Mortgage Brokers in Otford, Kent

What is a mortgage broker?

To broker a mortgage loan, a mortgage broker will act as a link on behalf of an individual or business. The purpose of mortgage brokers is to look for banks or direct lenders that will willingly provide the specific loan an individual would need.

With a mortgage broker in Otford, you’ll have an easier time procuring the mortgage loan you need at the best possible terms. Even with complicated circumstances or a poor credit score, the ideal mortgage broker will boost your chances of getting a mortgage.

Because professional mortgage brokers are regulated to assure compliance with banking and financial laws in the jurisdiction of the consumer, you can be assured you’re in good hands.

Handy Tools and Calculators

Being aware of what you can borrow and the amount the loan will cost will make it simpler to plan your future. With this handy calculator, get a better understanding of how much your mortgage repayments will be, based on your full loan and interest rate. Find out how much you’ll have to repay every month instantly by simply entering those values with your term and pressing ‘Click to calculate’.

Mortgage Calculator
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Why Use A Mortgage Broker?

Working with a mortgage broker for your mortgage application in Otford can be beneficial in various ways. Some of the more obvious benefits include:

Save Money

In working with a mortgage broker, the most noticeable benefit would be the opportunity to save money. You don’t have to handle the hard work, as this can be managed by an expert with ample experience, who will make sure your best interests are addressed. All you’ll need to do is fill out some details.

Some people are not fully convinced about this, what with the concept of a mortgage broker still vaguely understood universally. So, there has to be a catch somewhere, surely? While this train of thought is understandable, be assured that most mortgage brokers don’t have an incentive to work against your best interests.

In truth, brokers have to provide viable reasons to you, their regulatory body, the Prudent Regulation Authority or the Financial Conduct Authority for recommending the mortgage they have. To not do so could lead to them facing significant problems. To potentially reduce the cost of the entire loan, there are some mortgage brokers who can secure exclusive mortgages deals not available on the high street. A reputable mortgage broker will disclose details of how they take payment for their services and convey the components which make up the entire mortgage cost. Filing the pockets of a broker is of little value to a mortgage advisor company when compared to making sure customers have a positive experience.

Search 1000s of mortgage deals by taking 15 minutes, speaking to 1 adviser

Finds The Most Advantageous Deal

A mortgage broker will always be in favour of your own interests and not those of the lending institution. In addition to being your agent, they should also be knowledgeable consultants and problem solvers. A broker has access to many different mortgage products and can therefore offer you great value in terms of relation interest rates, loan products and repayment amounts. The mortgage broker will talk with you to get a clear picture of your needs, as well as short and long term goals. Amongst the benefits of working with experienced mortgage brokers are innovative mortgages and sophisticated solutions, because regular 15 or 30-year mortgages aren’t usually sufficient. These include money for children or carrying out much needed renovations, mortgages to raise capital for repaying debts or even money to buy other properties like buy to lets.

Has Flexibility Expertise to Meet Your Needs

The client will be under the direction of a mortgage broker, who will manage the process and handle any issues that could arise along the way. For instance, a broker will have knowledge of the lenders who offer the best products to meet the needs of a client with a credit issue. A broker will be beneficial in providing the necessary knowledge to source financing if a borrower requires a loan that’s larger than the bank would normally approve.

Save Time & Hassle

It’s never just about money. Your time and sanity are just as important as saving some extra money. Imagine how much time it would take to find out about the numerous types of loans available from multiple lenders. You’d be required to fill out just one application with a mortgage broker, unlike completing one for every different lender. Your mortgage broker can provide a formal comparison of any loans recommended, as well as advise on the information which accurately portrays cost differences, reflecting current rates, points, and closing costs for each loan. Your broker will set deals from major and less popular lenders side by side in order to discover an agreeable deal, with rates and total costs that are lower.

By outsourcing, you can reduce the workload and get someone else’s professional advice. A mortgage broker can do a lot of the work by providing you with support throughout the application and approval process. This might involve completing all paperwork, helping you with applications to government schemes, answering questions and explaining the options and loan features, about which you may not have been aware. Drawdown facilities, offset accounts and extra repayments (to name a few) are just some of the features involved. Features like these can make a huge difference to your mortgage costs and overall experience. Better still, your broker can answer any questions you might have over the phone or provide clarity if you don’t know much about these concepts and the impact they could have on you.

