Unless you’ve had your head in the sand for the last few years, you’ll know that the mortgage market isn’t in a good way right now. In general, lenders now lend less, and it’s only the cream of the crop that they target when they do. It’s people who have a large deposit, high incomes and a sparkling credit rating that they are happy to lend to. But not everybody meets this criteria, of course, and if you’re one of the millions who don’t, you should be looking for mortgage advice in Maidenhead from a qualified and independent whole of market advisor. Here’s why:

 1 It’s all about choice – don’t restrict yourself by going direct to a bank or building society. An independent, whole of market mortgage adviser will be able to open up your options – finding deals that may be available to you that meet your criteria. Remember, usually more choice leads to a better deal for you.

 2 Going direct to a bank or building society also means you are more likely to be sold to, even if you see a ‘mortgage adviser’. Of course, they should ‘advise’ you to ensure whichever product they recommend to you is affordable and suits your needs. Don’t forget that they can only sell a limited amount of products related to the bank or building society they work for, and it may not be your best option.

 3 Speak to a whole of market mortgage adviser as they will be working for you. Their sole priority and aim is to represent your best interests. They will look to build a relationship with you, so that, going forward, you’ll use them again.

 4 Be careful about getting declined for a mortgage or any type of credit as it can leave a negative footprint on your credit record. This, in turn, can then lead you to being turned down by other lenders. A professional mortgage adviser is essential in this situation, helping you to decipher your best route to a lender who will accept your application and, ultimately, offer you the best deal.

 5 You need to look long-term – most people have their mortgage for 25 years or more, so a mortgage is not just a one-off transaction, but something that will be with you for years. Start building a relationship with an advisor and you’ll know you are in good hands and can go to them for mortgage advice any time in the future that you should need it.

 If you’d like to know more about mortgage advice in Maidenhead, call Alton Mortgages direct, or visit our main website for more information. We are a ‘whole of the market’ mortgage broker, which means we can find you the best deal for your circumstances across the market, rather than a mortgage lender who can only advise you on their own products.