ public class PropertiesWrapper {
     return serverName;
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Return as Properties with lower case keys and after evaluation and additional properties loading has occurred.
-   * <p>
-   * Ebean has historically ignored the case of keys hence returning the Properties with all the keys lower cased.
-   * </p>
-   */
-  public Properties asPropertiesLowerCase() {
-    return properties;
-  }
-
   /**
    * Get a property with no default value.
    */
@@ -90,17 +56,21 @@ public class PropertiesWrapper {
 
     String value = null;
     if (serverName != null && prefix != null) {
-      value = propertyMap.get(prefix + "." + serverName + "." + key, null);
+      value = internalGet(prefix + "." + serverName + "." + key);
     }
     if (value == null && prefix != null) {
-      value = propertyMap.get(prefix + "." + key, null);
+      value = internalGet(prefix + "." + key);
     }
     if (value == null) {
-      value = propertyMap.get(key, null);
+      value = internalGet(key);
     }
     return value == null ? defaultValue : value;
   }
 
+  private String internalGet(String key) {
+    return properties.getProperty(key);
+  }
+
   /**
    * Return a double property value.
    */
diff --git a/src/main/java/io/ebean/config/PropertyExpression.java b/src/main/java/io/ebean/config/PropertyExpression.java
deleted file mode 100644
index 4dc7e6565..000000000
--- a/src/main/java/io/ebean/config/PropertyExpression.java
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,178 +0,0 @@
-package io.ebean.config;
-
-import org.slf4j.Logger;
-import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
-
-import javax.naming.InitialContext;
-import javax.naming.NamingException;
-
-/**
- * Helper used to evaluate expressions such as ${CATALINA_HOME}.
- * <p>
- * The expressions can contain environment variables, system properties or JNDI
- * properties. JNDI expressions take the form ${jndi:propertyName} where you
- * substitute propertyName with the name of the jndi property you wish to
- * evaluate.
- * </p>
- */
-final class PropertyExpression {
-
-  private static final Logger logger = LoggerFactory.getLogger(PropertyExpression.class);
-
-  /**
-   * Prefix for looking up JNDI Environment variable.
-   */
-  private static final String JAVA_COMP_ENV = "java:comp/env/";
-
-  /**
-   * Used to detect the start of an expression.
-   */
-  private static final String START = "${";
-
-  /**
-   * Used to detect the end of an expression.
-   */
-  private static final String END = "}";
-
-  /**
-   * Specify the PropertyHolder.
-   */
-  private PropertyExpression() {
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Return the property value evaluating and replacing any expressions such as
-   * ${CATALINA_HOME}.
-   */
-  static String eval(String val, PropertyMap map) {
-    if (val == null) {
-      return null;
-    }
-    int sp = val.indexOf(START);
-    if (sp > -1) {
-      int ep = val.indexOf(END, sp + 1);
-      if (ep > -1) {
-        return eval(val, sp, ep, map);
-      }
-    }
-    return val;
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Convert the expression using JNDI, Environment variables, System Properties
-   * or existing an property in SystemProperties itself.
-   */
-  private static String evaluateExpression(String exp, PropertyMap map) {
-
-    if (isJndiExpression(exp)) {
-      // JNDI property lookup...
-      String val = getJndiProperty(exp);
-      if (val != null) {
-        return val;
-      }
-    }
-
-    // check Environment Variables first
-    String val = System.getenv(exp);
-    if (val == null) {
-      // then check system properties
-      val = System.getProperty(exp);
-    }
-    if (val == null && map != null) {
-      // then check PropertyMap
-      val = map.get(exp);
-    }
-
-    if (val != null) {
-      return val;
-
-    } else {
-      // unable to evaluate yet... but maybe later based on the order
-      // in which properties are being set/loaded. You can use
-      // GlobalProperties.evaluateExpressions() to get any unresolved
-      // expressions to be evaluated
-      logger.debug("Unable to evaluate expression [{}]", exp);
-      return null;
-    }
-  }
-
-  private static String eval(String val, int sp, int ep, PropertyMap map) {
-
-    StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
-    sb.append(val.substring(0, sp));
-
-    String cal = evalExpression(val, sp, ep, map);
-    sb.append(cal);
-
-    eval(val, ep + 1, sb, map);
-
-    return sb.toString();
-  }
-
-  private static void eval(String val, int startPos, StringBuilder sb, PropertyMap map) {
-    if (startPos < val.length()) {
-      int sp = val.indexOf(START, startPos);
-      if (sp > -1) {
-        // append what is between the last token and the new one (if startPos ==
-        // sp nothing gets added)
-        sb.append(val.substring(startPos, sp));
-        int ep = val.indexOf(END, sp + 1);
-        if (ep > -1) {
-          String cal = evalExpression(val, sp, ep, map);
-          sb.append(cal);
-          eval(val, ep + 1, sb, map);
-          return;
-        }
-      }
-    }
-    // append what is left...
-    sb.append(val.substring(startPos));
-  }
-
-  private static String evalExpression(String val, int sp, int ep, PropertyMap map) {
-    // trim off start and end ${ and }
-    String exp = val.substring(sp + START.length(), ep);
-
-    // evaluate the variable
-    String evaled = evaluateExpression(exp, map);
-    if (evaled != null) {
-      return evaled;
-    } else {
-      // unable to evaluate at this stage (maybe later)
-      return START + exp + END;
-    }
-  }
-
-  private static boolean isJndiExpression(String exp) {
-    return exp.startsWith("JNDI:") || exp.startsWith("jndi:");
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Returns null if JNDI is not setup or if the property is not found.
-   *
-   * @param key the key of the JNDI Environment property including a JNDI: prefix.
-   */
-  private static String getJndiProperty(String key) {
-
-    try {
-      // remove the JNDI: prefix
-      key = key.substring(5);
-
-      return (String) getJndiObject(key);
-
-    } catch (NamingException ex) {
-      return null;
-    }
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Similar to getProperty but throws NamingException if JNDI is not setup or
-   * if the property is not found.
-   */
-  private static Object getJndiObject(String key) throws NamingException {
-
-    InitialContext ctx = new InitialContext();
-    return ctx.lookup(JAVA_COMP_ENV + key);
-  }
-
-}
diff --git a/src/main/java/io/ebean/config/PropertyMap.java b/src/main/java/io/ebean/config/PropertyMap.java
deleted file mode 100644
index 2da152d78..000000000
--- a/src/main/java/io/ebean/config/PropertyMap.java
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,168 +0,0 @@
-package io.ebean.config;
-
-import java.io.Serializable;
-import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
-import java.util.Map;
-import java.util.Map.Entry;
-import java.util.Properties;
-import java.util.Set;
-
-/**
- * A map like structure of properties.
- * <p/>
- * Handles evaluation of expressions like ${home} and provides convenience methods for int, long and boolean.
- */
-public final class PropertyMap implements Serializable {
-
-  private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-
-  private final LinkedHashMap<String, String> map = new LinkedHashMap<>();
-
-  /**
-   * Return properties loaded from test-ebean.properties.
-   */
-  public static Properties testProperties() {
-    PropertyMap propertyMap = PropertyMapLoader.loadTestProperties();
-    return (propertyMap == null) ? new Properties() : propertyMap.asProperties();
-  }
-
-  public static Properties defaultProperties() {
-    PropertyMap propertyMap = PropertyMapLoader.loadGlobalProperties();
-    return (propertyMap == null) ? new Properties() : propertyMap.asProperties();
-  }
-
-  public static boolean loadTestProperties() {
-    String disable = System.getProperty("disableTestProperties");
-    return (disable == null || !disable.equalsIgnoreCase("true"));
-  }
-
-  @Override
-  public String toString() {
-    return map.toString();
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Return as standard Properties.
-   */
-  public Properties asProperties() {
-    Properties properties = new Properties();
-    for (Entry<String, String> e : entrySet()) {
-      properties.put(e.getKey(), e.getValue());
-    }
-    return properties;
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Go through all the properties and evaluate any expressions that have not
-   * been resolved.
-   */
-  public void evaluateProperties() {
-
-    for (Entry<String, String> e : entrySet()) {
-      String key = e.getKey();
-      String val = e.getValue();
-      String eval = eval(val);
