Mortgage Brokers in Westwood, 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. Mortgage brokers function to find banks or lenders that will willingly make the exact loan an individual requires.

You’ll have a stress-free time getting a great deal on the mortgage you need in Westwood if you work with a mortgage broker. The right broker will also improve your chances of getting a mortgage, even if you have a poor credit score or are subject to any other circumstances that could complicate your mortgage application.

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

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. 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 Westwood can be beneficial in various ways. Of these advantages, some of the more prominent include:

Save Money

In working with a mortgage broker, the most noticeable benefit would be the opportunity to save money. You only need to provide a few details, before an experienced professional committed to protecting your interests handles the hard work.

With limited understanding on the concept of mortgage brokers, some people don’t fully trust this, believing there must be a catch at some point. Even though this line of thought is understandable, you can rest easy, because not working in your best interests is in no way profitable to a mortgage broker.

In fact, a broker could be in serious trouble if they are unable to prove to you, their regulators, the Financial Conduct Authority or the Prudential Regulation Authority why they’ve recommended the particular mortgage that they have. There are various inexpensive, exclusive mortgage deals that a number of mortgage brokers can find for their clients that could possibly reduce the total loan cost. Reputable mortgage brokers will usually inform you how they get paid for their services, as well as disclose the details of the entire cost of the loan. Positive user experience is much more valuable to a mortgage advisor company than padding out an individual broker’s pocket.

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. They should act not only as your agent, but also as a knowledgeable consultant and problem solver. With access to a wide range of mortgage products, a broker can offer you the greatest value in terms of interest rates, repayment amounts, and loan products. 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 will guide the client throughout the whole process and sort out any issues that might arise. For example, borrowers with bad credit issues can find great products that will suit their needs through brokers who know lenders that offer such products. 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

Money isn’t the only consideration. Your time and sanity are just as important as saving some extra money. Give a thought to the amount of time you’d have to invest when enquiring about various loan types from numerous 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 compares loans from major and less popular lenders to find you the best deal with the lowest rates and overall cost.

By outsourcing, you can reduce the workload and get someone else’s professional 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. These features could include things such as drawdown facilities and options for making extra repayments and offset accounts. These features can make a massive difference to your mortgage experience and overall costs. 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

Exclusive deals not advertised by banks can accessed by mortgage brokers. The banks pass these deals on to the brokers, who are responsible for selling the products. Contacting a broker will unlock these extra benefits you would miss out on if you were to approach the bank yourself.

Brokers can search the whole market for the finest deal, whereas individual banks can only offer their own deals and not those of 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. Brokers have the knowledge and experience required to give you the best shot at being approved at the first attempt.

Access to expert knowledge

Mortgage brokers help people secure loans for a living. There’s much information and numerous exclusive deals available to them that you won’t find by yourself. Loans are attached to subtleties you could easily overlook if you aren’t searching for them. In fact, it is these small details that can make a difference to your mortgage in the long run. 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? The same way you would contact a plumber to fix a leaking pipe or a hairdresser to work on damaged hair, contacting a mortgage broker is an ideal option for your home loan needs.

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. For this reason, it’s necessary to find an honest and knowledgeable adviser, with ample experience. Our mortgage savings experts will make your task as easy and straightforward 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 our clients with honest and transparent services that leave you feeling mortgages and insurance are less complicated than they first appear. Here at Mortgage Saving Experts, we treat all mortgage and insurance applications as our own. This is what we’re primarily concerned with. At Mortgage Saving Experts, our services are available regardless of circumstances, whether you’re a landlord, a first-time buyer, moving onto a new chapter or simply re-mortgaging. We are here to provide assistance! In essence “Find out about 1000s of mortgage deals by putting 15 minutes aside to talk to 1 adviser.”

Our Team of Westwood Mortgage Experts

We make sure we help you get the best available deal the market can offer, as we are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). You’ll get to understand why you received the mortgage you did, because we have to justify the recommendations we make to both you and our regulators.

“Down to Earth Mortgage”

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

Our mortgage insurance experts take pride in listening to the current and future objectives our customers have. To achieve these objectives, we will then work hand in hand with you.

Why chose Mortgage Saving Experts?

After taking out a mortgage, you’ll get an initial rate for the first couple of years. At the end of this initial rate, this returns to the lender’s variable rate. 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. Other benefits of working with us include:

  • You’ll save some money, as the deal you get is better than the bank variable rate.
  • You don’t have to keep track of the timeline, as we will look after this for you.
  • You can take a breather, while we do the bulk of the work.
  • We know our business, so you’ll only be advised by qualified mortgage experts.
  • We undertake comparisons and then advise and arrange the best mortgage for you, choosing from thousands of deals.
  • Expert advice and support will be available to you through the entire mortgage process.

Our Approach to Mortgage Advice

The services we offer are personalised and take into account your unique needs. We approach mortgage advice using three basic 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:

Our services are more remarkable than those of other mortgage brokers in Westwood because:

  • Understand your needs and circumstances via fact-finding.
  • Explain what costs buying and selling involve.
  • Request relevant documents to assist with the application.
  • Provide explanations and recommendations for the prospective mortgage.
  • Get answers to any questions you might have.
  • Obtain an agreement in principle.
  • Have your entire mortgage application sent in.
  • Liaise with your estate agent, mortgage lender and solicitor to answer any question 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. By working with our team, you’ll have no trouble finding the perfect mortgage product to match your needs. Mortgage types that we’re frequently asked to handle include:

First time buyers

First Time Buyers are classed by most mortgage lenders 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.