Access to exclusive non-advertised deals

Exclusive deals not advertised by banks can accessed by mortgage brokers. The banks push these deals on to brokers, who are in charge of selling the products. Going to the bank directly could cause you to miss out on added benefits such as these, which you can procure by speaking to a broker.

Unlike brokers who have access to the whole market to search for the best deals, banks can offer their own deals alone – and not the deals offered by other banks.

Better chance of pre-approval success

If your request for an Agreement in principle/Decision in principle of a loan is turned down, a mark is left on your credit rating. The experience and knowledge required for your best chance of approval the first time you apply is something brokers have in abundance.

Access to expert knowledge

The job of a mortgage broker is to help people secure loans. They have access to information and select deals you wouldn’t discover by yourself. There are small details accompanying loans that you might miss if you’re not looking for them. The difference to your mortgage could ultimately be made by these subtleties. It is a huge plus to have the services of an experienced expert to show these things to you.
You can avoid spending valuable time to research numerous loans and lenders (while perhaps missing fundamental key subtleties) and instead give the work to someone with key industry experience. For home loan requirements, a mortgage broker is the best ways to go, just as a hairdresser is for replenishing damaged hair and a plumber for fixing leaking pipes.

Contact the Mortgage Saving Experts in Horsell. You can reach us by dialling 01273 738 072 today for a friendly chat.

About Mortgage Saving Experts

Mortgages and insurance aren’t as difficult as they first appear. Finding an adviser who is reliable, knowledgeable and has significant experience is very important for this reason. Our Mortgage Saving Experts will make your journey as seamless and transparent as possible. Why make things harder than necessary, after all? Let us simplify everything for you and ensure we get the best deal possible.

Mortgage Saving Experts provide an honest and transparent service that will leave our customers thinking that mortgages and insurance aren’t as daunting as they may seem. All mortgage and insurance applications are handled like they’re our own at Mortgage Savings Experts. We’re all about this. It doesn’t matter what the situation is – whether you’re a first-time buyer, a landlord, re-mortgaging or moving on to a new phase altogether – Mortgage Saving Experts are here to help. Providing help is why we’re here! In essence “Search 1000s of mortgage deals by taking 15 minutes to speak to 1 adviser.”

Our Team of Otford Mortgage Experts

Because we’re regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), we strive to get you the best possible deal on the market. We are required to justify our reasons for making the mortgage recommendations we do to both you and our regulators, so you can understand why you have the mortgage you have.

“Down to Earth Mortgage”

We are an honest, passionate, enthusiastic and very experienced team of mortgage and insurance experts.

Our mortgage and insurance experts pride themselves on listening to what your current and future objectives are. These goals will be achieved when we work with you intently.

Why chose Mortgage Saving Experts?

You’ll get an initial rate for the first few years after taking out a mortgage. The lender’s variable rate is implemented after the initial rate is complete. Three months before you’re due to renew, our team will reach out to secure a new deal before your monthly payments and rate increase. Some other reasons for which it’s beneficial to work with us include:

  • You can save extra cash, because you’ll get a preferable deal to the bank variable rate.
  • We will help you keep abreast of the expiry dates for deals, so you won’t have to worry.
  • While we deal with the stress on your behalf, you can sit back and ease your mind.
  • We know our business, so you’ll only be advised by qualified mortgage experts.
  • To arrange the best deal for you, we compare and dispense advice with regards thousands of mortgage deals.
  • You’ll receive expert advice and support throughout the entire mortgage process.