-      if (eval != null && !eval.equals(val)) {
-        put(key, eval);
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Returns the value with expressions like ${home} evaluated using system properties and environment variables.
-   */
-  public synchronized String eval(String val) {
-    return PropertyExpression.eval(val, this);
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Return the boolean property value with a given default.
-   */
-  public synchronized boolean getBoolean(String key, boolean defaultValue) {
-    String value = get(key);
-    if (value == null) {
-      return defaultValue;
-    } else {
-      return Boolean.parseBoolean(value);
-    }
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Return the int property value with a given default.
-   */
-  public synchronized int getInt(String key, int defaultValue) {
-    String value = get(key);
-    if (value == null) {
-      return defaultValue;
-    } else {
-      return Integer.parseInt(value);
-    }
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Return the long property value with a given default.
-   */
-  public synchronized long getLong(String key, long defaultValue) {
-    String value = get(key);
-    if (value == null) {
-      return defaultValue;
-    } else {
-      return Long.parseLong(value);
-    }
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Return the string property value with a given default.
-   */
-  public synchronized String get(String key, String defaultValue) {
-    String value = map.get(key.toLowerCase());
-    return value == null ? defaultValue : value;
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Return the property value returning null if there is no value defined.
-   */
-  public synchronized String get(String key) {
-    return map.get(key.toLowerCase());
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Put all evaluating any expressions in the values.
-   */
-  public synchronized void putEvalAll(Map<String, String> keyValueMap) {
-
-    for (Map.Entry<String, String> entry : keyValueMap.entrySet()) {
-      putEval(entry.getKey(), entry.getValue());
-    }
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Put a single key value evaluating any expressions in the value.
-   */
-  public synchronized String putEval(String key, String value) {
-    value = PropertyExpression.eval(value, this);
-    return map.put(key.toLowerCase(), value);
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Put a single key value with no expression evaluation.
-   */
-  public synchronized String put(String key, String value) {
-    return map.put(key.toLowerCase(), value);
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Remove an entry.
-   */
-  public synchronized String remove(String key) {
-    return map.remove(key.toLowerCase());
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Return the entries.
-   */
-  public synchronized Set<Entry<String, String>> entrySet() {
-    return map.entrySet();
-  }
-
-}
diff --git a/src/main/java/io/ebean/config/PropertyMapLoader.java b/src/main/java/io/ebean/config/PropertyMapLoader.java
deleted file mode 100644
index 7444de7fe..000000000
--- a/src/main/java/io/ebean/config/PropertyMapLoader.java
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,163 +0,0 @@
-package io.ebean.config;
-
-import java.util.regex.Matcher;
-import java.util.regex.Pattern;
-import org.slf4j.Logger;
-import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
-
-import java.io.File;
-import java.io.FileInputStream;
-import java.io.FileNotFoundException;
-import java.io.IOException;
-import java.io.InputStream;
-import java.util.Map;
-import java.util.Properties;
-
-/**
- * Helper used to load the ebean.properties into a PropertyMap.
- */
-final class PropertyMapLoader {
-
-  private static final Logger logger = LoggerFactory.getLogger(PropertyMapLoader.class);
-
-  private static final Pattern OTHER_PROPS_REPLACE = Pattern.compile("\\", Pattern.LITERAL);
-
-  /**
-   * Load the <code>test-ebean.properties</code>.
-   */
-  public static PropertyMap loadTestProperties() {
-    if (!PropertyMap.loadTestProperties()) {
-      return new PropertyMap();
-    }
-    return load(null, "test-ebean.properties");
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Load the ebean.properties (and test-ebean.properties if present).
-   */
-  public static PropertyMap loadGlobalProperties() {
-
-    boolean loadTestProperties = false;
-    String fileName = System.getenv("EBEAN_PROPS_FILE");
-    if (fileName == null) {
-      fileName = System.getProperty("ebean.props.file");
-      if (fileName == null) {
-        loadTestProperties = PropertyMap.loadTestProperties();
-        fileName = "ebean.properties";
-      }
-    }
-
-    PropertyMap map = load(null, fileName);
-    if (loadTestProperties) {
-      // load test properties if present in classpath
-      map = load(map, "test-ebean.properties");
-    }
-    return map;
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Load the file returning the property map.
-   *
-   * @param p        an existing property map to load into.
-   * @param fileName the name of the properties file to load.
-   */
-  public static PropertyMap load(PropertyMap p, String fileName) {
-
-    InputStream is = findInputStream(fileName);
-    if (is == null) {
-      return p;
-    } else {
-      return load(p, is);
-    }
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Load the InputStream returning the property map.
-   *
-   * @param p  an existing property map to load into.
-   * @param in the InputStream of the properties file to load.
-   */
-  public static PropertyMap load(PropertyMap p, InputStream in) {
-
-    Properties props = new Properties();
-    try {
-      props.load(in);
-      in.close();
-      return load(p, props);
-
-    } catch (IOException e) {
-      throw new RuntimeException(e);
-    }
-  }
-
-  public static PropertyMap load(PropertyMap p, Properties props) {
-
-    if (p == null) {
-      p = new PropertyMap();
-    }
-
-    // put values in initially without any evaluation
-    for (Map.Entry<Object, Object> entry : props.entrySet()) {
-      String key = ((String) entry.getKey()).toLowerCase();
-      String val = ((String) entry.getValue());
-      if (val != null) {
-        val = val.trim();
-      }
-      p.put(key, val);
-    }
-
-    p.evaluateProperties();
-
-    String otherProps = p.remove("load.properties");
-    if (otherProps == null) {
-      otherProps = p.remove("load.properties.override");
-    }
-    if (otherProps != null) {
-      otherProps = OTHER_PROPS_REPLACE.matcher(otherProps).replaceAll(Matcher.quoteReplacement("/"));
-      InputStream is = findInputStream(otherProps);
-      if (is != null) {
-        logger.debug("loading properties from {}", otherProps);
-        load(p, is);
-      } else {
-        logger.error("load.properties " + otherProps + " not found.");
-      }
-    }
-
-    return p;
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Find the input stream given the file name.
-   */
-  private static InputStream findInputStream(String fileName) {
-
-    if (fileName == null) {
-      throw new NullPointerException("fileName is null?");
-    }
-
-    try {
-      File f = new File(fileName);
-
-      if (f.exists()) {
-        logger.debug("{} found in file system", fileName);
-        return new FileInputStream(f);
-      } else {
-        InputStream in = findInClassPath(fileName);
-        if (in != null) {
-          logger.debug("{} found in classpath", fileName);
-        }
-        return in;
-      }
-
-    } catch (FileNotFoundException ex) {
-      // already made the check so this
-      // should never be thrown
-      throw new RuntimeException(ex);
-    }
-  }
-
-  private static InputStream findInClassPath(String fileName) {
-    return Thread.currentThread().getContextClassLoader().getResourceAsStream(fileName);
-  }
-
-}
diff --git a/src/main/java/io/ebean/config/ServerConfig.java b/src/main/java/io/ebean/config/ServerConfig.java
index 4b17b276f..03fcf0eed 100644
--- a/src/main/java/io/ebean/config/ServerConfig.java
+++ b/src/main/java/io/ebean/config/ServerConfig.java
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import io.ebean.config.dbplatform.DatabasePlatform;
 import io.ebean.config.dbplatform.DbEncrypt;
 import io.ebean.config.dbplatform.DbType;
 import io.ebean.config.dbplatform.IdType;
+import io.ebean.config.properties.PropertiesLoader;
 import io.ebean.event.BeanFindController;
 import io.ebean.event.BeanPersistController;
 import io.ebean.event.BeanPersistListener;
@@ -2576,7 +2577,7 @@ public class ServerConfig {
    * Load settings from ebean.properties.
    */
   public void loadFromProperties() {
-    loadFromProperties(PropertyMap.defaultProperties());
+    loadFromProperties(PropertiesLoader.load());
   }
 
