A mortgage broker, or adviser, is someone who will review the mortgages available to you based on your personal financial situation and apply for one on your behalf.
They can save you time by telling you which installment loans Colorado lenders are likely to accept you and how to improve your application, and can speed up the process by dealing with some of the paperwork.
1. Look for a whole-of-market broker
There are several things you should consider when choosing a mortgage adviser. One of the most important is whether they are whole-of-market.
Meanwhile, if you speak to an adviser based in a bank or building society, they will only tell you about their own product range.
A whole-of-market broker will be able to assess every available mortgage so they can recommend the very cheapest or most suitable deal for you. This could potentially save you a lot of money.
2. Ask about direct-only mortgages
While many mortgages are only available via brokers, some are only available if you apply directly, without a broker. These are known as ‘direct-only’ mortgages.
Brokers have no obligation to inform you of these deals. However, it’s worth asking your mortgage adviser if they will tell you about any direct deals that could be cheaper.
You may wish to do some of your own research if your broker is unable or unwilling to discuss direct-only deals.
While most mortgage brokers work with customers in person or over the phone, there’s now a growing number of ‘robo mortgage advisers’ – web-based services which allow you to carry out some or all of the mortgage application process online.
There are pros and cons to this approach. Our guide to online mortgage brokers explores how some of the best-known companies work.
Mortgage broker fees and commission
Some will also charge you a fee, which will either be a flat rate or a percentage of the amount you want to borrow. Lees verder