Mortgage Brokers in Westerham, Kent

What is a mortgage broker?

A mortgage broker acts as an intermediary who brokers mortgage loans on behalf of individuals or businesses. Mortgage brokers function to find banks or lenders that will willingly make the exact loan an individual requires.

If you work with a mortgage broker in Westerham, it won’t be so difficult to get a great deal on the mortgage loan you require. If you have a poor credit score or any other problems that could have an impact on your mortgage application, the right mortgage broker can increase your chances immeasurably.

There are regulations in place to guide professional mortgage brokers and make sure they adhere to banking and finance laws in the jurisdiction of customers, so you can be sure you’re in good hands.

Handy Tools and Calculators

You can easily plan your future once you have an idea of the maximum you can borrow and how much the loan will cost. Find out how your interest rate and total loan amount determines your mortgage repayments with this handy calculator. Just enter those values together with your term and press ‘Click to calculate’ to instantly see how much you’ll need to repay each month.

Mortgage Calculator
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Why Use A Mortgage Broker?

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

Save Money

Of all the benefits working with a mortgage broker provides, the possibility of cutting costs would be the most obvious. You’ll be required to complete a few details, but the hard work is managed by an experienced professional, who has your best interests in mind.

Some people worry about how true this is, considering the entire idea of mortgage brokers is still misunderstood somewhat around the globe. So, where is the catch? As understandable as such thoughts are, it’s important to understand that mortgage brokers have nothing to gain by not working in your best interests.

If the broker cannot provide genuine reasons for recommending the mortgage they have (to you, their regulators, the Financial Conduct Authority or the Prudential Regulation Authority), then they could be in serious trouble. Many mortgage brokers can obtain exclusive mortgage deals not found on the high street, potentially making the total loan cost lower for the client. 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. A positive user experience is more important to a mortgage advisor company than just filling the pocket of an individual broker.

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

Finds The Most Advantageous Deal

For a mortgage broker, your interests – rather than those of the lending institution – are paramount. They should act not only as your agent, but also as a knowledgeable consultant and problem solver. 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. The simple use of a 30 or 15-year mortgage is inadequate for many situations, which is why sophisticated solutions and innovative strategies are the benefits of working with an experienced mortgage broker. This includes mortgage to raise capital for repayments, money for necessary home improvements or children, or even to buy other properties such as buy to lets.

Has Flexibility Expertise to Meet Your Needs

A mortgage broker navigates the client through any situation, handling the process and smoothing any bumps in the road along the way. For instance, brokers would know the lenders that can make available the best products for clients with credit issues. If a borrower requires a large loan – considerably more than what the bank will approve – the knowledge and expertise of a broker in securing financing would be a distinct advantage.

Save Time & Hassle

It’s never just about money. While it’s a good thing to save some extra money, your sanity and time matter just as much. Take into consideration the time you would need to research different kinds of loans from multiple lenders. You’d be required to fill out just one application with a mortgage broker, unlike completing one for every different lender. The loans recommended can be formally compared for you buy your mortgage broker. This will serve as a guide to the information which correctly shows cost differences, with present rates, points and closing costs for each loan illustrated. 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.

Take some of the work off your shoulders and outsource it to someone who can offer expert advice. Mortgage brokers do the bulk of the work by helping you during the application and approval process in ways such as taking care of all paperwork; answering questions; handling applications for government schemes; and providing information about the various options and loan features you aren’t aware of. Some of these features can include drawdown facilities, offset accounts and options for extra repayments to name but a few. These types of features can make a significant difference to your mortgage cost and experience. If you don’t know much about these concepts and how they can work for you, reach out to your broker over the phone for clarification and answers.

Access to exclusive non-advertised deals

Brokers have access to exclusive deals that aren’t advertised by the banks. The banks push these deals on to brokers, who are in charge of selling the products. If you contact the bank yourself, you wouldn’t have access to the extra benefits you would otherwise get 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

Whenever you request an Agreement in principle / Decision in principle of a loan, this leaves a mark on your credit rating if you’re refused. Brokers have the knowledge and experience required to give you the best shot at being approved at the first attempt.