   /**
@@ -2590,18 +2591,17 @@ public class ServerConfig {
   }
 
   /**
+   * Deprecated - this does nothing now, we always try to read test configuration.
+   * <p>
    * Load settings from test-ebean.properties and do nothing if the properties is not found.
    * <p>
    * This is typically used when test-ebean.properties is put into the test class path and used
    * to configure Ebean for running tests.
    * </p>
    */
+  @Deprecated
   public void loadTestProperties() {
-    Properties properties = PropertyMap.testProperties();
-    if (!properties.isEmpty()) {
-      PropertiesWrapper p = new PropertiesWrapper("ebean", name, properties);
-      loadSettings(p);
-    }
+    // do nothing now ... as we always try to read test configuration and that should only
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/src/main/java/io/ebean/config/properties/LoadContext.java b/src/main/java/io/ebean/config/properties/LoadContext.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7ec6a8f38
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/java/io/ebean/config/properties/LoadContext.java
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+package io.ebean.config.properties;
+
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
+
+import java.io.File;
+import java.io.FileInputStream;
+import java.io.FileNotFoundException;
+import java.io.InputStream;
+import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
+import java.util.LinkedHashSet;
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.Properties;
+import java.util.Set;
+
+/**
+ * Manages the underlying map of properties we are gathering.
+ */
+class LoadContext {
+
+	private static final Logger log = LoggerFactory.getLogger(LoadContext.class);
+
+  /**
+   * Map we are loading the properties into.
+   */
+	private final Map<String, String> map = new LinkedHashMap<>();
+
+  /**
+   * Names of resources/files that were loaded.
+   */
+	private final Set<String> loadedResources = new LinkedHashSet<>();
+
+  /**
+   * Return the input stream (maybe null) for the given source.
+   */
+	InputStream resource(String resourcePath, Loader.Source source) {
+
+    InputStream is = null;
+    if (source == Loader.Source.RESOURCE) {
+      is = getClass().getResourceAsStream("/" + resourcePath);
+      if (is != null) {
+        loadedResources.add(resourcePath);
+      }
+    } else {
+      File file = new File(resourcePath);
+      if (file.exists()) {
+        try {
+          is = new FileInputStream(file);
+          loadedResources.add("file:"+resourcePath);
+        } catch (FileNotFoundException e) {
+          throw new IllegalStateException(e);
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+		return is;
+	}
+
+  /**
+   * Add a property entry.
+   */
+	void put(String key, String val) {
+	  if (val != null) {
+	    val = val.trim();
+    }
+		map.put(key, val);
+	}
+
+  /**
+   * Evaluate all the expressions and return as a Properties object.
+   */
+	Properties eval() {
+
+		log.info("loaded properties from {}", loadedResources);
+
+		Properties properties = new Properties();
+
+		for (Map.Entry<String, String> entry : map.entrySet()) {
+			String key = entry.getKey();
+			String value = PropertyEval.eval(entry.getValue());
+			properties.setProperty(key, value);
+		}
+
+		return properties;
+	}
+
+  /**
+   * Read the special properties that can point to an external properties source.
+   */
+  String indirectLocation() {
+    String indirectLocation = map.get("load.properties");
+    if (indirectLocation == null) {
+      indirectLocation = map.get("load.properties.override");
+    }
+    return indirectLocation;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/main/java/io/ebean/config/properties/Loader.java b/src/main/java/io/ebean/config/properties/Loader.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..036b504fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/java/io/ebean/config/properties/Loader.java
@@ -0,0 +1,164 @@
+package io.ebean.config.properties;
+
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
+
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.io.InputStream;
+import java.util.Enumeration;
+import java.util.Properties;
+
+/**
+ * Loads the configuration from known/expected locations.
+ * <p>
+ * Defines the loading order of resources and files.
+ * </p>
+ */
+class Loader {
+
+	private static final Logger log = LoggerFactory.getLogger(Loader.class);
+
+	enum Source {
+	  RESOURCE,
+    FILE
+  }
+
+  private final LoadContext loadContext = new LoadContext();
+
+  private YamlLoader yamlLoader;
+
+	Loader() {
+
+		try {
+			Class<?> exists = Class.forName("org.yaml.snakeyaml.Yaml");
+			if (exists != null) {
+				yamlLoader = new YamlLoader(loadContext);
+			}
+		} catch (Exception e) {
+			// ignored
+		}
+	}
+
+  /**
+   * Load the configuration with the expected ordering.
+   */
+	void load() {
+
+    loadMain(Source.RESOURCE);
+    // external file configuration overrides the resources configuration
+    loadMain(Source.FILE);
+
+		loadViaSystemProperty();
+		loadViaIndirection();
+
+		// test configuration (if found) overrides main configuration
+    // we should only find these resources when running tests
+		loadTest();
+	}
+
+  /**
+   * Load test configuration.
+   */
+  private void loadTest() {
+    loadProperties("application-test.properties", Source.RESOURCE);
+    loadYaml("application-test.yml", Source.RESOURCE);
+    loadProperties("test-ebean.properties", Source.RESOURCE);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Load configuration defined by a <em>load.properties</em> entry in properties file.
+   */
+  private void loadViaIndirection() {
+
+    String location = loadContext.indirectLocation();
+    if (location != null) {
+      location = PropertyEval.eval(location);
+      loadWithExtensionCheck(location);
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Load the main configuration for the given source.
+   */
+  private void loadMain(Source source) {
+    loadYaml("application.yml", source);
