3. Consider which type of broker to use

A mortgage broker, or adviser, is someone who will review the mortgages available to you based on your personal financial situation and apply for one on your behalf.

They can save you time by telling you which lenders are likely to accept you and how to improve your application, and can speed up the process by dealing with some of the paperwork.

1. Look for a whole-of-market broker

There are several things you should consider when choosing a mortgage adviser. One of the most important is whether they are whole-of-market.

Meanwhile, if you speak to an adviser based in a bank or building society, they will only tell you about their own product range.

A whole-of-market broker will be able to assess every available mortgage so they can recommend the very cheapest or most suitable deal for you. This could potentially save you a lot of money.

2. Ask about direct-only mortgages

While many mortgages are only available via brokers best credit union to open a loan, some are only available if you apply directly, without a broker. These are known as ‘direct-only’ mortgages.

Brokers have no obligation to inform you of these deals. However, it’s worth asking your mortgage adviser if they will tell you about any direct deals that could be cheaper.

You may wish to do some of your own research if your broker is unable or unwilling to discuss direct-only deals.

While most mortgage brokers work with customers in person or over the phone, there’s now a growing number of ‘robo mortgage advisers’ – web-based services which allow you to carry out some or all of the mortgage application process online.

There are pros and cons to this approach. Our guide to online mortgage brokers explores how some of the best-known companies work.

Mortgage broker fees and commission

Some will also charge you a fee, which will either be a flat rate or a percentage of the amount you want to borrow.

All mortgage brokers must clearly outline these charges and any fees or commission they receive from a lender prior to entering into a contract to act on your behalf.

Key questions to ask a mortgage broker

• Are you whole-of-market?
• Will you tell me about mortgages that are only available directly from lenders?
• What are your fees and charges?
• What is included in the service you offer? For example, will you handle all the admin and chase lenders?
• When will you be available – office hours only, or during evenings and weekends?
• Do you offer life insurance or mortgage protection insurance?

Mortgage broker jargon-buster

A decent mortgage broker will explain anything you don’t understand, but it’s still helpful to have some idea of the most common terms.

• Agreement in principle (AIP): a document from a mortgage lender confirming, in principle, how much they’d be willing to lend you
• Early repayment charges (ERCs): penalty fees you’d have to pay to leave your mortgage deal before a certain point
• Standard variable rate (SVR): what your lender will charge after your mortgage’s initial deal period ends

These are just a few of the terms you might hear. Visit our A-Z mortgages jargon buster for a full list of mortgage-related words and phrases.

What to look for in a mortgage deal

Once they’ve found a range of mortgages for you, a broker will be able to talk you through the pros and cons of each of deal.

Read our guide to finding the best mortgage deals for more information on what to look for and check out our mortgage lender reviews to find out whether the provider is any good.

Your rights when using a mortgage broker

If it doesn’t resolve your complaint satisfactorily within eight weeks from the date you complain, take your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service (0800 023 4567).