The Mortgage Store

Well, I think mortgage brokers play a massive part in the process of getting you a mortgage, whether that be a new purchase, a home mover, or remortgaging your existing property. 

First and foremost, a mortgage broker can search many lenders to find you the most suitable deal for your circumstances. We can save you a huge amount of time comparing rates and lender offerings. We can fully assess your circumstances to make sure that, first of all, you fit the product criteria for the application.

I’ve had a couple of clients who have come to me after making their own applications. They didn’t properly understand the criteria and were declined, which can be quite stressful. We also calculate the maximum loan amount available to you, based on your income and your current credit commitments. Finally, we will fully submit and manage the application process through to completion.

In most cases, you never need to speak to the lender directly. The interview and application process can take in excess of three hours if you go direct, which can be quite difficult for people.

If you go to your local bank, for instance, they can only offer and advise you on products from their specific range. They won’t be able to recommend another lender’s products. So you’re seriously limiting the available options for your mortgage needs.

Brokers can access hundreds of products and also gain special rates that direct customers don’t. That’s because the broker will take on a lot of the work that would have been done by the lender, saving them staff hours – and ultimately saving you money in the long run.

With a broker, everything is tailored specifically to the individual. There aren’t many cases that are exactly the same, so I’m really focused on my clients and what they require throughout the process. That’s what makes my job interesting – no two days are the same.

First and foremost, a mortgage broker can get you that very important decision in principle for First Time Buyers and home movers, which will give an indication of a lender’s willingness to lend. I deal with a lot of remortgages and Buy to Let investment properties as well.

One of the key things is that we can calculate the maximum loan across a range of lenders. This is especially important if you’re self-employed as a sole trader or a limited company director, as lenders can evaluate that income in many different ways, making a real difference to the maximum loan amount you can borrow.

We also liaise with estate agents and solicitors, which can take up a lot of your time if you go in as a direct customer. After we’ve organised the mortgage, we can look at mortgage protection and general insurance. Also, because of the industry we work in, we have a wide network of trusted professional partners such as will writing and other financial investments who we can refer you to.

I always see a brokerage as a one-stop shop. We’ve worked with our referral partners for a long time, so we know and trust them. So we have every confidence that if we recommend you to them, you’ll get the same level of service as you would from me. I think that’s really valuable.

That’s easy – see a mortgage broker as soon as possible, ideally right at the start of the process. We can assess your circumstances and give you potential ideas and guidance around maximum loan amounts and how much a mortgage may cost you to repay – because this may or may not fit into your budget.

Clients regularly skip this step, fall in love with a property, and then find they cannot get the required loan amount or afford the mortgage payments.

Think first. I’ve done it before myself. I fell in love with a house, and then it didn’t go through. It’s really disappointing and stressful. So, like I said, I would always advise speaking to a broker right at the start of the process.

It’s never going to cost you anything to speak to a broker initially, so why not utilise that free service?

TMS Wilmslow was set up at the start of September 2023, so it is a new venture, and it’s really exciting. I’ve been working in the mortgage industry for nearly four years now. I’ve also been a landlord for the last ten years, so I’ve always had that interest in property and finance.

Because of the vital experience I have, I feel I can give my clients a head start because I can talk from experience and the knowledge I’ve gained. I’ve been working in Cheshire since 2020 and have helped clients from across the country secure the right mortgage deal for them. So even though I’m based in Wilmslow, I deal with clients in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Cornwall, all over the place.

I have extensive knowledge of the Buy to Let market, whether it’s a single property to add income to your personal situation, or through a limited company as an SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle), for long-term investments.

I regularly work with First Time Buyer clients and advise them throughout the process. I must admit, they’re one of my favourite types of clients because they’re like a blank canvas. I enjoy helping them learn, and I’m more than happy to discuss everything in detail to make it easy to understand.

When they get their keys and have fish and chips that first night in their new lounge, it’s a good feeling.

No, this is the really great part for any clients coming to TMS Wilmslow. The initial consultation is completely free of charge. In fact, everything’s free of charge up until the point of fully submitting an application.

So, in effect, you can receive the best advice and have a product recommended to you. Then, if you wanted to, you could go directly to the lender and make the application yourself. That’s really rare, though, as most clients see the value I’ve added throughout the service and are more than happy to continue to the full application stage, letting me manage the case through to completion.

I don’t think everyone can be an expert on everything in their lives. There are people who advise on certain aspects of life, and, like I said, being a Mortgage Broker is my forte. You really have nothing to lose.

I suppose the only thing I’d like to add is that, in my experience, clients love to ask questions. But sometimes I get the impression that they think what they’re asking is going to be silly or incorrect.

I always encourage my clients to ask as many questions as they need to, and no question is a silly question. At the end of the day, I want my clients to have all the information they need to make an informed choice on what is normally the biggest financial decision they’re ever going to make.

I always encourage clients to ask as many questions as they like at the start of the process and throughout the process. The more information you have, the better decision you’re going to make.