+    loadProperties("application.properties", source);
+    loadProperties("ebean.properties", source);
+  }
+
+  private void loadViaSystemProperty() {
+	  String fileName = System.getenv("EBEAN_PROPS_FILE");
+    if (fileName == null) {
+      fileName = System.getProperty("ebean.props.file");
+      if (fileName != null) {
+        loadWithExtensionCheck(fileName);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  void loadWithExtensionCheck(String fileName) {
+    if (fileName.endsWith("yml")) {
+      loadYaml(fileName, Source.FILE);
+    } else if (fileName.endsWith("properties")) {
+      loadProperties(fileName, Source.FILE);
+    } else {
+      throw new IllegalArgumentException("Expecting only yml or properties file but got [" + fileName + "]");
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Evaluate all the configuration entries and return as properties.
+   */
+  Properties eval() {
+		return loadContext.eval();
+	}
+
+	void loadYaml(String resourcePath, Source source) {
+		if (yamlLoader != null) {
+			yamlLoader.load(resource(resourcePath, source));
+		}
+	}
+
+	void loadProperties(String resourcePath, Source source) {
+		InputStream is = resource(resourcePath, source);
+		if (is != null) {
+			loadProperties(is);
+		}
+	}
+
+	private InputStream resource(String resourcePath, Source source) {
+		return loadContext.resource(resourcePath, source);
+	}
+
+	private void loadProperties(InputStream is) {
+
+		if (is != null) {
+			try {
+				Properties properties = new Properties();
+				properties.load(is);
+				put(properties);
+			} catch (IOException e) {
+				throw new RuntimeException("Failed to load properties?", e);
+			} finally {
+				close(is);
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	private void put(Properties properties) {
+		Enumeration<?> enumeration = properties.propertyNames();
+		while (enumeration.hasMoreElements()) {
+			String key = (String) enumeration.nextElement();
+			String property = properties.getProperty(key);
+			loadContext.put(key, property);
+		}
+	}
+
+	private void close(InputStream is) {
+		try {
+			is.close();
+		} catch (IOException e) {
+			log.warn("Error closing input stream for properties", e);
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/src/main/java/io/ebean/config/properties/PropertiesLoader.java b/src/main/java/io/ebean/config/properties/PropertiesLoader.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..77b059b5b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/java/io/ebean/config/properties/PropertiesLoader.java
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+package io.ebean.config.properties;
+
+import java.util.Properties;
+
+/**
+ * Loads and evaluates properties and yml configuration.
+ */
+public class PropertiesLoader {
+
+  private static Properties properties;
+
+  /**
+   * Provides properties by reading known locations.
+   * <p>
+   * <h3>Main configuration</h3>
+   * <p>
+   * <p>Firstly loads from main resources</p>
+   * <pre>
+   *   - application.properties
+   *   - application.yml
+   *   - ebean.properties
+   * </pre>
+   * <p>
+   * <p>Then loads from local files</p>
+   * <pre>
+   *   - application.properties
+   *   - application.yml
+   *   - ebean.properties
+   * </pre>
+   * <p>
+   * <p>Then loads from environment variable <em>EBEAN_PROPS_FILE</em></p>
+   * <p>Then loads from system property <em>ebean.props.file</em></p>
+   * <p>Then loads from <em>load.properties</em></p>
+   * <p>
+   * <h3>Test configuration</h3>
+   * <p>
+   * Once the main configuration is read it will try to read common test configuration.
+   * This will only be successful if the test resources are available (i.e. running tests).
+   * </p>
+   * <p>Loads from test resources</p>
+   * <pre>
+   *   - application-test.properties
+   *   - application-test.yml
+   *   - test-ebean.properties
+   * </pre>
+   */
+  public static synchronized Properties load() {
+
+    if (properties == null) {
+      Loader loader = new Loader();
+      loader.load();
+      properties = loader.eval();
+    }
+
+    return properties;
+  }
+
+}
diff --git a/src/main/java/io/ebean/config/properties/PropertyEval.java b/src/main/java/io/ebean/config/properties/PropertyEval.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f1763cb3e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/java/io/ebean/config/properties/PropertyEval.java
@@ -0,0 +1,202 @@
+package io.ebean.config.properties;
+
+import javax.naming.InitialContext;
+import javax.naming.NamingException;
+
+/**
+ * Helper used to evaluate expressions such as ${CATALINA_HOME}.
+ * <p>
+ * The expressions can contain environment variables, system properties or JNDI
+ * properties. JNDI expressions take the form ${jndi:propertyName} where you
+ * substitute propertyName with the name of the jndi property you wish to
+ * evaluate.
+ * </p>
+ */
+final class PropertyEval {
+
+	/**
+	 * Prefix for looking up JNDI Environment variable.
+	 */
+	private static final String JAVA_COMP_ENV = "java:comp/env/";
+
+	/**
+	 * Used to detect the start of an expression.
+	 */
+	private static final String START = "${";
+
+	/**
+	 * Used to detect the end of an expression.
+	 */
+	private static final String END = "}";
+
+	/**
+	 * Specify the PropertyHolder.
+	 */
+	private PropertyEval() {
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Return the property value evaluating and replacing any expressions such as
+	 * ${CATALINA_HOME}.
+	 */
+	static String eval(String val) {
+		if (val == null) {
+			return null;
+		}
+		int sp = val.indexOf(START);
+		if (sp > -1) {
+			int ep = val.indexOf(END, sp + 1);
+			if (ep > -1) {
+				return eval(val, sp, ep);
+			}
+		}
+		return val;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Convert the expression using JNDI, Environment variables, System Properties
+	 * or existing an property in SystemProperties itself.
+	 */
+	private static String evaluateExpression(String exp) {
+
+		if (isJndiExpression(exp)) {
+			// JNDI property lookup...
