What is a mortgage broker
Mortgage loans are brokered on behalf of companies and individuals by mortgage brokers, who effectively act as intermediaries. Mortgage brokers exist to find a bank or direct lender that will be willing to make the specific loan an individual requires. Working with a mortgage broker in Elm-Park will help you get the mortgage loan you require at a favourable deal, without any unnecessary stress. Even if you have a poor credit score or any other issues that could affect your mortgage application, working with a reputable mortgage broker will still boost your chances considerably.
Also, you can rest easy knowing that professional mortgage brokers must work within regulations that require their compliance to banking and finance laws in the jurisdiction of the consumer.
What Is A Mortgage?
In simple terms, a mortgage is a loan. A mortgage is not like a personal loan, as it is specifically attached to a piece of property used as collateral against the loan. Failure to pay when due can result in your mortgage provider taking back (repossessing) the property, as would be their legal right.
Mortgages are nearly always set for a 25-year period, but long and short terms are also available. A repayment plan is set up as soon as you’re granted permission to borrow the money. Although there are different types of mortgages, the most common is one whereby you are bound to a monthly capital repayment plan.
Aside from repaying the money you borrowed initially, you will be charged interest on the amount you’ve been loaned (the ‘capital’). A mortgage is a debt instrument that is acquired using the collateral of a particular property that the loanee must repay in predetermined amounts. Where mortgages are concerned, individuals and businesses don’t have to make one-time payments up front for large property purchases. The property can be owned by the borrower without a mortgage after the loan plus interest are repaid by them over a period of time. The lender can repossess the property against which the mortgage is secured if the borrower does not keep up with mortgage payments.
The bank will have a charge on the property, so the lender may repossess it if the home buyer does not make the mortgage payments. The home’s tenants may be evicted by the bank, the property sold, and the equity used to clear the mortgage debt if there’s a repossession.
Mortgages come in various guises. While there are longer fixed rate terms provided, the borrower will pay the same interest for the initial term; that is, two, three or five years, with a fixed rate mortgage. For fixed rate terms, the monthly payments remain the same throughout. If market interest rates rise, the borrower’s payment does not change on a fixed rate. An increase or decrease in the market interest rate will not affect the borrower’s mortgage repayments if they have a fixed rate.
As soon as the fixed rate ends, your mortgage will be returned to a ‘standard variable rate’ set by the bank, lender or building society that lends you the money. You must remember to re-mortgage if you have a good broker or diary system in place. Alternatively, call your current lender to adjust the rates around three months prior to it being raised to the variable rate. This way, you can avoid paying too much on monthly payments, because lenders can adjust the rates as they deem fit.
In short, the initial interest rate is often a low rate, which can make a mortgage seem more affordable than it really is. Higher monthly payments may be hard to meet for the borrower if interest rates are increased later. Because the variable rates can change at any time, the monthly payments are unpredictable after the initial term.
There are other types of mortgages, such as interest-only mortgages, offset mortgages, tracker rates, bridging loans, secured loans and buy to lets, which are less common but may be available nevertheless. Therefore, you should contact an independent broker to know your options. You can receive assistance from our mortgage brokers in Elm-Park to find a mortgage deal that best matches your individual specifications and circumstances.
Handy Tools and Calculators
With a clear idea of the maximum you can borrow and how much the loan will cost, it then becomes easier to plan your future. Use this handy calculator to see just how much your mortgage repayments are going to be, based on your total loan amount and interest rate. Just fill in those values, along with your term and press ‘Click to calculate’ to immediately see the amount you will have to repay per month.
Why Use A Mortgage Broker?
Working on your mortgage application with a mortgage broker in Elm-Park comes with many different benefits. 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? 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.
In short, a broker is required to give proof of their reasons for recommending the mortgage they have (to you, their regulators, the Prudent Regulation Authority or Financial Conduct Authority) or they could be penalised. 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. Positive user experience is much more valuable to a mortgage advisor company than padding out an individual broker’s pocket.