Access to expert knowledge

Helping people secure loans is what mortgage brokers do for a living. They have access to helpful information and exclusive deals you’d otherwise not find. 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. An experienced professional to point you in the right direction is extremely beneficial.
Rather than putting time aside to research thousands of loans and several lenders – and still possibly miss important subtleties – why not let someone else who has industry experience handle the work? 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 are not as complicated as they might first seem. This is the reason you need to find a widely experienced, knowledgeable and honest adviser. Our mortgage savings experts will make your task as easy and straightforward as possible. After all, why make things more difficult than they need to be? Let us simplify everything for you and ensure we get the best deal possible.

Mortgage Saving Experts provide our clients with honest and transparent services that leave you feeling mortgages and insurance are less complicated than they first appear. All mortgage and insurance applications are handled like they’re our own at Mortgage Savings Experts. These are the things we’re about. Mortgage Saving Experts are available whether you’re a first-time buyer, a landlord, moving on to a new phase or just re-mortgaging. We’re here to help! Basically “Search 1000s of mortgage deals by taking 15 minutes to speak to 1 adviser.”

Our Team of Westerham Mortgage Experts

As we are bound by regulations of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), we must ensure we get you the best available 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 team of mortgage insurance experts, who are enthusiastic, passionate and widely experienced.

Our mortgage and insurance experts are particularly good at listening to your current and future goals. 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 this rate is up for renewal, our team will contact you again to put a new deal in place before your rate and monthly payments increase. Included below are the plus points of working with us:

  • You’ll save some money, as the deal you get is better than the bank variable rate.
  • You won’t have to remember when the deal is due to end, as we will do this for you.
  • You can take time to relax, while we handle the stress for you.
  • We are good at what we do, so you’ll always be advised by professional mortgage experts.
  • Comparing, advising and setting up the best possible mortgage deal from amongst the many available is what we do.
  • Expert advice and support will be available to you through the entire mortgage process.

Our Approach to Mortgage Advice

Your individual needs will be duly considered, as we provide fully personalised services. Our approach to mortgage advice involves three simple steps:

  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:

What makes our services superior to those of other mortgage brokers in Westerham includes:

  • Learn about your situation and needs via fact-finding.
  • Explain the costs involved with buying and selling.
  • Ask for related documents to help with the application.
  • Recommend and explain the prospective mortgage.
  • Respond to any questions you might have.
  • An agreement in principle should be obtained.
  • Send in your entire mortgage application.
  • We will collaborate with your estate agent, solicitor and mortgage lender and reply to any questions through to completion.
For a first-hand experience of how amazing our services are, give us a call today

Mortgage Types We Provide Expert Advice On

We advise our clients expertly on a vast selection of mortgage products. Working together with us, finding the most suitable mortgage product to suit your needs won’t be difficult at all. Amongst the mortgage types we’re commonly asked to handle are:

First time buyers

First Time Buyers are classified by the majority of mortgage lenders as those 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.

Every lender has different rules and ideas about this. There usually are no issues in being a First Time Buyer. To qualify for stamp duty relief as First Time Buyers, you must have never owned a property before, anywhere in the world.

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 reason you should use one is fairly obvious. Besides, if your car breaks down and you have no knowledge of cars, you wouldn’t attempt to fix it yourself; you would use the services of a mechanic. 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 considering a home purchase in the near future (or even within a few years, you should certainly brush up on your mortgage knowledge. 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 can’t deal with all of that, talk to an adviser who will provide guidance accordingly.

Your credit is vital.

A mortgage is a serious affair. Since the subprime mortgage crisis in 2008, banks have trodden more carefully in terms of risking money up front. For mortgage eligibility, good credit helps, but isn’t vital. We can also provide guidance about the amount you can afford to pay for your new home and what should be your maximum offer, based on your current circumstances. In addition to assisting you with the purchase of your dream home, we will also help with financing at minimum cost and the most agreeable mortgage available.

Re-mortgage your home

Basically, what you’re doing here is changing lenders to get a more suitable rate or cheaper deal. They don’t always sit well together. Let me simplify this for you. If your mortgage isn’t so big, you might consider it not worthwhile to pay an arrangement fee to a new lender for a low rate. It may seem cheaper to be on a slightly higher rate than pay an arrangement fee to another lender. Even with a lower rate, you could end up having a costlier deal in total, which is why it’s always prudent to talk to someone before you make any decisions.

