Better apply via Mortgage Advisor or directly to the bank?

Ms_Sophia

Hello all,
I called Barclays bank directly to check what our chances were to get a mortgage from them. My particular question was that we are here on Tier 1 visa and whether Barclays would be willing to lend to smb who doesn't have a UK passport. The guy from the bank took some details from us and said he would talk to the underwriters to see if we could be approved. He then came back saying everything alright from the visa point of view.

At the same time I was checking smth online with London & County Mortgage advisors via their online chat, and they suggested they'd call me back. So they did, they took all the details from us, and then a couple of days later they advised us that the best buy for us is a mortgage from Barclays.

So my question is - what would be better now for us - to apply for this mortgage directly to Barclays via their in-house mortgage specialist or via the London & County Mortgage advisor? Which way will be more straightforward, faster etc? The speed of getting the mortgage offer is especially important to us.

hcb42

did you ask them the timelines?

Ms_Sophia

I asked the in-house bank specialist and he said it'd take the underwriters 10 working days from receiving our application with all supporting documents to issuing a formal mortgage offer. But I haven't asked the L&C mortgage advisor about specific timelines. He said in general that he'd be leading our case from beginning to the completion, would chase the bank to speed things up etc.

hcb42

Personally, I have never found a need for a broker, as I can chase these things myself quite easily, and have no adverse circumstances

only you can know how robust the direct deal was, and whether you need support of an agent to chase that bank

Ms_Sophia

Thanks hcb42.

Are there any other opinions, maybe smb did apply thru a mortgage advisor/broker, and can advise if they can really help not in finding /choosing the right mortgage for you but specifically in dealing/communicating with a lender, chasing things up, this kind of things?

tiggerjj

Hey,
I had pretty much the same situation as you, slightly odd personal circ (you visa, me foreign income) i decided to go direct with barclays and it went really well. when i needed to stop the mortage application progress (problems at the sols end)the buy at woolwich did it quickly, etc etc.

So i would say go direct, i did and it went perfect dispite me being on the other side of the atlantic

Ms_Sophia

Has anybody had any experience when dealing thru a mortgage broker had a positive impact on the mortgage application?

or when dealing directly with a bank proved to be the best way?