Prior to 2004 there was little regulation for mortgage brokers conducting business in the UK. Anybody could call themselves a mortgage broker, regardless of whether or not they held the necessary qualifications, and they could source clients and conduct their businesses in any way they chose to.However the Financial Services Authority introduced a strict regime of regulation on 31 October 2004. Mortgage brokers were forced to obtain industry...more
When searching for a home loan, you will be faced with the decision of whether or not to use a mortgage broker. There are advantages and disadvantages to using a mortgage broker instead of applying for a home loan directly with a lender.One of the main advantages is that independent mortgage brokers have access to, and knowledge of, the entire UK mortgage market. Mortgage brokers are able to advise which lenders will consider your case and which...more
Independent mortgage brokers are generally regarded as an excellent source of advice when searching for the right mortgage to finance or remortgage a property. Independent mortgage brokers are not tied to advising clients to use particular lenders and home loan products. Instead, they have access to all mortgage lenders and products available on the market.In addition to independent mortgage brokers, there are tied mortgage brokers. Tied brokers are similar to independent brokers however, instead of having access to all mortgages available on the market they only have access to products from a select panel of lenders.Mortgage brokers who work within a bank or financial institution are generally known as mortgage advisors. This type of broker will only offer advice on the home loan products made available by the institution they work for. Mortgage advisors therefore offer advice on the most limited range of products out of the three different types of brokers.Some mortgage brokers, however, do not offer independent or tied advice and therefore provide an "information only" service. Information only mortgage brokers do not help their customers decide upon which mortgage products are...more
When looking for a mortgage you may be faced with a decision as to whether you should use the services of a mortgage broker instead of applying for a home loan directly with a lender.One of the main reasons why you should use a mortgage broker is that they have access to a much wider range of products than an individual lender does. Mortgage...more
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In recent times, Independent Financial Advisors (IFAs) have been used by many people as an alternative to mortgage brokers. The main reason for this is that there is a crossover between the services they offer.IFAs and mortgage brokers usually receive their qualifications from the same few training institutions. These institutions include the IFS School of Finance and the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). When a person receives their qualification as either a mortgage broker or financial advisor they only need to complete a reduced number of exams to receive the other qualification. This is one indication that mortgage advisors and IFAs undertake similar activities.Because mortgage repayment costs account for the largest expense in a normal household, having the right product is seen as a necessary element to prudent financial planning. It is for this reason, more than anything else, that people have been turning to their financial advisor to source the right mortgage deal for their needs.Many IFAs will have completed the qualifications and training necessary to become a mortgage broker and will be able to assist their clients in obtaining a home loan with ease. IFAs have access...more
Equity release is a way for homeowners to release cash from the equity that has built up in their home. Equity can be defined as the difference between the value of a property and the balance of the mortgage, or any other finance, that is secured on...more
There are several different types of methods for interest to be charged on mortgages. Tracker mortgages have a variable interest rate that moves roughly in line with the Bank of England Base Rate (BoEBR). Another popular type of interest rate is a...more
A capped rate mortgage has an interest rate that cannot rise above a pre-determined level for a specified period of time. After the capped rate period expires, the interest rate of the mortgage reverts to the lender's Standard Variable Rate (SVR).A...more
Fixed rate mortgages offer borrowers the ability to help budget for household expenses more accurately because they have an interest rate that remains constant for an agreed portion of the overall term of the mortgage - typically between one and five...more
When applying for mortgages borrowers have the choice of obtaining interest only or repayment mortgages. Interest only mortgages require the borrower to only pay the interest charged each month on the mortgage. The balance of the mortgage remains the...more
Mortgage advisers are divided in their opinions as to who are the real winners and losers out of the recent interest rate rises. No one could argue that borrowers who have variable rate mortgages have lost out because their monthly repayments have...more