Should I Use My Estate Agent’s In-House Mortgage Advisor?
Estate Agent Mortgage Advice in London
When you start your mortgage process, if you choose to use a large estate agent, they will want you to use their in-branch Mortgage Advisor and their recommended conveyancers. You don’t have to use their in-house advisor however, in fact you can still get the same or better deals from somewhere else! Unfortunately, First Time Buyers are often the ones that get caught out and end up coaxed into using their internal services.
Searching for an external Mortgage Advisor in London could be the best path for you to take. An estate agent’s advisor will be biased, only encouraging you to see their side as they just want you to stay on with them. A dedicated mortgage broker in London will be able to give you more perspective and see different sides. If you do your research and still end up back with your in-house advisor, that’s fair enough, though you should always remember that you have other options out there.
Our view consists of both transparency and efficiency, as we want to provide the best possible experience and the best advice for your personal and financial situation, whilst still delivering a fast yet friendly service.
Sales tactics of estate agents
If you end up choosing to use your estate agent’s in-house mortgage advisor and conveyancer, you need to think about where the cost of their service is coming from. Maybe they are charging you for their services without asking you and adding it to other fees, so that you don’t notice. Taking the route of a trusted mortgage broker in London will eliminate these concerns, as you know exactly what you are paying for. Your dedicated advisor will break each cost down for you and answer any questions of uncertainty you have with what’s going on.
Even though it is an illegal tactic, if you have opted not to take the estate agents in-house mortgage advice, they may refuse to put your offer forward on a property. For example, you could be using a broker and they may push another offer to completion over yours, purely on the basis that you aren’t using their services. Once again, these situations are illegal.
Estate agents may get even craftier and try to charge you with extortionate in-house conveyancing fees. Even with a straightforward purchase, they could try and charge you with fees upwards of £1,500. If you encounter anything like this during a purchase, you have all rights to ask them where they have got these prices from and for them to provide a full breakdown of everything.
An experienced mortgage broker in London only has your best interests at heart, and all of this can be avoided by going to one over an estate agent for mortgage advice.
How can I get a Mortgage in London?
Finding the right Mortgage Advisor
Choosing the right Mortgage Advisor can be hard; but is there a way to make it easier?
Sometimes your case will be specific and might require specialist care and attention. An estate agents in-house advisors don’t care about this and just want to make money off you. When you Get in Touch with a mortgage broker in London, you can be matched up with a specific advisor who has experience in that field.
For example, we have specialist buy-to-let mortgage experts who can be called upon if a buy-to-let enquiry is presented to them. Once you’ve had a free mortgage consultation and an agreement in principle (usually turned around in 24 hours or less), you could be linked with your perfect advisor and get a head start on your mortgage process..
We have years of experience providing mortgage advice in London and have been helping struggling customer take that leap into the mortgage market for over 15 years now as a company. You can find out more about our excellent mortgage advice service by looking at our fantastic customer reviews.
Getting behind the wheel to start your own mortgage journey
If you would rather “go it alone”, you should know that it’s perfectly okay to do so. The majority of things you need can now be done online! Along with the use of price comparison websites, you may be able to find yourself the most appropriate deal.
The benefit of doing things online is that you have the chance to save money on additional fees. As long as you are confident in what you are doing and know what you are looking for, you could complete the process very quickly.
One thing to note though is shopping around and comparing online may be a little harder than you think. You will need to make sure that you’ve found the most appropriate fit before agreeing to anything. Here are some things you should be wary of when choosing to find a deal by yourself:
- Do you have the ability to match the criteria for the “Best Buy” rates? Check before applying, as if you are declined, this could negatively impact to your credit score.
- Have you researched properly? Many of these comparison sites earn a commission from lenders and where there is no commercial relationship with a lender, they may choose to just not include certain deals on their list.
- If it goes wrong, it could cost you a lot of money. Be aware of valuation and applications fees if you are not 100% certain that you have been accepted. These fees will not be refundable.
