10 Great reasons to use a mortgage broker

Mortgages are the biggest financial commitment most of us will ever make, but they can be complicated. And with thousands of products available it’s not easy to find the right deal for your needs.

That’s where professional mortgage brokers come in. They help you to get the most suitable and competitive mortgage for your circumstances and smooth the path to an offer, making the process as hassle-free and quick as possible.

Here’s why you should consider using a broker to help you navigate the mortgage maze.

  1. Whole of market advice: A mortgage broker searches for the right mortgage for your circumstances from across the market. If you go directly to a lender for a mortgage, you’ll be limited to its own deals, which may or may not be the best for you. A broker offers personal advice tailored to your individual needs, and they’re not tied to a particular provider.
  2. Fully qualified and regulated:Brokers need professional qualifications to give mortgage advice and they work under statutory regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority. This provides you with certain reassurances: They have passed the required mortgage exams to practice. They will treat you fairly and make sure they recommend the mortgage that is most suitable for you. You are also entitled to seek redress from the Financial Ombudsman Service if you are not happy with their advice.
  3. Access to exclusive products:Brokers can access mortgages that may not be available to you directly. Some lenders only offer their products through brokers and don’t deal directly with the public. These products may better match your circumstances and it’s only by going through a broker you can find out about them.
  4. Market knowledge: It’s one thing finding the most competitive mortgage product, but that’s only half the story. A broker knows which mortgages you’ll be able to access and which lenders will reject your application. They help you get it right first time, which could potentially make or break your property purchase. They also know which lenders are able to turnaround mortgage applications quickly and which are currently struggling with service.
  5. Fee or fee-free:Most lenders pay brokers a percentage of the loan amount, called a procuration fee, when the mortgage completes. This essentially acts as commission to your broker for introducing you as a customer to the bank/lender that provides you a mortgage. Some brokers may also charge for giving advice or arranging the mortgage and the cost does vary. You could be charged a flat fee – such as £250 – or a percentage of the loan amount, 1% for example. The scale of the fee could also depend on the complexity of your application. You may need to pay the fees upfront, when you receive your mortgage offer from the lender or on completion of the sale. Brokers will provide you with their terms of business, normally at the first point of contact, which will set out their fees and when they are payable so that you can make an informed decision.
  6. Hassle-free process:Getting a mortgage and buying a home can be complicated, with many forms to fill out and different parties to chase. A broker does the legwork for you, taking away the stress, helping you to fill out the forms and preparing your case so it goes through smoothly first time. Then they stay on top of it throughout the process, keeping in touch with the lender and liaising with solicitors if required.
  7. Specialist needs:If you’re self-employed, have seasonal income or a history of bad credit, you may find it difficult to get a mortgage on the high street. A broker has access to a wider range of specialist lenders and experience in helping those excluded from the mainstream market. Specialist lenders, such as Aldermore, understand that life gets in the way of the best laid plans and you can be rejected by a mainstream lender through no fault of your own. Our experienced underwriters assess each application individually and look at the bigger picture if your circumstances are unusual.
  8. Open all hours: Brokers frequently make themselves available to you at your convenience – evenings, weekends or in your lunch hour. You can contact them in whichever way you prefer – over the phone, on video, social media or email. This flexibility sets brokers apart from high street banks and building societies.
  9. Wider financial advice: Brokers often specialise in other areas of financial services, which means they can take a wider look at your personal finances, rather than just dealing with your mortgage. For example, a broker can help you arrange buildings cover, which will be required by your mortgage lender, and they can talk about life insurance and other types of cover that might be suitable for you. They don’t just help you get you the home of your dreams, but can recommend insurance that ensures you keep it, whatever life throws at you.
  10. Loyal to you: If your circumstances change your mortgage broker is there to help you review your options, and they normally contact you well in advance of your deal ending to see if they can get you a better mortgage. A broker wants to keep your business for the long-term, and they want you to recommend them to friends and family. So, they always act in your best interests and are loyal to you, their client.

Pay Day Loans

Yes, you can still get a mortgage if you have had Pay Day Loans in the past. It may be more difficult and limit the amount of lenders and products available but there are Specialist Mortgage Lenders that deal with brokers like us to help.