Our Approach to Mortgage Advice

The services we offer are personalised and take into account your unique needs. Three simple steps are taken in our approach to mortgage advice:

  1. Let’s have an Initial Chat, so we can get to know You and What Your Requirements Are
  2. We Search the Entire Market to Find the Best Deal for You
  3. We’ll Present you with the Cheapest and best Deals Available for Both Mortgages and Insurance Cover

How Mortgage Saving Expert Brokers Can Help you:

The things that make our services the best amongst mortgage brokers in Otford include:

  • Get to determine your situation and requirements by fact-finding.
  • Spell out the costs buying and selling involves.
  • Request all documents related to the application.
  • Make relevant suggestions and provide explanations about the prospective mortgage.
  • Provide answers to your questions.
  • Get an agreement in principle.
  • Have your full mortgage application submitted.
  • Work with your estate agent, solicitor and mortgage lender to answer any questions comprehensively.
For a first-hand experience of how amazing our services are, give us a call today

Mortgage Types We Provide Expert Advice On

We offer expert advice on a wide variety of mortgage products. You won’t have any difficulty finding the right mortgage products to suit your needs when working with us. Mortgage types that we’re frequently asked to handle include:

First time buyers

Most mortgage lenders Categorise First Time Buyers as people who have either:

  1. Never owned a property or
  2. People who have owned a property in the past, but not owned one for six months or more.

The rules and ideas on this are different across various lenders. Being a First Time Buyer is usually not an issue. First Time Buyers must not have owned property anywhere in the world before to be eligible for stamp duty relief for stamp duty purposes.

Mortgage processes may look tough to negotiate, but they really don’t need to be. The prospect of buying your first home comes with a lot of excitement, so if you manage to find a competent broker who can oversee the process at a reasonable price, then go right ahead. The purpose of using one is straightforward enough. After all, if you don’t know a thing about cars and yours breaks down, you would rather call a mechanic than fix it yourself. With mortgages, it is exactly the same. You can cut down on cost, effort and time with mortgage brokers, so why not use one? The initial consultation comes at no cost at all.

Buying a home

If you’re thinking of a home purchase any time soon – or even within a couple of years – you should familiarise yourself with everything involved with mortgages. Find out what to do before applying for a mortgage; during the application process; and how to use it accordingly after purchasing your home. If you prefer otherwise, then instead speak to an adviser who will guide you through it.

Your credit is of great importance.

A mortgage is serious issue. The banks risk a lot of money and have been increasingly cautious since the subprime mortgage crisis in 2008. For mortgage eligibility, good credit helps, but isn’t vital. If your credit score is low or there are other circumstances that might complicate your mortgage application, we have the expertise to provide all the necessary guidance to help you qualify for the best mortgage deal for your dream home. We will help you with funding, the lowest cost and most suitable deal on offer, in addition to helping you buy your dream home.

Re-mortgage your home

Simply put, all you’re doing with this is changing from one lender to another to get a better rate or cheaper deal. The two of them don’t have to go hand in hand. I’ll explain this clearly. If you have a small mortgage, you’ll probably find it’s not worthwhile paying an arrangement fee to the lender just to go on a lower rate. You may find it’s more practical to go on a slightly higher rate, without paying arrangement fees to any lender. It’s always best to speak with someone before deciding which deal to go for, as you don’t want to be caught out by being tied to a more expensive deal overall, even if the rate is much lower.

Pay close attention. One advantage of re-mortgaging is that you won’t have to pay any valuation or solicitors fees. That said, not everyone is eligible for this exemption. The reason is that it is based on your disposition alone at the time of re-mortgaging. So, please make enquiries with your adviser.

A smart way to significantly minimise the cost of your mortgage bills is to undertake a re-mortgage on time. Although it can be a good thing – depending on your individual needs – a re-mortgage deal might not be the most suitable choice.

  • Based on your unique circumstances, such as…
  • Mortgage debt is fairly minor.
  • The financial situation is no longer the same.
  • Early repayment charge is on the high side.
  • Decrease in home value.
  • You’re dealing with credit problems.
  • Already on a suitable current rate.
  • We will dispense advice on the merits of pursuing a re-mortgage.

Buy to Let

A ‘buy to let’ property is one you want to purchase in order to rent out to tenants. You are not allowed to legally live in the property. If you’re a First Time Buyer, you can purchase a buy to let property, but the number of lenders available is restricted. There are also extra checks made by the lender in these circumstances.