- You will solely be responsible for progressing your application and also sorting out any problems if you encounter any future issues.
Should I use my Bank or a Mortgage Broker?
Using your bank’s Mortgage Advisor
It isn’t difficult to make an appointment with your bank’s Mortgage Advisor, however, it may not be the right choice for you to make. If you do choose this route, here are a few things you should keep an eye out for:
- They won’t shop around for the best deal; they can only offer their own deals; some of their deals may not suit you at all! They also won’t tell you about other mortgage lenders cheaper rates.
- You might be declined, even if you’ve been a longtime customer of that bank, regardless of length of time. We’ve seen customers of 20 years still get turned away for “lack of information”.
- There can often a long waiting list for a mortgage appointment, with some lenders making customers wait around 6-months for an appointment.
- Your bank may have inexperienced advisors on their team and therefore are unable to help with more complex cases. This is why many people get declined, as instead of solving the issue, banks instead just turn customers away.
Using a Mortgage Broker in London
Working alongside a mortgage broker that is not associated with the estate agent ensures you have someone working purely on your behalf as an inexperienced First Time Buyer in London. This also ensures there’s no conflict of interest risks.
Everything will be kept between you and your designated Mortgage Advisor in London. We have no external ties to any building societies, banks or estate agents. When we work, it’s solely for you and only you. Whilst we have lenders on panel, they’re purely there for the deals they offer, allowing us to find the most appropriate case for your case.
Our team have your best interests at heart. Managing Director Malcolm Davidson is here to explain the pros & cons of using a dedicated mortgage broker:
Need a Mortgage Agreement in Principle in London?
An Agreement in Principle (also known as an AIP or Decision in Principle) is where you pass a Lender credit score to qualify for a mortgage.
By obtaining an Agreement in Principle, you prove that you are ready to support any offers you make as a First-Time Buyer in London. It may also aid in negotiating a lower price if you have one of these as it shows the seller you are serious and have the means to continue with the process.
Will obtaining an Agreement in Principle affect Credit Score?
The more frequently seen methods of credit scoring are via soft searches, rather than a hard search. These may still affect your credit score, though usually a hard search will be more likely to do this than a soft search.
The reason for this, is that a hard credit search leaves a credit footprint, whereas a soft search does not. Regardless, you can rest assured that whichever is used by the lender, is done with the best intentions.
Should I avoid hard credit checks?
Having your credit checked via a hard search every so often should not make too much difference. It becomes an issue if you take too many of these within a small amount of time.
On the flip side, if you know you have a good credit score and it’s the best path to take with a lender, this should not be a problem.
Is an Agreement in Principle a guarantee that I will get the Mortgage?
Whilst the prospect of this would be nice, there are no guarantees that having an Agreement in Principle will allow you to get a mortgage. The Lender will still require seeing all your documents and only then will an Underwriter make very final decision.
Often we find that customers contact us after they have been declined at application stage, due to missing some small print in their Agreement in Principle. You will need to provide ID to prove that your identity, payslips to prove your income and bank statements to prove you are smart with money, before a lender will offer your case.
Can I make an offer without an Agreement in Principle?
Though you are able to make an offer without an Agreement in Principle, we would not suggest doing so. Any credible Estate Agent will want you to prove you can definitely go forward.
How Long Does it take to get an Agreement in Principle?
It is possible to obtain an Agreement in Principle within 24 hours of getting in touch with an experienced mortgage advisor in London.
How Long Does an Agreement in Principle Last For?
Typically,an Agreement in Principle will expire after 30-90 days. The good news is that this doesn’t mean you should just apply for the first house you find. If your Agreement in Principle expires, it’s not a difficult task obtaining another ahead of making an offer.
Finding a mortgage only to be declined a mortgage can cause understandable disappointment. With this in mind, we recommend getting an Agreement in Principle as early as possible.