Take extra caution. 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. Any reasoning depends solely on your circumstances at the time of re-mortgaging. So, please ask your adviser about it.

A re-mortgage completed on time is a smart way to significantly reduce the cost of your mortgage related bills. Even though a re-mortgage deal is accompanied by various benefits, it might not the best choice for you, depending on your unique circumstances.

  • Based on your unique circumstances, such as…
  • Mortgage debt is relatively small.
  • The financial disposition is now different.
  • Expensive early repayment charge.
  • Decrease in home value.
  • You have credit issues.
  • Already on a suitable current rate.
  • We will provide guidance to help you choose whether to re-mortgage.

Buy to Let

A ‘buy to let’ property is one you want to purchase in order to rent out to tenants. According to the law, you cannot live in the property. You can purchase a buy to let property as a First Time Buyer, but you’ll be restricted to the number of available lenders, while extra checks will be made by the lender in such situations.

  • There are a few things you may need to be aware of when purchasing a buy to let property.
  • The loan amount you can borrow is mostly based on the total rental income you receive.
  • You’ll have to pay an extra 3% stamp duty on top of your normal stamp duty.
  • If the property is below the value at which stamp duty becomes liable, you will still have to pay the extra 3% of the purchase price.

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. To help determine the most suitable mortgage to meet your needs, an expert mortgage adviser will know the specific questions to which you will need to provide answers. Get in touch with our advisers to see if 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 usually around 0.33%, although this does vary massively, depending on what mortgage you require. For example, this would take into account buy to let or residential mortgages and whether you’ve had any credit problems in the recent past. Many independent brokers charge flat fees, usually around £500. Don’t forget to find out how brokers collect payment. They should be honest and up front, telling you the amount owed and the fee structure they have in place.

We charge the client £695 as part of our fee structure; if the mortgage lender pays any commission, it is then deducted from that figure. If we are paid a commission less than £695, the client is then asked to pay the necessary difference to top it up to £695. If for example, we are paid a commission of £495, we would ask you to pay a fee of £200, payable on production of your mortgage offer. Please note, we only take payments on a results-based arrangement.

How Much Can I Borrow?

This takes into account many factors, such as how much you deposit, the amount you earn, the number of children you have and what debts (if any) you have in the background. How much a lender is willing to lend is based upon a full affordability assessment, whereby they will look to understand your income, as well as any loan or credit card commitments and regular essential household expenditure. For mortgage purposes, they will also perform a credit check to be sure you have an adequate credit rating.

Get a decision in principle before you finish your mortgage application; this way, you can form a clearer idea with regards the amount you can borrow. Arrange to see one of our qualified mortgage experts today. Without the need for credit checks, we can at least provide an initial estimate.

The Latest Best Mortgage Rates

We can help, whether you’re seeking to re-mortgage, purchase a buy to let, move home or find a mortgage for a first-time buyer. We compare recent mortgage deals in large quantities to help you find just what you want.

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

What Our clients say About us

We have a list of clients in Westerham that is both lengthy and diverse. If you still have doubts about our ability to professionally provide the best deal in Westerham at the cheapest price, see for yourself what some of our customers have said about their experience with us. For a personal experience to discover how effective our services are, contact us today.

Latest Mortgage News

The more information you have at your disposal when seeking the best mortgage deal, the better the position you’ll be in. The latest mortgage news below will provide the insight you need to properly 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).

Mortgage providers are tightly regulated by the FCA, in terms of their professional conduct. 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. Regulations were formerly presented in the rules for Mortgage Conduct of Business (MCOB), although they were changed due to the FCA Mortgage Conduct of Business (MMR) of 2014.

With regards their financial conduct, deposit-taking firms in the UK come under the jurisdiction of FCA’s sister organisation, the Prudential Regulation Authority.

They ensure firms have a sizeable enough capital to balance out their lending risks. If there is something bothering you about your mortgage provider, talking to them about it is the first step to take. If you think it hasn’t been sorted out satisfactorily, you can take the complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service if necessary. 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 Reach out to the Mortgage Saving Experts in Westerham. You can do this by dialling 01273 738 072 for a friendly chat.

What to Ask Your Westerham 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.

Want to know more?

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

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