+			String val = getJndiProperty(exp);
+			if (val != null) {
+				return val;
+			}
+		}
+		String val = System.getProperty(exp);
+		if (val == null) {
+			val = System.getenv(exp);
+		}
+		return val;
+	}
+
+	private static String eval(String val, int sp, int ep) {
+
+		return new EvalBuffer(val, sp, ep).process();
+	}
+
+
+	private static boolean isJndiExpression(String exp) {
+		return exp.startsWith("JNDI:") || exp.startsWith("jndi:");
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Returns null if JNDI is not setup or if the property is not found.
+	 *
+	 * @param key the key of the JNDI Environment property including a JNDI: prefix.
+	 */
+	private static String getJndiProperty(String key) {
+
+		try {
+			// remove the JNDI: prefix
+			key = key.substring(5);
+			return (String) getJndiObject(key);
+		} catch (NamingException ex) {
+			return null;
+		}
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Similar to getProperty but throws NamingException if JNDI is not setup or
+	 * if the property is not found.
+	 */
+	private static Object getJndiObject(String key) throws NamingException {
+
+		InitialContext ctx = new InitialContext();
+		return ctx.lookup(JAVA_COMP_ENV + key);
+	}
+
+
+	private static class EvalBuffer {
+
+		private final StringBuilder buf = new StringBuilder();
+		private final String original;
+		private int position;
+		private int start;
+		private int end;
+
+		private String expression;
+		private String defaultValue;
+
+		EvalBuffer(String val, int start, int ep) {
+			this.original = val;
+			this.start = start;
+			this.end = ep;
+			this.position = 0;
+			moveToStart();
+		}
+
+		void moveToStart() {
+			if (start > position) {
+				buf.append(original.substring(position, start));
+				position = start;
+			}
+		}
+
+		void parseForDefault() {
+			int colonPos = original.lastIndexOf(':', end);
+			if (colonPos > start) {
+				expression = original.substring(start + START.length(), colonPos);
+				defaultValue = original.substring(colonPos + 1, end);
+			} else {
+				expression = original.substring(start + START.length(), end);
+			}
+		}
+
+		void evaluate() {
+			String eval = evaluateExpression(expression);
+			if (eval != null) {
+				buf.append(eval);
+			} else {
+				if (defaultValue != null) {
+					buf.append(defaultValue);
+				} else {
+					buf.append(START).append(expression).append(END);
+				}
+			}
+		}
+
+		String end() {
+			if (end < original.length() - 1) {
+				buf.append(original.substring(end + 1));
+			}
+			return buf.toString();
+		}
+
+		boolean next() {
+			if (end < original.length()) {
+				int startPos = original.indexOf(START, end + 1);
+				if (startPos > -1) {
+					int endPos = original.indexOf(END, startPos + 1);
+					if (endPos > -1) {
+						if (startPos > end + 1) {
+							buf.append(original.substring(end + 1, startPos));
+						}
+						this.start = startPos;
+						this.end = endPos;
+						return true;
+					}
+				}
+			}
+			return false;
+		}
+
+		private void evalNext() {
+			parseForDefault();
+			evaluate();
+		}
+
+		String process() {
+			evalNext();
+			while (next()) {
+				evalNext();
+			}
+			return end();
+		}
+
+	}
+
+}
diff --git a/src/main/java/io/ebean/config/properties/YamlLoader.java b/src/main/java/io/ebean/config/properties/YamlLoader.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..764c73a38
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/java/io/ebean/config/properties/YamlLoader.java
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+package io.ebean.config.properties;
+
+import org.yaml.snakeyaml.Yaml;
+
+import java.io.InputStream;
+import java.util.Map;
+
+/**
+ * Loads configuration from Yml into the load context.
+ * <p>
+ * Note that this ignores 'lists' so just reads 'maps' and scalar values.
+ * </p>
+ */
+class YamlLoader {
+
+	private final Yaml yaml = new Yaml();
+
+	private final LoadContext loadContext;
+
+	YamlLoader(LoadContext loadContext) {
+		this.loadContext = loadContext;
+	}
+
+	void load(InputStream is) {
+		if (is != null) {
+			loadMap(yaml.load(is), null);
+		}
+	}
+
+	void loadMap(Map<String, Object> map, String path) {
+
+		for (Map.Entry<String, Object> entry : map.entrySet()) {
+			String key = entry.getKey();
+			if (path != null) {
+				key = path + "." + key;
+			}
+			Object val = entry.getValue();
+			if (val instanceof Map) {
+				loadMap((Map<String, Object>) val, key);
+			} else  {
+				addScalar(key, val);
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	private void addScalar(String key, Object val) {
+		if (val instanceof String) {
+			loadContext.put(key, (String) val);
+		} else if (val instanceof Number || val instanceof Boolean) {
+			loadContext.put(key, val.toString());
+		}
+	}
+
+}
diff --git a/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/server/core/DefaultContainer.java b/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/server/core/DefaultContainer.java
index 0f72ca48c..63536ee51 100644
--- a/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/server/core/DefaultContainer.java
+++ b/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/server/core/DefaultContainer.java
@@ -5,12 +5,12 @@ import io.ebean.cache.ServerCacheFactory;
 import io.ebean.cache.ServerCacheOptions;
 import io.ebean.cache.ServerCachePlugin;
 import io.ebean.config.ContainerConfig;
-import io.ebean.config.PropertyMap;
 import io.ebean.config.ServerConfig;
 import io.ebean.config.TenantMode;
 import io.ebean.config.UnderscoreNamingConvention;
 import io.ebean.config.dbplatform.DatabasePlatform;
 import io.ebean.config.dbplatform.h2.H2Platform;
+import io.ebean.config.properties.PropertiesLoader;
 import io.ebean.service.SpiContainer;
 import io.ebeaninternal.api.SpiBackgroundExecutor;
 import io.ebeaninternal.api.SpiContainerBootup;
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ import java.sql.Connection;
 import java.sql.SQLException;
 import java.util.Iterator;
 import java.util.List;
-import java.util.Properties;
 import java.util.ServiceLoader;
 