Mortgage Market Update: Biggest Surge in Lending Since 2007
Mortgage Advice in London for 2021
Following on from the recent announcement made by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, we felt it appropriate to share some positive news that came with the new lockdown rules.
Much like during the November 2020 lockdown, the property market is still open for business as usual. You are still able to take up house viewings, continue your purchase and put your home up for sale.
Below, we have a mortgage market update from the ‘moneyman’ himself, Malcolm Davidson:
Lockdown 2020 and obtaining a mortgage in London
Throughout the last lockdown, back during November 2020, there was a significant increase in the amount of mortgage enquiries banks and brokers were receiving. The boom in purchase approvals for homes reached an outstanding 105,000 in November, which was the highest recorded figure since August 2007.
In October 2020, purchase approvals were at 98,300. This increase of 6,700 is impressive when you think about where we were, working through the middle of a nationwide lockdown.
Obtaining a mortgage in London during Lockdown 2021
In terms of the property market, the January 2021 lockdown is currently working on a similar level to the previous one we experienced back in November 2020. You are still very much able to start your mortgage journey in 2021. How you start this is completely your call.
Whilst some take the route to do this themselves, accepting the help of a dedicated and experienced mortgage broker in London can reduce stress, time and the possible cost of the matter, depending on what you’re looking to do.
January is always a popular time of year for First Time Buyers, Home Movers, landlords and so on, with more mortgage products becoming available again as time progresses. This is allowing for more mortgage options to those looking to invest in the property market.
90% mortgages are still available
Yes, thankfully 90% mortgages are still available and lenders are getting more and more confident in the UK property market over time. They know that the demand for properties and mortgages is still alive and well, and that people will only start coming back when they are confident that they can get a deal with a 5-10% deposit.
There are also other ways to access a 90% mortgage, through something like the Help to Buy Equity Loan scheme or the Help to Buy Shared Ownership scheme. If you want a Help to Buy Specialist to walk you through the process, explaining how these methods could help you obtain a mortgage with only a 5-10% deposit, make sure to get in touch and a mortgage advisor in London will assist you how in any way they can.
We are open as usual!
The property market is still open, which means Londonmoneyman is ready for business as usual! We have a team of dedicated Mortgage Advisors in London available from 8am – 10pm, 7 days a week, all throughout the year to help you along your property owning path to a mortgage.
Don’t worry, we still offer a free initial mortgage consultation to all customers who get in touch, no matter the situation.
Reasons To Get a Second Mortgage in London
Second Mortgage Advice in London
There are several reasons why a second mortgage might be worth considering:
- For collecting funds for your existing home.
- For renting existing home and moving to a new one.
- To support your children in purchasing a home.
- For purchasing a property for rent purposes usually known as a Buy to Let in London.
- Want to purchase new house while having an existing mortgage.
Standard Variable Rate (SVR)
Releasing funds for a second mortgage depends on how much equity you have in the home and this is where Specialist Mortgage Advice may be able to help. Lenders have standard variable rate which is also called Lender’s basic mortgage.
Once you understand that each lender has its own standard variable rate set, then you understand the need for shopping around to find a better offer. You can also opt for a further advance with your existing Lender.
Let to Buy Mortgage
If you live in a property and want to move elsewhere then Let to Buy option is for you. It helps you in moving home in London as well as lets you keep the ownership of your existing property for you to rent it out later. Your second mortgage will be for a new residential mortgage.
Help Your Children Buy a Home
Being a parent, you are considering and looking for ways to help your children or grandchildren find a place on the property ladder. There are many routes that can assist you in purchasing home for your child.
Divorce/Separation & Second Mortgages
Looking for a new home while having your name on an existing mortgage occurs in situations when an individual is getting divorce or separation.
Before making any decision about second mortgage, make sure you have right people advising and helping you through it. Your dedicated mortgage advisor will be able to help in checking thousands of mortgage offers on your behalf and proposing the most acceptable offer to you, based on your personal circumstances.