Different lenders have different ideas and rules regarding this. Normally, being a First Time Buyer is no issue. To qualify for stamp duty relief as First Time Buyers, you must have never owned a property before, anywhere in the world.

The mortgaging process might appear to be challenging, but this isn’t necessarily so. Buying your first home can be exciting, so if you come across a suitable broker who can handle the process for you at a fair price, do take advantage of their expertise. It is abundantly clear why you should use one. After all, if your car broke down and you knew nothing about cars, you wouldn’t try to fix it yourself. Instead, you would take it to a mechanic. It isn’t any different with mortgages. You can save on time, effort and even money with mortgage brokers, so you should use one. You won’t have to pay for the initial consultation.

Buying a home

If you’re considering buying a home in the near future or further down the line, you should get to know mortgages a lot better in the meantime. 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 of great importance.

A mortgage is not to be taken lightly. A lot of money has been risked by banks over the years; notably, they have been more and more cautious since the subprime mortgage crisis of 2008. To qualify for a mortgage, good credit is helpful, but not essential. We can also offer guidance regarding how much you can afford to pay for your new home and how to set your limit, depending on your ongoing situation. Helping you buy your dream home is not all we do; we will also help you finance it with the lowest cost and most beneficial mortgage deal available.

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 do not necessarily go hand in hand. Let me explain. 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. Asking for advice before making up your mind about the deal is important, so that you don’t end up with a more expensive deal on the whole, even at a lower rate.

Tread carefully. 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 check with your adviser.

Performing a re-mortgage in time is a practical way to reduce your mortgage costs significantly. 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 individual circumstances, like…
  • Mortgage debt isn’t so big.
  • The financial disposition is now different.
  • Early repayment charge is on the high side.
  • A reduction in home value.
  • You have credit problems.
  • Already on a great rate.
  • We will advise you whether to re-mortgage or not.

Buy to Let

‘Buy to let’ properties are those you wish to purchase and then rent to tenants. Legally, you aren’t allowed to live in the property. If you’re a First Time Buyer, the number of available lenders will be restricted if you’re purchasing a buy to let, while extra checks would be carried out by the lender in such cases.

  • You may need to know certain things when purchasing a buy to let property.
  • The loan amount you can borrow is dependent on how much rental income you receive.
  • You’ll have to pay an extra 3% stamp duty on top of 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: You should ask your solicitor/conveyancer to figure out how much you must pay when considering buying a second property. A reputable adviser will know just what questions to ask in order to figure out the best mortgage for your specific needs. Get in touch with our advisers to find out if you qualify.

How Much Do Mortgage Brokers Charge?

Most mortgage brokers get paid commission from lenders, which will be a percentage of the mortgage loan you receive. 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. Most independent brokers charge a flat fee, which is typically around £500. Be sure to find out from brokers how you pay them. They must be completely clear, letting you know the exact figure and fee structure 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. 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?

Many factors affect this, such as how much you earn, the amount you deposit, the number of children you have, as well as any debts you might have in the background. What determines the amount a lender will agree to lend is a full affordability assessment. This will help them understand your loan or credit commitments, as well as income and everyday household expenses. In addition, they also perform a credit check to make sure your credit rating is suitable for mortgage purposes.

To get an idea of the amount you can loan, get a decision in principle before applying for a mortgage in full. Arrange an appointment with one of our qualified mortgage experts today. We can at least give you an idea, without having to do any credit checks at the initial stage.

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 make comparisons on thousands of recent mortgage deals to help you find just what you’re looking for.

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

What Our clients say About us

The list of happy clients in Westwood is a lengthy and diverse one. If you doubt that we are the professionals most capable of finding you the best mortgage deal in Westwood at the lowest price, check out what some of our customers have to say about their experience with us. For a personal experience to discover how effective our services are, contact us today.

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

In the UK, most mortgages are provided by building societies, specialised mortgage lenders and banks. In Britain, there are around 200 different financial institutions that make mortgages available, even though Lloyds Banking Group and Nationwide Building Society has the biggest portion of the market share.

Although banks and building societies have always been closely regulated in the UK, the former Financial Services Authority (now the FCA) implemented a regulatory scheme specifically for mortgages as a result of the Financial Services Act of 2000.

Mortgage providers are tightly regulated by the FCA, in terms of their professional conduct. There are stern rules that serve as a guide with regards using unfair, deceitful promotions and adverts, as well as checks for financial service contracts for consumers. Regulations were initially documented in the rules for Mortgage Conduct of Business (MCOB), but were overhauled because of 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 make sure firms have a substantial level of capital to offset their lending risks. Taking up the matter with your mortgage provider is the first step to take if you have any complaints about them. You utilise a complaint procedure via the FCA if you don’t think it has been suitably dealt with. In turn, this can be referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service if deemed 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 Get in contact with the Mortgage Saving Experts in Westwood. You can reach them by dialling 01273 738 072 today for a friendly chat.

What to Ask Your Westwood 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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