What does a mortgage broker do?

Can you advise on mortgage protection?

This is a very important thing to cover, even if it’s simply just understanding it so you can make an informed decision. It’s critical that this is discussed and it’s something we pride ourselves on.

We go above and beyond. We don’t just look at the basics. We go into quite a lot of depth with our clients so they fully understand. We don’t want them wondering in a year’s time what insurance they have in place. We want them to know what they’ve got and that in certain circumstances they will have the right support.

If they can’t quite afford to cover themselves to the level they’d like, they’ll be aware there’s a gap. If their financial circumstances change, we’re always there to support them when they can come back to us. We can assess things without any extra costs and re-evaluate their scenario.

First and foremost, it’s essential to make sure that if anything does happen personally, you can still pay your debts – or your partner can. Nobody wants, first of all, a tragic event to happen, but secondly for a family to lose their home because they haven’t been fully prepared.

Is there anything else on offer that we haven’t discussed?

We do have a sister company. As a customer, you wouldn’t necessarily need to worry about that, but it means we can cover things like bridging, development finance, second charges, commercial loans and even business loans.

All our advisors look at both options, almost wearing two different hats. You could be having a conversation about remortgaging a property or doing a self-build – your advisor is always thinking about the best option for you and the best route to go down.

They’re thinking broadly on that – and if the normal residential route doesn’t quite fit here, that extra understanding means we explore other, less standard options. That’s via a different company with the same structure and ownership, where our advisors act for both Windsor Hill Mortgages and Cotterell and Cotterell Commercial Finance.

We also cover capacity reports. Sometimes things go wrong and couples go their separate ways. They might need to prove in court their capacity for borrowing. Our advisors are happy to help – they’re very experienced and would provide a letter or whatever’s needed.

When should I see a mortgage broker? At what stage of looking for a property?

As quickly as possible – because there’s no cost to you when we assess your affordability. We can support you the whole way through and hold your hand from the very start. If you go to an estate agent and put an offer in – but you haven’t had that Decision in Principle certificate, how do you know it’s affordable? That doesn’t give the agent or seller confidence.

If you talk to your mortgage advisor before, we can verify what’s affordable and work with you. It might take you six months to a year to find a property, but we’re by your side to support you – and you’re not having to pay a penny.

You might not even find a property, or perhaps it’s not viable yet and you have to wait – but you know where you stand and what to do next. If you can’t get the lending, we help you find another way.

Plus, for property investors, how you legally structure the ownership of those properties can have a massive impact on your bottom line. Even seasoned property investors with portfolios sometimes say they wish they’d done things differently earlier. By engaging with us early, we can help have those discussions and arrange things so that you’re in a better situation for the future.

A classic example would be putting a portfolio of properties into a limited company. There are certain things you can do now that are more cost-effective. It’s really important to engage early in that process.

Does it cost for an initial consultation with you?

No, not at all. Buying a home can be daunting and we want to make it easy for people to start the conversation and get some advice. Please note: Fees may apply at a later stage.

What else do we need to know about working with a mortgage broker?

We’re here to help. We’re on your side – you’re our clients. Any problems or challenges you face can be really daunting. You don’t get taught about mortgages at school, and if you’re a first-time buyer you’ve never done this before.

By picking up the phone and having a chat with an experienced advisor, you’ll come away feeling a lot more confident, a bit calmer and ready to face the next steps.

We see ourselves as a partner to everybody in the process. We’re not there to put up barriers – we find you solutions to get you the most suitable outcome. We want to share your excitement and make sure your plans are viable. We’re that helping hand all the way through – not just to acquire a home but make it work for you.

We support our clients and their families by working with them closely over the years. In the future, we hope to work with their children and their children’s children too.

YOUR HOME OR PROPERTY  MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE 

YOU MAY HAVE TO PAY AN EARLY REPAYMENT CHARGE TO YOUR EXISTING LENDER IF YOU REMORTGAGE

NOT ALL BUY TO LET MORTGAGES ARE REGULATED BY THE FINANCIAL CONDUCT AUTHORITY

AS WITH ALL INSURANCE POLICIES, CONDITIONS AND EXCLUSIONS WILL APPLY.