Finds The Most Advantageous Deal
For a mortgage broker, your interests – rather than those of the lending institution – are paramount. They shouldn’t just play the role of your agent, but also those of problem solver and knowledgeable consultant. For terms like interest rates, repayment value and loan products, you can get the best possible value from a broker, who has access to a wide array of mortgage products. Mortgage brokers will interview you to identify your needs, as well as short and long term goals. Simple 30 or 15-year mortgages are not sufficient in many cases, which is why innovative mortgages and sophisticated solutions are distinct benefits of working with experienced brokers. These include mortgages to raise capital for repaying debts, money for marital needs or children, home renovations or the purchase of other properties such as buy to lets.
Has Flexibility Expertise to Meet Your Needs
A mortgage broker will work with the client in any situation, as well as manage the process and take care of any bumps in the road that may occur. 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. 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. 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. With a mortgage broker, you’ll only need one application, rather than completing forms for each individual lender. A formal comparison of the loans recommended can be provided by your mortgage broker to act as a guide for the information that accurately illustrates the differences in cost, showing present rates and points, as well as closing costs for each loan. Major lenders and those not so popular will be compared by your broker to seek out the most suitable deal for you, in terms of lower rates and total cost.
Outsourcing the work to someone who can provide an expert opinion is a great way to relieve yourself of the burden involved. To be of assistance throughout the entire application and approval process, mortgage brokers do the bulk of the work. This includes handling all the paperwork, helping with applications for government ski schemes, answering questions and providing insight on other options and loan features you may not have given thought to. Drawdown facilities, offset accounts and extra repayments (to name a few) are just some of the features involved. Your general mortgage experience and overall expenses can be largely affected by these features. Better still, if you’re not well versed with these concepts and how they could affect you, your broker can clarify answer questions you may have over the phone.
Access to exclusive non-advertised deals
There are exclusive deals not made public by the banks that brokers have access to. 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.
While banks can only provide their own deals (and not the deals offered by other banks), brokers can scour the entire market to discover the most suitable deal.
Better chance of pre-approval success
When you request an Agreement in principle/Decision in principle of a loan and are refused approval, this shows up on your credit rating. With the required knowledge and experience brokers possess, you’ll have a better chance at approval the first time around.
Access to expert knowledge
Mortgage brokers assist people with obtaining loans as part of their job. They have access to helpful information and exclusive deals you’d otherwise not find. If you’re not on the lookout for them, you might not notice the subtleties that accompany loans. The difference to your mortgage could ultimately be made by these subtleties. If you have an experienced professional who can show you these things, you’ll be at a distinct advantage.
Instead of removing a chunk of your day to conduct voluminous research of loans and multiple lenders as well as possibly missing important subtleties, why not give the work to a person who has ample industry experience? A mortgage broker is a great choice for your home loan requirements, just as a plumber is for fixing a leaking pipe and a hairdresser for dealing with damaged hair.
About Mortgage Saving Experts
Mortgages and insurance are not as complex as they seem at first. 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. After all, why make everything more stressful than it ought to be? Let us make everything easy for you and ensure you get the best possible deal.
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 do. 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. Providing help is why we’re here! Approximately “Take 15 minutes to talk to 1 adviser and find out about 1000s of mortgage deals.”
Our Team of Brighton 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 a team of experienced mortgage insurance experts, driven by honesty, passion and enthusiasm.
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?
When you take out a mortgage, you’ll be subject to an initial rate for the first few years. 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. Other advantages of working with us are:
- With a deal better than the bank variable rate, you’ll subsequently save money.
- We can provide updates relating to the end of your deal, so you need not worry.
- You can take time to relax, while we handle the stress for you.
- We know our onions, so you’ll only ever be advised by a qualified mortgage expert.
- We compare thousands of deals, so can advise you accordingly and arrange the very best.
- Expert advice and support will be available to you through the entire mortgage process.
Our Approach to Mortgage Advice
We provide personalised services and pay attention to all your specific needs. We take three basic steps in our approach to mortgage advice:
- Let’s have an Initial Chat, so we can get to know You and What Your Requirements Are
- We Search the Entire Market to Find the Best Deal for You
- 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 Elm-Park includes:
- Find out what your needs and circumstances are through fact-finding.