 /**
@@ -84,9 +83,7 @@ public class DefaultContainer implements SpiContainer {
 
     ServerConfig config = new ServerConfig();
     config.setName(name);
-
-    Properties prop = PropertyMap.defaultProperties();
-    config.loadFromProperties(prop);
+    config.loadFromProperties(PropertiesLoader.load());
 
     return createServer(config);
   }
diff --git a/src/test/java/io/ebean/config/PropertiesWrapperTest.java b/src/test/java/io/ebean/config/PropertiesWrapperTest.java
index 38d45368a..ee9e294f4 100644
--- a/src/test/java/io/ebean/config/PropertiesWrapperTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/io/ebean/config/PropertiesWrapperTest.java
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ public class PropertiesWrapperTest {
 
 
   @Test
-  public void testGetServerName() throws Exception {
+  public void testGetServerName() {
 
     PropertiesWrapper pw = new PropertiesWrapper(null, "myserver", new Properties());
     assertEquals("myserver", pw.getServerName());
@@ -35,23 +35,20 @@ public class PropertiesWrapperTest {
 
     Properties properties = new Properties();
     properties.put("someBasic", " hello ");
-    properties.put("someInt", " 42 ");
+    properties.put("someInt", "42");
     properties.put("noTrimReqr", "jim");
     properties.put("includeSpaces", " jim bob ");
 
     PropertiesWrapper pw = new PropertiesWrapper("pref", "myserver", properties);
-    assertEquals("hello", pw.get("someBasic"));
+    assertEquals(" hello ", pw.get("someBasic"));
     assertEquals(42, pw.getInt("someInt", 1));
     assertNull(pw.get("doesNotExist", null));
     assertEquals("jim", pw.get("noTrimReqr"));
-    assertEquals("jim bob", pw.get("includeSpaces"));
+    assertEquals(" jim bob ", pw.get("includeSpaces"));
   }
 
   @Test
-  public void testGetProperties() throws Exception {
-
-    String home = System.getenv("HOME");
-    String tmpDir = System.getProperty("java.io.tmpdir");
+  public void testGetProperties() {
 
