Mortgage Broker Uxbridge

Tell us about your journey into financial services?

Post graduation I worked in retail and wholesale IT systems, and over the past 20 years I had various roles, predominantly around project management. I’ve done things like systems training, testing, change management, business analysis and I’ve worked with people from all levels from the shop floor through to senior management in a consulting role.

I think there comes a time in people’s lives – especially post Covid – where we evaluate where our lives are going. That certainly happened to me. I’ve always had an interest in financial services. I’ve got a mortgage and a Buy to Let so I’m familiar with what’s involved.

I love learning so I decided to embark on this new career. 

So earlier this year I did all my exams, I got my CeMAP and I’ve started financial advising. Because I’m already a consultant it’s almost like moving into another type of consulting.

Why did you decide to join Grand Union Financial as a self-employed advisor?

I just didn’t want to be a mortgage broker. I want to offer clients more than your standard regulated mortgage. There’s so many financial products out there and by joining the Grand Union team I found my perfect fit. 

Grand Union are UK finance specialists in property business and asset-based finances for commercial and personal investments. So as part of Grand Union I can offer all of these products to my clients. 

As a smaller firm, everyone helps each other out – which is really important to me. It’s like a family. Cal and Mike are constantly helping us grow our skills which helps us with our clients. It feels like the perfect fit for me.

What do you love about your job?

As a consultant I’ve helped solve problems for businesses and this has been my background for many years. In this role in financial services I still get to use that consulting experience, but now I’m helping individuals and families.

I help them find a solution for their financial needs and I’m very much a people person. I love building those long-term relationships. There’s a sense of satisfaction when you can find a suitable product to meet your client’s needs and help them along that journey with their mortgage or insurance product. No two days are the same and every client is different. 

What does a mortgage broker do?

As an example, if you needed a loan you could go bank to bank and try to compare all the rates and deals. It’s a very long process. Instead, with a broker we can offer a much wider range of products from many lenders. 

With a broker you just need to apply once, which means a huge reduction in paperwork. Plus, a broker represents your interests as a client. We don’t work for the lenders. So finding the most suitable product for your needs is at the heart of what we do. 

That broker journey makes it so much easier to navigate through the whole application process. We calculate the cost of the loan, any fees or charges that you may not have considered and we are pretty much the go-between for yourself and the lender. We also liaise with estate agents and solicitors throughout the whole of the mortgage process journey.

What’s the difference between going to a mortgage broker versus your local high street lender?

A high street lender is very limited in what they can offer as they will only tell you about their own products. But there are hundreds of lenders out there and with a broker, you have access to a far wider range of products. We’re not just tied down to one. We can really help our clients find the most suitable loan that matches their needs.

What services does a mortgage broker offer?

One reason why I love being here at Grand Union is that variety. We do residential mortgages, First Time Buyer mortgages, Buy to Lets for professionals or for new landlords. 

And there’s a lot more – including lifetime mortgages, which are for people aged over 55 as a way to release equity out of their homes. We offer bridging finance, which can help where you’re buying a property at auction and need the money within 28 days to complete the purchase. Bridging is also helpful if you’re in a property chain to avoid the chain breaking. You take the loan to buy the property whilst you’re waiting to sell your existing house. 

On the commercial side, we offer development finance for property developers and business asset finance for purchasing machinery, fitting out a shop etc. We’ve also got access to invoice financing for businesses to help them with cash flow. 

One area I really like is luxury asset finance to buy a supercar or a yacht. There are specialist lenders out there that we find for clients. The other side is also insurance. There’s no hard sell here, but we advise you to take out protection for your mortgage. That might be life insurance, a critical illness policy or even income protection. You will also need buildings and contents insurance too. 

Another thing with Grand Union is that we can help around estate planning, with Wills and Power of Attorney – that is also available to our clients.

At what stage in the process of buying a property should I come and see you?

It can take from a couple of months to almost a year to find a home and complete the purchase. The key thing is to find out how much you can borrow right at the start, to help you on that house hunt. 

Reach out to us as soon as possible because you need to know what the lenders will give you. From that point we are with you through that journey all the way to completion. Whether it’s that first step on the property ladder or you’re an existing homeowner looking to move, get in touch. We’re patient people and we really want to help you. And don’t forget we do insurance as well, so . there’s an array of stuff that we will help you with on that journey.

Once you know your property budget, we will apply for an Agreement in Principle (AiP) or Decision in Principle (DiP) and this is like a soft application. It’s a general agreement of what the lender will give you in a mortgage. It really helps buyers looking at properties because an estate agent will take you a lot more seriously with one of these. They can see that your finances are in check. It puts you in a better negotiating position for the property. 

Things can change, it’s not a mortgage offer and it doesn’t guarantee a loan, but still it helps you know where you stand as a borrower.

Does it cost for an initial consultation with you?

No, we’re happy to talk to clients and understand what your situation is. We can have a chat about the services we offer. Sometimes you just need that conversation to put your mind at ease, because it’s a big journey you’re about to go on. Buying a property is the biggest cost you will have in your life. 

Once you’ve had that initial conversation we can sign up for terms and as a regulated FCA advisor we will explain what we offer and confirm the costs before we start the real process.

So if you’re looking for a friendly advisor that offers multiple finance products for both residential or commercial customers, just reach out for a chat. We’re here to take the stress out of the process. And don’t forget we do Wills and Powers of Attorneys too. 

Think carefully before securing other debts against your home. 

You may have to pay an early repayment charge to your existing lender if you remortgage.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up with your mortgage repayments. 

The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate most Buy to Let Mortgages.