The Benefits Of Using a Mortgage Broker in Leeds
We firmly believe that there are many positives to taking on the services of an expert mortgage broker in Leeds, more than there would be to going direct. That’s just our opinion though, of course we’d say that!
In reality, there are positives to going elsewhere, so it definitely is worth exploring your mortgage options. Thankfully for us, the majority of people will opt to speak with a mortgage broker in Leeds. That being said, we will take a look at the pros and cons of both routes.
Mortgage Broker in Leeds vs Going Direct in Leeds
The first tick in the column of Team Mortgage Broker is that whilst most high street banks can be approached directly, not all mortgage lenders can be.
This means that to get the best deal across all lenders, you’ll benefit from speaking with a mortgage broker in Leeds, though a mortgage lender may still have some deals you cannot get going to a mortgage broker.
An experienced mortgage broker in Leeds will typically require a fee, whereas this likely won’t be the case when going direct. That being said, we can help to recommend other services that you’ll need for much cheaper than they might be with a lender.
Previous arguments could be made saying that “the bank manager knows my finances inside out,” but this was a nullified argument once credit scoring was introduced.
If you know what you are doing and what you are looking for, going direct can be a quick and easy process. On the other hand, if you do not know what you are doing, you could harm your chances of ever obtaining a mortgage, as you won’t match all lenders criteria.
A trusted mortgage broker in Leeds will be able to review the different lenders mortgage criteria and will be able to match you up with the most suitable mortgage deal. We always aim to get this recommendation right first time, which more often than not, we do.
Mortgage Advice Past vs Present
In days gone by, mortgage advisors from high street banks would approve you for a mortgage, whether they were adequately qualified or not. You would not benefit from correct mortgage advice or consumer protection.
As 2014 arrived, this type of practice was banned by the government. Only experienced mortgage advisors could go about providing mortgage advice to customers, making recommendations for products.
The downside to having to now having to only speak with specific individuals at a bank, meant you could be waiting months, just to speak with someone. That’s not good if you’re keen to get it done quickly!
Because of this, usage of a mortgage broker in Leeds rose, becoming a much more popular option. As a company ourselves, we offer various time slots throughout the week, allowing you to pick a time that is convenient to you, and not months in advance!
Quite often, if you’re lucky when booking your free initial mortgage appointment, you’ll be able to speak with someone the same day.
Modern Day Challenges
Nowadays, the hardest part of the mortgage process is matching up against the right mortgage lenders criteria. It’s also important to remember that deals with the lowest rates often have higher arrangement fees.
At the end of the day, a deal may be really good, but you’ll need to pass affordability checks and be eligible for that deal in the first place. With the help of a mortgage broker in Leeds, you’ll be able to find deals that are suitable for you.
Newer Regulations
Thanks in part to the regulations that followed after the credit crunch back in 2008, mortgage applications perhaps are not as straightforward as they used to be.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, however, as it makes for fairer lending and less chance of anyone falling into arrears, which both customers and mortgage lenders alike would much rather do without.
That being said, there are still a handful of situations that could cause some issues for applicants, of which a mortgage broker in Leeds may be able to help with.
- You have a poor credit history.
- You are receiving a self-employed income.
- There is a mixed deposit source, i.e. Gifted & Savings.
- Opting for Let to Buy. Renting your current home to buy another.
- Being a contractor or working under a zero-hours contract.
- You perhaps can’t quite meet affordability requirements.
Lending Criteria
Over our time as an expert mortgage broker in Leeds, we have seen mortgage lenders demonstrating their competitive prowess, trying to offer better interest rates than their fellow mortgage lenders.
Once again because of the changes to regulations, the other difference between these lenders, is their mortgage lending criteria and whether or not the customer can match up with it.
Examples of how these may differ, is that some mortgage lenders may have more products for self employed applicants than others, whereas others may not but will be more lenient to something like bad credit mortgages.
The Benefit of a Mortgage Broker in Leeds
Whatever your situation may be, it is unique to you. When you get in touch with a mortgage broker in Leeds and discuss your case, we may have encountered something similar before and will use that knowledge to help.
As a part of our service, we aim to go above and beyond for every customer who gets in touch with us. Customers rely on our help, so even if it seems relatively straightforward as far as cases go, we will still give it our absolute all.
During your process, one of our mortgage advisors in Leeds will be able to discuss what your budget is for making an offer on a property and recommend additional services such as trusted solicitors and the right property survey to undertake.
They can also run through any potential insurance options with you, helping prepare you and your family for the future, in the event of anything unfortunate occuring that could hinder your families financial state.
Still, need more convincing?
A further aspect of our service that is worth shouting about as a mortgage broker in Leeds, is how responsive we are to our customers. Oftentimes going direct can leave you unsure of what is going on and not always being able to make contact.
Our trusted mortgage advisors in Leeds will always keep you in the loop, with availability from early until late, every day of the week, responding as soon as they possibly can, no matter what you need them for.
Additionally, an overlooked factor as to why people may prefer the services of a mortgage broker in Leeds, is that nowadays people just seem to be so busy. It’s often easier to use a professional service, to take the stress off your shoulders.
This is especially beneficial for professional applicants who are dealing with customers of their own, perhaps not having the time to run through their process themselves.
Book Your Free Mortgage Appointment
If you would like to go direct, that is great! Generally though, whether a customer is a first time buyer in Leeds, self employed in Leeds, or looking to remortgage in Leeds, they prefer to enlist the services of an expert mortgage broker in Leeds.
Book your free mortgage appointment today with a fast & friendly mortgage broker in Leeds and we will see how we can help you along your mortgage journey.
Date Last Edited: December 6, 2023