     Properties properties = new Properties();
     properties.put("someBasic", "hello");
@@ -64,28 +61,12 @@ public class PropertiesWrapperTest {
 
     assertEquals(42, pw.getInt("someInt", 99));
     assertEquals(Double.valueOf(5.5D), (Double.valueOf(pw.getDouble("someDouble", 99.9D))));
-    assertEquals(home + "/hello", pw.get("somePath", null));
-    assertEquals(tmpDir, "/aaa/" + tmpDir + "/bbb", pw.get("someSystemProp"));
-
-    Properties properties1 = pw.asPropertiesLowerCase();
-    assertEquals("hello", properties1.getProperty("somebasic"));
-    assertEquals("42", properties1.getProperty("someint"));
-    assertEquals(home + "/hello", properties1.get("somepath"));
-    assertEquals(tmpDir, "/aaa/" + tmpDir + "/bbb", properties1.get("somesystemprop"));
 
 
     pw = new PropertiesWrapper(properties);
 
     assertEquals(42, pw.getInt("someInt", 99));
     assertEquals(Double.valueOf(5.5D), (Double.valueOf(pw.getDouble("someDouble", 99.9D))));
-    assertEquals(home + "/hello", pw.get("somePath", null));
-    assertEquals(tmpDir, "/aaa/" + tmpDir + "/bbb", pw.get("someSystemProp"));
-
-    properties1 = pw.asPropertiesLowerCase();
-    assertEquals("hello", properties1.getProperty("somebasic"));
-    assertEquals("42", properties1.getProperty("someint"));
-    assertEquals(home + "/hello", properties1.get("somepath"));
-    assertEquals(tmpDir, "/aaa/" + tmpDir + "/bbb", properties1.get("somesystemprop"));
   }
 
 }
diff --git a/src/test/java/io/ebean/config/PropertyMapTest.java b/src/test/java/io/ebean/config/PropertyMapTest.java
deleted file mode 100644
index e4d19a3ef..000000000
--- a/src/test/java/io/ebean/config/PropertyMapTest.java
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,23 +0,0 @@
-package io.ebean.config;
-
-import org.junit.Test;
-
-import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
-
-public class PropertyMapTest {
-
-  @Test
-  public void testDefaultProperties() throws Exception {
-
-    PropertyMap.defaultProperties();
-  }
-
-  @Test
-  public void testEval() throws Exception {
-
-    String home = System.getenv("HOME");
-    PropertyMap map = new PropertyMap();
-    assertEquals(home, map.eval("${HOME}"));
-  }
-
-}
diff --git a/src/test/java/io/ebean/config/properties/LoaderTest.java b/src/test/java/io/ebean/config/properties/LoaderTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e5b5d3ee5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/test/java/io/ebean/config/properties/LoaderTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+package io.ebean.config.properties;
+
+import org.junit.Test;
+
+import java.util.Properties;
+
+import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThat;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
+
+public class LoaderTest {
+
+  @Test
+  public void load() {
+
+    Loader loader = new Loader();
+    loader.loadProperties("test-properties/application.properties", Loader.Source.RESOURCE);
+    loader.loadYaml("test-properties/application.yml", Loader.Source.RESOURCE);
+
+    loader.loadProperties("test-properties/one.properties", Loader.Source.RESOURCE);
+    loader.loadYaml("test-properties/foo.yml", Loader.Source.RESOURCE);
+
+    Properties properties = loader.eval();
+
+    assertEquals("fromProperties", properties.getProperty("app.fromProperties"));
+    assertEquals("Two", properties.getProperty("app.two"));
+
+    assertEquals("bart", properties.getProperty("eval.withDefault"));
+    assertEquals("/home/rob/after", properties.getProperty("eval.home"));
+    assertEquals("rob", properties.getProperty("eval.name"));
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void loadWithExtensionCheck() {
+
+    Loader loader = new Loader();
+    loader.loadWithExtensionCheck("test-dummy.properties");
+    loader.loadWithExtensionCheck("test-dummy.yml");
+
+    Properties properties = loader.eval();
+    assertThat(properties.getProperty("dummy.yml.foo")).isEqualTo("bar");
+    assertThat(properties.getProperty("dummy.properties.foo")).isEqualTo("bar");
+  }
+
+
+  @Test
+  public void loadYaml() {
+
+    Loader loader = new Loader();
+    loader.loadYaml("test-properties/foo.yml", Loader.Source.RESOURCE);
+    Properties properties = loader.eval();
+
+    assertThat(properties.getProperty("ebean.oracle.password")).isEqualTo("someDefault");
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void loadProperties() {
+
+    Loader loader = new Loader();
+    loader.loadProperties("test-properties/one.properties", Loader.Source.RESOURCE);
+    Properties properties = loader.eval();
+
+    assertThat(properties.getProperty("hello")).isEqualTo("there");
+    assertThat(properties.getProperty("name")).isEqualTo("Rob");
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/test/java/io/ebean/config/properties/PropertyEvalTest.java b/src/test/java/io/ebean/config/properties/PropertyEvalTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f074ff7a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/test/java/io/ebean/config/properties/PropertyEvalTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+package io.ebean.config.properties;
+
+import org.junit.Test;
+
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertNull;
+
+public class PropertyEvalTest {
+
+	@Test
+	public void eval_null() {
+		assertNull(PropertyEval.eval(null));
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void eval_empty() {
+		assertEquals("", PropertyEval.eval(""));
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void eval_noExpressions() {
+		assertEquals("basic", PropertyEval.eval("basic"));
+		assertEquals("{basic}", PropertyEval.eval("{basic}"));
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void eval_singleExpression() {
+		System.setProperty("foo", "Hello");
+		assertEquals("Hello", PropertyEval.eval("${foo}"));
+		assertEquals("preHello", PropertyEval.eval("pre${foo}"));
+		assertEquals("HelloPost", PropertyEval.eval("${foo}Post"));
+		assertEquals("beforeHelloAfter", PropertyEval.eval("before${foo}After"));
+		System.clearProperty("foo");
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void eval_singleExpression_withDefault() {
+
+		System.setProperty("foo", "Hello");
+		assertEquals("Hello", PropertyEval.eval("${foo:bart}"));
+		assertEquals("beforeHelloAfter", PropertyEval.eval("before${foo:bart}After"));
+		assertEquals("preHello", PropertyEval.eval("pre${foo:bart}"));
+		assertEquals("HelloPost", PropertyEval.eval("${foo:bart}Post"));
+
+		System.clearProperty("foo");
+		assertEquals("bart", PropertyEval.eval("${foo:bart}"));
+		assertEquals("before-bart-after", PropertyEval.eval("before-${foo:bart}-after"));
+		assertEquals("pre-bart", PropertyEval.eval("pre-${foo:bart}"));
+		assertEquals("bart-post", PropertyEval.eval("${foo:bart}-post"));
+
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void eval_multiExpression_withDefault() {
+
+		assertEquals("num1num2", PropertyEval.eval("${one:num1}${two:num2}"));
+		assertEquals("num1-num2", PropertyEval.eval("${one:num1}-${two:num2}"));
+		assertEquals("num1abnum2", PropertyEval.eval("${one:num1}ab${two:num2}"));
+		assertEquals("anum1bcnum2d", PropertyEval.eval("a${one:num1}bc${two:num2}d"));
+
+		System.setProperty("one", "first");
+		System.setProperty("two", "second");
+
+		assertEquals("firstsecond", PropertyEval.eval("${one:num1}${two:num2}"));
+		assertEquals("first-second", PropertyEval.eval("${one:num1}-${two:num2}"));
+		assertEquals("pre-first-second-post", PropertyEval.eval("pre-${one:num1}-${two:num2}-post"));
+		assertEquals("AfirstBCsecondD", PropertyEval.eval("A${one:num1}BC${two:num2}D"));
+
+
+		System.clearProperty("one");
+		System.clearProperty("two");
+	}
+}
diff --git a/src/test/java/org/tests/transaction/TestAutoCommitDataSource.java b/src/test/java/org/tests/transaction/TestAutoCommitDataSource.java
index 2193b4318..2fd66a13d 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/tests/transaction/TestAutoCommitDataSource.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/tests/transaction/TestAutoCommitDataSource.java
@@ -5,14 +5,14 @@ import io.ebean.EbeanServer;
 import io.ebean.EbeanServerFactory;
 import io.ebean.Query;
 import io.ebean.Transaction;
-import io.ebean.config.PropertyMap;
 import io.ebean.config.ServerConfig;
-import org.tests.model.basic.UTDetail;
-import org.tests.model.basic.UTMaster;
+import io.ebean.config.properties.PropertiesLoader;
 import org.avaje.datasource.DataSourceConfig;
 import org.avaje.datasource.DataSourcePool;
 import org.avaje.datasource.pool.ConnectionPool;
 import org.junit.Test;
+import org.tests.model.basic.UTDetail;
+import org.tests.model.basic.UTMaster;
 
