Mortgage Broker Bedfordshire

We’ll go back quite a long way, because I had my first mortgage when I was 19 years old, which was more than 30 years ago.

That was when interest rates went up to 15% and salaries at that point didn’t cover the mortgage payments. Lots of people were losing their homes. They were handing their keys back to the bank and walking away.

It was a baptism of fire into home ownership, but I survived it, and it helped me understand the importance of managing your finances. I saw how good advice when you’re buying a home is paramount in comfortably affording and keeping it.

This really ignited my interest in financial advice. So I qualified as a financial advisor and joined a company. But there was a property bug in me with all the properties I’d been buying, and I then moved into working as a mortgage advisor in an estate agency.

I absolutely loved helping people buy their house. Unfortunately, though, it’s a more intense job than many people realise. When I started my family, I found that I couldn’t give enough to the job and to my children.

I actually left the industry at that time to raise my children. While they were growing up, I worked in the NHS and care homes as a manager. I worked all through the pandemic in care homes, which was scary.

But that property bug never really left me. It was always in the background. I started doing property investing in my personal life. I was always surrounded by people talking about mortgages and borrowing money and once my children were grown, I decided it was time to get back into the industry.

The whole thing had changed by then. There were new regulations and new exams. I had to go through all of those and was quite surprised at how much I remembered from before. So here I am back in the industry now – and loving it.

After many years of being employed in various industries, the first thing I decided when I got requalified was that I wanted to work for myself. I wanted to control my own time and when and where I worked.

So I talked to a number of companies and networks. Originally I joined a network that I thought aligned with my financial services background. I went to a wealth management company, but after a while it became obvious to me that that wasn’t the right place because their focus was more on residential ownership.

Most of my time had been around property investors discussing development deals in complex situations. I like getting into the challenge of all the different deals.

I then spoke to a financial services recruiter, Will, who had also been a mortgage broker and was really helpful. He introduced me to Kal at Grand Union, and I really felt that Kal understood what brokers needed to be successful in their role.

Not only did he provide the access to residential home ownership products and commercial property ownership, but also business loans. Property investors are business owners, so that’s important. It seemed like a perfect fit. Kal was really easy to talk to and offered me training on all the products I hadn’t yet been exposed to. I felt it was worth taking that leap of faith to join the company. And it’s been good so far!

It’s the opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives. I love the challenge of each situation and looking for solutions. One of my strengths, I think, is finding creative solutions to complex challenges.

It’s really energising to help clients turn their dreams into reality. I enjoy taking the time to understand each client’s unique circumstances – because everybody is different. They have different goals, and it’s fun doing the research to find the right solution for them.

I don’t know if people realise how many lenders are out there, all with different criteria. It’s mind blowing. Every day is a new learning day. It’s the personal connections I build with people and the positive impact I can make on their property journeys – that’s what really drives me.

A lot of people think that mortgage brokers are all about finding the lowest rate, but that’s not the case. It’s about learning the client’s circumstances, finding the solution that fits in with their circumstances, and then supporting them through that journey.

We’ve got experience in the property field and we understand the market, so we could can guide you throughout the whole process. At Grand Union, we have access to the whole of the mortgage market and we’re quick to react whenever another lender comes along.

Lenders change their criteria all the time, which helps us find a deal tailored to your personal circumstances, matching it with the right lender’s criteria and affordability assessments.

But we don’t just focus on helping you buy a home today. We also consider any potential changes in the future. A lot of people are really excited about buying a house today and that’s all they think about.

Our role is to holistically assess the client’s circumstances: what’s happening now, what might happen in the future, and how to protect that purchase to make sure that throughout the time they live in that home, they keep it and feel comfortable with that.

A lot of people go to their high street lender because they might have been banking with them for a long time. They’ve got that trust and understanding. But a high street lender can’t look at the whole market. They will only look at the products within their bank that they could offer you.

A mortgage broker has access to a broader range of options and is able to tailor a solution to your needs. We consider your current situation and the future, while a bank might just look at what your situation is right now. We’ll ensure our mortgage solution is the best fit for you now and in the long term.

We help you understand the whole process, and we act as a liaison between estate agents, solicitors, lenders, and anyone else involved in the journey, like valuers and underwriters at the banks. We make sure that it goes as quickly and smoothly as possible, supporting you with anything that comes up.

An Agreement in Principle, Mortgage Agreement or Decision in Principle are all the same thing.

Many people think that the journey starts when you find a home and put an offer in. But in fact, particularly for a First Time Buyer, we advise you to start it much sooner. You need to ensure your finances are in the best possible place before you go to a lender, and check your credit score.

Then, when you feel you’re ready to start looking for a property, we help you understand how much you could afford and get an Agreement in Principle to get an idea of what a lender might lend you. You could then give that to agents and vendors to give them confidence that you’re able to buy the property. It definitely puts you in a better place when you’re out there looking at properties.

We would hope that if we sorted somebody’s mortgage out that they would come back to us for their remortgage. We’d like to build that relationship.

Most people opt for a mortgage with a time limited deal, so they know what they’re paying during that time. As the deal comes to an end, we could start looking at a new option between four to six months ahead. Your lender will let you know what rates they are offering and we could start looking at the right solution for you to move on to at that time.

We could also look at other options to maintain the rate that you’re paying, because most people like to manage their payments on their mortgage. It could be with the same lender or another lender, depending on what fits your circumstances.

As well as personal ownership, as I say, I like doing complex mortgages and Buy to Let. It could be either personal ownership or through a company. We provide the same service to find the right solution at the time.

A lot of people incorrectly consider protection to be a nice to have rather than a need. But protecting yourself against any unexpected changes in your circumstances is really important – that’s how you keep your home for you and your family throughout your life.

A good broker should discuss this with you and make sure that you understand the importance of it. We work with you to find the best way to protect your circumstances, either against something awful happening or changes in your employment that mean you’re unable to pay your mortgage.

As early as possible, because the earlier you speak to a broker, the better you will understand what you could afford, what deposit you might require, and how best to structure your finances – to not only pay the mortgage payments, but all the other expenses that come along with it.

It’s not just about having a mortgage. There are expenses in terms of buying the property and living in it, such as insurance. It’s particularly important if you’re a First Time Buyer, because we could explain the process, prepare you for everything that’s coming up, help it go through smoothly, and support you through your journey after that.

No. I would be happy to have an initial consultation with anybody who’s thinking of buying property – and that will be free.

If you then wanted them to go forward with more specific advice, we would discuss a fee structure with you at that point. It’s important that before going forward, you feel comfortable working with me and I believe I can successfully help you achieve your goals. It’s a joint decision, really, at that time.

Don’t be afraid to make that call or drop me an email. Buying a home is probably the most expensive purchase you’re ever going to make. Don’t think you have to do it alone. That’s what we’re here for – to help you with the process and make it as easy as possible.

What you think might be a problem might not be once you’ve spoken to a broker. And, of course, no question is a stupid question.

YOUR PROPERTY MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE.

SOME BUY TO LET MORTGAGES ARE NOT REGULATED BY THE FINANCIAL CONDUCT AUTHORITY.