  • When purchasing a buy to let property, there are a few things you’ll need to know.
  • The amount of rental income you receive more or less affects how the loan amount you’re able to borrow.
  • You will have to pay 3% stamp in addition to your normal stamp duty.
  • An extra 3% of the purchase price will still be required of you, even if the value of the property isn’t high enough for the stamp duty to be liable.

TIP: If you’re looking to buy a second property, you should ask your solicitor/conveyancer to work out the amount you have to pay. A reputable adviser will know just what questions to ask in order to figure out the best mortgage for your specific needs. Contact our advisers to find out whether you’re eligible.

How Much Do Mortgage Brokers Charge?

Commission is usually paid to mortgage brokers by lenders; this will be a percentage of the mortgage loan you secure. This is often about 0.33%, even though it largely varies, based on your mortgage needs. For example, a residential mortgage or buy to let and if you’ve had any credit issues recently. The majority of independent brokers typically charge a flat fee of around £500. Be sure to find out from brokers how you pay them. They should be honest and up front, telling you the amount owed and the fee structure they have in place.

For our fee structure, we charge clients £695; any commission we receive from mortgage lenders is subtracted from that figure Our client will be asked to pay the difference between the commission we are paid and £695, if the amount of commission is less than £695. For example, if we received a commission of £495, we would then ask you for a fee of £200 which is payable on production of your mortgage offer, so we are only paid on results.

How Much Can I Borrow?

This depends on several factors, such as the deposit value and how much you earn, how many children you have, as well as what debts (if any) you have in the background. The amount a lender will agree to lend is determined by a total affordability assessment, which will provide insight regarding your income, regular household expenditures and any credit card or loan commitments you might have. In addition, they also perform a credit check to make sure your credit rating is suitable for mortgage purposes.

Prior to applying for a mortgage in full, obtain a decision in principle to form a clear picture with regards the amount you can borrow. Make plans to meet with one of our experienced mortgage experts now. We can provide an initial estimate, without the need for any credit checks to begin with.

The Latest Best Mortgage Rates

Our services are available whether you want to re-mortgage, move home, purchase a buy to let or procure a first-time buyer mortgage. We compare thousands of the latest mortgage deals, so you can find the one you’re after.

Request a free quote from Mortgage Saving Experts, your Otford Expert Mortgage Broker

What Our clients say About us

Our list of happy clients in Otford is long and diverse. If you aren’t convinced that we are the professionals to make the best possible mortgage deal in Otford at the lowest price, take a look at what some of our customers have said about their experience with us. Contact us today to get a first-hand experience of the excellent services we provide.

Latest Mortgage News

Having more information at your disposal when looking for the most ideal mortgage deal places you in a more advantageous position. Below can be found recent news on mortgages to provide the insight you need to get started.

Mortgage Regulatory Information

Banks, building societies and specialised mortgage lenders account for the bulk of mortgage providers in the UK. In total, there are roughly 200 financial institutions that provide mortgages in Britain, even though the biggest share of the market is owned by Lloyds Banking Group and Nationwide Building Society.

Even with regulations in the UK that closely guide banks and building societies, a regulatory scheme was set up just for mortgages (as a result of the Financial Services Act 2000) by the FCA (the former Financial Services Authority).

The professional services of mortgage providers are monitored by the FCA. There are strict rules regarding the use of unfair, misleading adverts and promotions, as well as checks to make sure the terms of any contract for financial services are fair for the consumer. The original regulations represented in the rules for Mortgage Conduct of Business (MCOB) were reconstructed due to the 2014 FCA Mortgage Market Review (MMR).

In terms of their financial conduct, organisations collecting deposits in the UK fall under the Prudential Regulation Authority, the FCA’s sister organisation.

They ensure firms have a sizeable enough capital to balance out their lending risks. The first step in tackling any issue you have with regards your mortgage provider is to take it up with them. If you don’t like how the issue has been dealt with, you can take your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service. Some mortgages are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority such as moist Buy to Let mortgages and if you make a complaint about these you are unable to take these to the Financial Ombudsman Service Connect with the Mortgage Saving Experts in Otford. You can reach them by dialling 01273 738 072 today for a friendly chat.

What to Ask Your Otford Mortgage Broker?

What happens if you don’t respond to my messages within that timeframe?