 import java.sql.Connection;
 import java.sql.SQLException;
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ public class TestAutoCommitDataSource extends BaseTestCase {
   @Test
   public void test() throws SQLException {
 
-    Properties properties = PropertyMap.defaultProperties();
+    Properties properties = PropertiesLoader.load();
 
     DataSourceConfig dsConfig = new DataSourceConfig();
     dsConfig.loadSettings(properties, "h2autocommit");//"pg"
diff --git a/src/test/java/org/tests/transaction/TestExplicitTransactionMode.java b/src/test/java/org/tests/transaction/TestExplicitTransactionMode.java
index 2fc6308c0..1a9acff18 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/tests/transaction/TestExplicitTransactionMode.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/tests/transaction/TestExplicitTransactionMode.java
@@ -5,14 +5,14 @@ import io.ebean.EbeanServer;
 import io.ebean.EbeanServerFactory;
 import io.ebean.Query;
 import io.ebean.Transaction;
-import io.ebean.config.PropertyMap;
 import io.ebean.config.ServerConfig;
-import org.tests.model.basic.UTDetail;
-import org.tests.model.basic.UTMaster;
+import io.ebean.config.properties.PropertiesLoader;
 import org.avaje.datasource.DataSourceConfig;
 import org.avaje.datasource.DataSourcePool;
 import org.avaje.datasource.pool.ConnectionPool;
 import org.junit.Test;
+import org.tests.model.basic.UTDetail;
+import org.tests.model.basic.UTMaster;
 
 import java.sql.Connection;
 import java.sql.SQLException;
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ public class TestExplicitTransactionMode extends BaseTestCase {
   @Test
   public void test() throws SQLException {
 
-    Properties properties = PropertyMap.defaultProperties();
+    Properties properties = PropertiesLoader.load();
 
     DataSourceConfig dsConfig = new DataSourceConfig();
     dsConfig.loadSettings(properties, "h2autocommit");//"h2autocommit","pg"
diff --git a/src/test/resources/test-properties/application.properties b/src/test/resources/test-properties/application.properties
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3c68ed991
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/test/resources/test-properties/application.properties
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+app.one=Alpha
+app.fromProperties=fromProperties
diff --git a/src/test/resources/test-properties/application.yml b/src/test/resources/test-properties/application.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..292d0701f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/test/resources/test-properties/application.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+app:
+  one: Beta
+  two: Two
+
+eval:
+  home: ${user.home}/after
+  name: ${user.name:bart}
+  withDefault: ${withDefault:bart}
diff --git a/src/test/resources/test-properties/foo.yml b/src/test/resources/test-properties/foo.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0b9229490
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/test/resources/test-properties/foo.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+ebean:
+  ddl:
+    generate: true
+    run: true
+
+  oracle:
+    username: rob
+    password: ${db_user:someDefault}
+    url: something here
+    driver: com.foo.Bar
+
+  mysql:
+    username: fiona
+    url: other
+    maxConnections: 90
+
+
diff --git a/src/test/resources/test-properties/one.properties b/src/test/resources/test-properties/one.properties
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..82ae9f0b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/test/resources/test-properties/one.properties
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+hello=there
+name=${some:Rob}
+db.driver=${other:com.h2database.Driver}
diff --git a/test-dummy.properties b/test-dummy.properties
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a691223ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test-dummy.properties
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+dummy.properties.foo=bar
diff --git a/test-dummy.yml b/test-dummy.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9a7f1e647
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test-dummy.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+dummy:
+  yml:
+    foo: bar