The Mortgage Store

A mortgage broker does a lot! The first step is to arrange an appointment with you where I would discuss with you exactly what you’re planning to do – whether you’re a First Time Buyer, a home mover, an investment purchaser or looking to remortgage.

I would then go through all your financial commitments, employment status – employed,  self-employed or a contract worker – to understand the nature of your work. I then explain the process and the steps to get you a mortgage. I confirm the costs and establish a budget with you for your mortgage and associated costs, such as legal fees and insurance. 

Insurance advice is also a service I provide further down the line, to keep you financially secure in your home should the worst happen – such as an illness or loss of income. 

I then do my research for you with a comprehensive range of lenders, to confirm how much you can afford and the mortgage term. We really tailor the mortgage and offer a bespoke service to suit your circumstances. 

I will secure a Decision in Principle with a lender to confirm how much you can borrow when making an offer on a property. Once you have an offer accepted I would go through a mortgage illustration, so you understand exactly what we are applying for. 

I would submit the full mortgage application and once we have the offer, I transfer my energy into working with your solicitor and estate agent to get through to completion. I’m there to sort out any hurdles or obstacles that may occur.

I don’t just work nine to five. I can be contacted out of hours, and I’ll be with you from start to finish, right through to completion to when you actually get the keys. I’m here to take the stress out of the mortgage for you.

By coming to a mortgage broker you will get a lot more choice. I’ve got access to a very comprehensive panel of lenders. Your high street lender is only going to discuss the mortgages that they have available. 

They can be very suitable, of course, but they won’t have the same choice that I have. If you have complex income, if you’re self-employed or a contract worker, it might not be possible to get a mortgage with that particular lender. 

As a broker I can obviously talk you through all the different types of mortgages available – and it’s more likely that I’m going to save you money in the long run with a more competitive rate.

The type of mortgage that I would recommend is very much based on your personal circumstances. Whether you’re employed, self-employed or you have two or three jobs, it’s about getting a mortgage to suit your circumstances and your affordability. We discuss your long-term plans and look at the overall picture.

We’re with you right from the start to completion. Initially, we find the correct mortgage for you and make that application. Then we liaise with the lender to get that mortgage offer – sometimes they request more information, which we will provide. 

Once we get to the mortgage offer, we start liaising with the solicitor doing all your legal work. Getting regular updates for you takes a lot of the stress out of the process. We also liaise with the estate agent for you – sometimes even before you make an offer on a property. We also offer you advice on protecting your home and loved ones once you actually take out that mortgage.

For First Time Buyers, it’s the first time they’ve ever taken out a large debt, so we look at protecting that debt. The insurance policies available can keep you financially secure in your home, should anything go wrong in the future. 

We’re with you from the beginning, while you submit that mortgage application, and right through to completion – which can be three four months later.

Basically, as soon as you are considering buying a property. That’s whether you’re a First Time Buyer, home mover or looking to remortgage. As soon as you are considering that process, come and see a mortgage broker straight away. 

We can have an initial chat and discuss your circumstances. We can talk about the market in general. It’s never too early to come and see me, even if it’s just something you’re thinking of doing in the future. Maybe you don’t want to buy until next year – we will always be there to explain what’s involved. 

First Time Buyers are often unsure of the process: how much they can borrow, if they need a Decision in Principle and how much of a deposit is required.  I will always be there to provide that information for you.

Preparation is key and it’s good to know what your options are. If you’re self-employed, for example, often you’re going to need two years’ accounts – but there are still options if you only have one year’s accounts, which a lot of people don’t realise.

I’ve been a mortgage broker for the last five years, and I worked in financial services before that. I decided to specialise and I have a lot of experience now. 

It was a goal of mine to set up my own mortgage branch and I’m very excited to have launched in Middleton. The Mortgage Store is a great company and a strong brand. I think it’s about three weeks now since I opened the door. I’ve had great support.

No, it doesn’t. I’m always happy to have that initial consultation with you and have a chat about your circumstances – we don’t charge at that stage at all. It might be that this isn’t the right time for you, or maybe the affordability isn’t there for you at the current time. 

The only time we actually charge a fee is when we are ready to make a mortgage application on your behalf. So once you’ve actually found the property. 

The initial consultation is always free of charge and there’s no time limit on it. We might chat for an hour or longer. We will give you the best advice and if you then go off for a few months, that’s absolutely no problem at all.

There are so many different types of mortgages available and many more schemes becoming available, in particular for First Time Buyers.

We can help you understand shared ownership, Right to Buy and all the opportunities out there. We’re also here for people looking to buy investment properties. Your first port of call should be a mortgage broker, because you really will get the advice you need.

It’s lovely. It really is. It’s very rewarding to know you’ve been with them from the start right through to when they get the keys. You’ve held their hand right through the process and taken the stress out of it for them.

There’s the satisfaction that they’ve got their new home, but also the satisfaction that I’ve advised them of the correct product. I can’t really stress enough how important it is that you receive the correct advice.

It’s not just choosing rates that are at the top. It’s about choosing a mortgage for you based on lots of different criteria.

I always keep in touch with clients and send an annual email to see how they’re doing, and see if they have any questions.  And at least six months before your fixed rate is going to expire, we’ll get in touch to explain the remortgaging process. 

Again, that’s something I explain to a First Time Buyer – because they often don’t understand that your first mortgage is only going to be in place for the first two or five years. We will continually look to remortgage to the correct product at any time. 

Think carefully before securing other debts against your home. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up with your mortgage repayments. 

You may have to pay an early repayment charge to your existing lender if you remortgage. 

The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate most Buy to Let Mortgages.