Residential & expat mortgage brokers: reviews and advice

uk.citizen.abroad

Hello,

I am a British citizen living abroad and prospective first time home buyer.

I have begun looking into financial institutions that offer flexible residential home loans (I will be moving back to the UK) and expat mortgages as a back-up in case not being a current resident is a problem. Naturally the former is preferable as the fees and interest rates are lower!

I have done some research and spoken with a few brokers including Mortgageforce in Swindon. I am eager to find a broker who charges a flat fee rather than a percent of the overall loan.

Has anyone used Mortgageforce before and can advise if the experience was good or bad?

Does anyone know of other broker firms who offer both residential and expat services AND have reasonable fees?

Any advice or suggestions welcome!

Many thanks in advance.

ACG

Mortgage force are a franchise company. People purchase the franchise to be under that brand as theyre a fairly large company (They were part of the west brom building society i think off memory, before a management buy out).

I suppose it all depends on the advisor you get as to whether they are any good or not and that is true of any broker/firm you use.

scottyboy100

I am using mortgageforce in swindon at the moment for a mortgage application (though not an ex pat one) and so far so good, I also live in Swindon so this is is convenient for us.

We went to them as we know two people who have used them previously and they recommended them

This is my first mortgage and everything has been explained well (sometimes more than once, as I am a total newbie!!)

I think they just charge a fee, as we are paying and not a percentage so it seems quite a good deal although as I am taking out insurance via them too so they said they will drop the fee

(its is Ashley I have been speaking with and he seems very helpful, so fingers all crossed!)

Conrad

Like any franchise, a branch is only as good as the staff. Broker competence and experience varies widely.