 High Street Lenders do not mortgage like to see pay day loans on a credit file or bank statement as indicates to them of financial difficulties in the past or currently as short term finance to manage current repayments.

It will depend on certain criteria based on the Pay Day Loans showing as registered such as:

When the loan taken out
How much was borrowed
How many loans taken out
How quickly they were paid off
The story behind why you needed to take the loans
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Low or No Credit Score

Yes, you can still get a mortgage if you have a low credit score or no credit score. It may be more difficult and limit the amount of lenders and products available but there are Specialist Mortgage Lenders that deal with brokers like us to help.

High Street lenders are dealing with a high volume of cases each day so will credit score each application and if you do not meet that credit score then will decline the application on that basis alone. It is a computer says no situation with no appeal.

We will check with lenders who manually check your credit file so not dealing with a computer to find the best solution for you.

Repossession

Yes, you can still get a mortgage if you have been Repossessed in the past. It may be more difficult and limit the amount of lenders and products available but there are Specialist Mortgage Lenders that deal with brokers like us to help.

It will depend on certain criteria based on the Repossession such as:

The date you were repossessed
The reason why you were repossessed
Any other credit issues
You credit history since being repossessed

Late payments can be common and payments can be missed in certain circumstances and we understand this and can still help find a solution for you.

Late payments are not as bad as a missed payment as you still made that payment. Normally as long as you made the payment before the next monthly payment due then would not show as a missed payment or arrear on your credit file.

We would need to understand the reasons that led to the IVA, how long ago it was and the impact that had on your credit file.

Late & Missed Payments

Yes, you can still get a mortgage if you have had late and/or missed payments on credit. It may be more difficult and limit the amount of lenders and products available but there are Specialist Mortgage Lenders that deal with brokers like us to help.

Late payments can be common and payments can be missed in certain circumstances and we understand this and can still help find a solution for you.

Late payments are not as bad as a missed payment as you still made that payment. Normally as long as you made the payment before the next monthly payment due then would not show as a missed payment or arrear on your credit file.

We would need to understand the reasons that led to the IVA, how long ago it was and the impact that had on your credit file.

IVA

Yes, you can still get a mortgage if you have been in an IVA in the past. It may be more difficult and limit the amount of lenders and products available but there are Specialist Mortgage Lenders that deal with brokers like us to help.

We would need to understand the reasons that led to the IVA, how long ago it was and the impact that had on your credit file.

Debt Management Plans

Yes you can still get a mortgage if you have a Debt Management Plan or been in one in the past. It may be more difficult and limit the amount of lenders and products available but there are Specialist Mortgage Lenders that deal with brokers like us to help.

With a Debt Management Plan you would be in an arrangement via a company like StepChange and be paying a lower amount to the people you owe over a longer period of time. This can affect your credit file as the people you owe money to will normally report it as an arrangement on your credit file, in some circumstances it may be reported as a Default.

Even if you are withing a Debt Management Plan there are specialist lenders who will still lend to you based on the payment history of the plan.

Bankruptcy

Yes you can still get a mortgage if you have been bankrupt in the past. It may be more difficult and limit the amount of lenders and products available but there are Specialist Mortgage Lenders that deal with brokers like us to help.

 

We would need to understand the reasons that led the Bankruptcy, how long ago it was and the impact that had on your credit file.

Defaults

You can still get a mortgage with a Default. It may be more difficult and limit the amount of lenders and products available but there are Specialist Mortgage Lenders that deal with brokers like us to help.

Some of these lenders will ignore small Default’s if registered by a mobile phone company or other communication companies.

It will depend on certain criteria based on the Default’s showing as registered such as:

When they were registered
If satisfied or unsatisfied
The value of the Defaults
The number of Defaults
The story behind the circumstances

CCJ's

You can still get a mortgage with a CCJ. It may be more difficult and limit the amount of lenders and products available but there are Specialist Mortgage Lenders that deal with brokers like us to help.

It will depend on certain criteria based on the CCJ’s showing as registered such as:

When they were registered

If satisfied or unsatisfied

The value of the CCJ’s

The number of CCJ’s

The story behind the circumstances