This is a valid follow-up question. Remember, insist on receiving a specific answer. As soon as your questions are answered, find out about the broker putting both claims down on paper. The seriousness of these claims will be all too evident.

How quickly will you respond to my messages?

You don’t want a broker who can’t respond sufficiently to any issues that could arise during the application process, hence the need for this question. Be forceful in asking for a specific answer: for example, say “within three hours” rather than “quickly”.

How much hand-holding is involved during the buying process?

This question is necessary to ascertain whether you will be closely guided by the broker (through this potentially complicated and stress-filled process) or be expected to figure things out on your own.

Why should I choose you rather than another broker?

Knowing you’re in safe hands is important, as it can be both complicated and stressful when purchasing property and organising finance. This makes it necessary to make sure brokers answer this question before you decide on who to work with. Don’t let the broker get away with vague statements like “Because I’m the best” or “Because I provide great service”. More details can be acquired by using follow-up questions.
  • “Why exactly are you the best?”
  • “In what way do you deliver great service?”

What sort of clients do you specialise in?

Another necessary question to ask. The reason is that while many borrowers work only with ‘plain vanilla’ clients, many others may prefer complex investors or borrowers with credit issues. Hypothetically speaking, Broker A may have worked on 450 regular loans and 50 bad-credit loans, while Broker B may have worked on 50 regular loans and 250 bad-credit loans. Therefore, if you were a borrower with credit problems, you might be better off with Broker B. Then, ask questions regarding their standard of customer service.

What will the true cost of my home loan be?

A good way to benefit from their experience and specialist knowledge is to ask them to figure out just how much your home loan will cost. A mortgage illustration with the actual cost attached can be sourced by your broker, depending on factors such as whether you’ll pay repayment or interest only; the length of your loan term; the size of the deposit you have in place; and the rates payable. This is usually reflected in the Annual Percentage Rate (APR). To significantly reduce the total cost of your loan, the loan term can be minimised and the deposit maximised. Determining exactly how much your home loan will cost requires much more work. Upfront fees need to be included in the entire cost; these include valuation fees, conveyancing and legal fees. For instance, using drawdown facilities can incur ongoing fees. Even though it’s not possible to foretell the exact cost of your mortgage in figures – and we can’t rule out the fact that things may change that can affect your ability to pay - a broker can put all the relevant details into perspective. Recommendations can be made by Mortgage Saving Experts for the protection and insurance of you and your family to provide for all of life’s unfortunate eventualities. Our team of advisers will utilise this information to help figure out the best possible loan for you.

How much can I borrow?

The big question plaguing home buyers tends to be “How much can I borrow?” Several factors affect the maximum amount, because lenders are all different in this area. In most cases, you can borrow up to roughly five times your gross annual salary, but in some instances, you may be able to borrow up to 5.5 times your gross annual income. We can get a much clearer indication of your borrowing capacity once you get in touch with us. Brokers act as middlemen between you and the lender. Lenders will require information concerning your debts, living expenses, credit score and any dependents you might have. All these details can be factored into the best loan by a broker. Home loan terms can also be explained to you by a broker, such as Loan-to-Value (LTV), which is in effect a percentage of the full loan amount you are seeking as a percentage of the property purchase value. They can also explain things like the differences in interest rates and repayment types, such as Interest Only and Repayment (Capital and Interest).

How many loans have you written during that time?

Asking this question as a follow-up is prudent, because it will give you a better understanding of the broker’s overall experience. For instance, consider that two imaginary brokers joined the industry in 2013, but while one has written 500 loans in that time, the other has written just 300. In that case, despite spending the same amount of time in the industry, the differences in their hand-on experience would be all too obvious.

How much experience do you have?

This is a good starting point, as a suitably experienced broker will certainly know more than a less experienced one. Press for specific responses like “10 years” or “I’ve been in the mortgage industry since 2005”, as opposed to vague answers, such as “I’m very experienced in that area”.

Get in contact with the Mortgage Saving Experts in Horsell. You can reach them by dialling 01273 738 072 today for a friendly chat.

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Get in touch with of our mortgage saving experts today to find out how we can help.

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