What is a mortgage broker?

A mortgage broker is a qualified professional who helps people obtain a mortgage from a mortgage lender.

Mortgage brokers are required to be regulated by the FCA and are required to have a qualification such as CeMAP or equivalent to provide advice on regulated mortgages.

Every mortgage lender has different lending criteria so by using a broker, you will rely on their knowledge and experience in the mortgage market to ensure that the lender they are placing you with can consider your mortgage application and get you the right mortgage deal.

Mortgage brokers typically have access to a wide panel of mortgage lenders and will sometimes get preferential interest rates compared to going direct with the banks/building societies, meaning you could get better mortgage deals.

Mortgage brokers will:

  • Provide advice on what mortgage product is best suited to your needs and circumstances
  • Handle your whole mortgage application process and remain in the process until your mortgage completes
  • Liaise with the mortgage lender throughout

How does an online mortgage broker work?

As an online mortgage broker, we offer a fully remote service meaning that all of our interaction is either on the phone or via virtual meetings. Therefore there is no need to arrange a physical appointment and take important hours out of your busy day! We use market-leading technology and systems in order for us to process your mortgage online and we will give you access to your own client area where you can securely share documents and information.

But don’t worry, we’re just like traditional mortgage brokers. Although we will be handling everything remotely, you will still have a friendly adviser to help you every step of the way. Offering a personal service is important to us as we like to ensure you feel like you’re in safe hands from start to finish.

We have worked tirelessly to ensure our process is as pain-free as possible, as we understand that applying for a mortgage can be time-consuming and frustrating.

See below for an overview of the process we’ll take you through.

Initial Appointment

Firstly, we’ll arrange an initial appointment with you. This should only take around 20-30 minutes, which gives us time to introduce ourselves and to take some basic information from you so we can begin our research. Our calls are strictly confidential and we will share a copy of our GDPR statement with you confirming how we handle your information.

Our Research

Once we’ve had our initial consultation and taken some information from you, we will begin our research into your options. This can take up to 2 working days, depending on your situation. We like to ensure we do a thorough job, liaising with the lenders upfront to ensure we get the right outcome for you.

Advice Process

Once we’ve established we can assist you, we will start working with you to begin the advice process. As we work with a wide panel of mortgage lenders, it’s our job to ensure the mortgage we are looking to apply for is most suited to your needs and circumstances.

Prepare your documents

Once we’ve established what product best suits you, we will begin the application process. If you are purchasing a home, this will be once you’ve had an offer accepted on a specific property. We will ask you for the documents we require to get your application underway. This will include, proof of your identity, bank statements and income proof, among other documents.

Application Process

Once we’ve got the required documents from you, we will submit your application to the mortgage lender which is when their underwriting process will begin. We will liaise with the lender to ensure your application is being dealt with as efficiently as possible. Once the lender has approved all of your documents and carried out a valuation, they will produce a mortgage offer.

Documents usually requested are:

  • Proof of Identification (such as Passport / Drivers Licence)
  • Proof of address (such as bank statements/council tax bill/utility bill)
  • Proof of income (this can vary depending on employment, such as payslips for Employed Applicants, accounts for Self-Employed applicants and Contracts for Contractors)
  • Proof of deposit (if using own funds to purchase a property, this may be copies of bank statements)

This list is not exhaustive and the actual required documents vary depending on your personal situation, an accurate list will be provided once we’ve established your circumstances and the lender we’re applying to.

Protecting your new mortgage

Whilst your mortgage application is underway, you will speak with one of our friendly protection specialists. As a responsible broker we offer protected mortgage advice and have a duty of care to ensure you’re aware of the risks you’re taking on with your new mortgage. No one wants to think about the worst happening to their loved ones. It is our job to ensure that you are provided with the information that allows you to make a well-informed choice.

Take the first step to getting your perfect mortgage.

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Mortgage Services