You can apply directly to a bank or building society for a mortgage. Alternatively, mortgage brokers and independent financial advisors (IFAs) can compare different mortgages from all lenders on the market, including ones that are not directly offered to customers. There might be a fee involved, but a broker or IFA could save you money as well as time and stress ploughing through all the mortgages out there on the market.

You will be asked a series of provisional questions by your potential lender or broker in order to work out what kind of mortgage you require. Your financial situation will also have to be established to figure how much a lender might be able to lend you. An Agreement in Principle (AIP) isn’t required but estate agents do prefer to have that information to hand during a property hunt.

An in-depth assessment will be undertaken during which the applicants need to provide evidence of income, expenditure, plus future plans and financial security will be scrutinized. If an application has been accepted, you will receive a commitment offer and a reflection period during which the offer cannot be altered.

Once the commitment offer letter has been signed by the applicant and returned to the lender, the lender will arrange for a qualified surveyor to check out the value of the property you are interested in. This is to make sure they will lend against it. If all is well, your solicitor or conveyancer will handle all dealings with your lender until completion on the property.

Our impartial mortgage advisors have access to the ‘whole of the market’ and exclusive products. This means we will recommend what we consider to be the best mortgage to meet your requirements, with your best interest at the forefront of our service.

The cost of the mortgage is governed by three things, the amount borrowed, the term of the mortgage and the interest rate charged and therefore is quite specific to each individual. A general rule of thumb would be about one third of your total take home pay would be the maximum that most lenders would provide a mortgage for.

Re-mortgaging is where you switch the mortgage on your home to another lender to potentially gain a better deal and lower monthly payments.

Life assurance gives you the comfort of knowing that your loved ones will be provided for should you die. There are many ways to arrange life cover and we can help you find the most appropriate plan available. When linked to a mortgage Life assurance ensures that in the event of death your mortgage will be repaid. This means that your dependent will be left with a mortgage-free roof over their heads.