- Point out the costs that come with buying and selling.
- Request applicable documents to aid the application.
- Recommend and explain all about the prospective mortgage.
- Provide answers to your questions.
- An agreement in principle will be put in place.
- Have your full mortgage application submitted.
- Work with your estate agent, solicitor and mortgage lender to answer any questions comprehensively.
Mortgage Types We Provide Expert Advice On
We offer expert advice on a wide variety of mortgage products. Working together with us, finding the most suitable mortgage product to suit your needs won’t be difficult at all. Mortgage types that we’re frequently asked to handle include:
First time buyers
Most mortgage lenders put people in the First Time Buyers category if they have either:
- Never owned a property or
- People who have owned a property in the past, but not owned one for six months or more.
The ideas and rules differ from lender to lender. There usually are no issues in being a First Time Buyer. In order to qualify for stamp duty relief, it’s necessary for First time Buyers to have never been property owners before; this applies anywhere in the world.
Mortgages may appear to be a rather difficult process, but they really don’t have to be. The purchase of your first home can be filled with excitement, so if you discover a well-respected broker to manage the process for a reasonable price, then use one. The reason you should use one is fairly obvious. If you have no knowledge about cars and yours develops a fault, you would call a mechanic rather than attempt to fix it yourself. With mortgages, it is exactly the same. Mortgage brokers can save you time, effort and money, so why not use one? You won’t have to pay for the initial consultation.
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. Learn what to do before applying for a mortgage; what to watch for during the process; and how to use a mortgage after you’ve bought your home. If you would rather not take this approach, then instead contact an adviser, who will be able to walk you through the process.
Your credit is a necessity.
A mortgage is of major importance. Banks put up a lot of money at their own risk. So much so, they’ve been very careful since the subprime mortgage crisis of 2008. To qualify for a mortgage, good credit is helpful, but not essential. Based on your present situation, we can also be your guide when it comes to how much you can afford to pay for your new home and what your price ceiling should be. 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. The two don’t automatically go hand in hand. Let me make it clearer. 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. 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.
The potential absence of valuation or solicitors fees is one of the plus points of re-mortgaging, even though not everyone qualifies for this. This is due to the fact that it is based solely on your disposition at the time of re-mortgaging. So, please check with your adviser.
A re-mortgage completed on time is a smart way to significantly reduce the cost of your mortgage related bills. Although it can be a good thing – depending on your individual needs – a re-mortgage deal might not be the most suitable choice.
Reasons for remortgaging your property
- Based on your unique circumstances, such as…
- Mortgage debt isn’t so big.
- The financial situation is no longer the same.
- Early repayment charge that’s costly.
- Home value dropped.
- You have credit issues.
- Already on a great rate.
- We will advise you whether or not to pursue a re-mortgage.
Buy to Let
A property bought with the purpose of renting to tenants is known as ‘buy to let’. Legally, you aren’t allowed to live in the property. The number of available lenders will be restricted if you’re a First Time Buyer, purchasing a buy to let property. Also, extra checks are made by the lender in cases like these.
- There are some things you might want to know when purchasing a buy to let property.
- 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.
- If the value of the property isn’t valued at the amount for which stamp duty becomes liable, you are still required to pay the extra 3% of purchase cost.
- TIP: You should ask your solicitor/conveyancer to figure out how much you must pay when considering buying a second property.
- A good adviser will know the exact questions to pose and will find a mortgage that fits your exact requirements.
- Get in touch with our advisers to find out if you qualify.
How Much Do Mortgage Brokers Charge?
A percentage of your mortgage loan is paid as commission to many mortgage brokers by lenders. 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. Many independent brokers usually charge about £500 as a flat fee. Remember to ask brokers how they want to be paid. They need to be totally clear, informing you of the fee structure they use and just how much you are due to be charged.
The fee structure we adopt is based upon charging the client £695 and deducting from that figure any commission paid by the mortgage lender. 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. The amount a lender would be willing to lend is dependent on a comprehensive affordability assessment that helps them understand your income, as well as any loan or credit card commitments you might have and everyday household expenses. In addition, they also perform a credit check to make sure your credit rating is suitable for mortgage purposes.
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. We can provide an initial estimate, without the need for any credit checks to begin with.
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 thousands of the latest mortgage deals, so you can find the one you’re after.
What Our clients say About us
Our list of satisfied clients in Elm-Park is lengthy and diversified. If you still have doubts about our ability to professionally provide the best deal in Elm-Park at the cheapest price, see for yourself what some of our customers have said about their experience with us. To get a first-hand experience of the great services we provide, call us today.
Latest Mortgage News
The more information you have available when looking for the most suitable mortgage deal, the more beneficial this is for you. Below can be found recent news on mortgages to provide the insight you need to get started.
Mortgage Regulatory Information
The majority of mortgages in the UK are made available by banks, building societies and specialised mortgage lenders. Although a big portion of the market share is owned by Lloyds Banking Group and Nationwide Building Society, all together there are 200 different financial institutions providing mortgages in Britain.
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.
The FCA monitors the professional conduct of mortgage providers. Strict rules are in place against using false or unfair adverts and promotions, in addition to checks to ensure the terms of contracts 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.
The Prudential Regulation Authority (a sister organisation to the FCA) presides over deposit-taking organisations in the UK, with regards their financial conduct. 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 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
What To Ask Your Brighton Mortgage Broker?
Again, demand a specific answer – “Within three hours”, say, rather than “Quickly”.
Don’t let the broker get away with vague statements like “Because I’m the best” or “Because I provide great service”. Use follow-up questions to demand detail. “What specific things make you better than other brokers? What, specifically, do you do to deliver great service?”
And once you’ve received answers to these questions, ask if the broker would be willing to put both claims in writing. That will indicate how seriously those claims should be taken.
Hypothetically; Broker A might have done 450 vanilla loans and 50 bad-credit loans, while Broker B might have done 50 vanilla loans and 250 bad-credit loans. So if you were a borrower with credit problems, you might be better off with Broker B.
Next, probe them about their customer service standards
By maximising your deposit amount and minimising your loan term, you stand to significantly reduce the overall cost of your loan. However, there is much more to answering what the true cost of your home loan will be. Upfront fees such as valuation fees, conveyancing and legal fees need to be added to the total cost. Ongoing fees such as those you can incur for using a drawdown facility.
While it’s impossible to forecast the entire cost of your mortgage to the penny – and let’s not forget how life circumstances and changes can affect your ability to pay your loan too – a broker can can help clarify the big picture details. Mortgage Saving Experts can recommend any protection or insurances to protect you and your family to cover life unfortunate eventualities and our team of advisers can use this information to help you decide which loan is best for your circumstances.
Once you speak to us, however, we’ll be able to give you a much more accurate indication of your borrowing capacity. Brokers act as the go-between for you and the lender. Lenders will need to know your living expenses, debts, credit score and whether you have dependents. A broker can factor all these things into the right loan.
A broker can also explain home loan terms you’ll need to know, such as LTV, which is the initialism for Loan-to-Value and refers to the percentage of the total loan amount you seek to borrow as a percentage of the property purchase price or value. They can also explain things like the differences in interest rates and repayment types such as Interest Only and Repayment (Capital & Interest)
For example, imagine two brokers joined the industry in 2013, but that Broker A had written 500 loans during that time and Broker B had written 300. In that case, even though both parties would be able to claim five years of industry experience, there would be a clear difference in hands-on experience.
Press the broker to give you a specific answer, such as “Eighteen years” or “I’ve been a broker since 2007 and in the mortgage industry since 2001”, rather than something vague like “I’ve got a lot of experience”.
Barry Webb
After nearly 20 years in the financial services industry, I started Mortgage Saving Experts. I thrive on helping people save money and come up with simple and clever little ideas which make massive savings to my clients. I want the company’s core focus to be great customer service. You don’t get good customer service anymore and this is about time that changed, It’s about taking responsibility and always going the extra mile.