Online mortgage brokers & how to find a mortgage broker

King_Henryviii

Hi everyone
I'm about to start looking for a whole market mortgage broker and I'm just wondering what is the best way to go about this?
When I google, I see many results for online mortgage brokers. Is that the done thing now? I always imagined I'd go to their office and meet in person.
Is it normal to arrange all of this via email/phone?

More info; I am a london based FTB and hope to use help to buy equity loan

many thanks

amnblog

When you are on Google I suspect you do not see 'many results for online mortgage brokers'.

What you see are many results for mortgage brokers with an online presence. A website does not make an 'online brokerage' and most brokers still work face to face, either in their office, or some will come to you.

We are a full online business and that is clear from our website.

Not all websites make it clear how the broker works and you may need to call them to find out their process.

Pros and Cons

Some borrowers prefer to personal touch of dealing face to face
Some prefer the efficiency and ease of an online service

You can get reviews on the service of many brokers via websites like TrustPilot.

DCFC79

If you prefer there will be a broker who have representatives who can visit you at a time and place thats convenient for you, I prefered this myself so I could understand what was being said whereas over the phone it could be a bad line and depending on the rep they may write things down so its easier for you to understand.

Just google "mortgage broker" then your area.

VFR-Rider

I never met my broker in person, for all I know he could be a 3 ft tall, 1 eyed troll.

What I do know is he was ridiculously good at his job and available on the phone (although I personally liked to keep most comms to emails) pretty much any time I called (which happened on Sundays & bank holidays as well).

ACG

Its a funny one, our business is about 50/50 on whether me meet the customer or not. We have customers up in Newcastle down to Brighton.

I once met a customer from Cardiff, we met somewhere in the midlands and I met another customer from the midlands in Stoke.

But I also have customers in Manchester, about 2-3 miles from our office who I have never met.

In todays world, there is no requirement to meet the broker, but some people prefer it, which I understand.

dunstonh

Many a small local broker will do remote clients via the usual online methods.

There are also a number of factory line style brokers that only do telephone/online. I would say this type is the one to avoid as they have to plough through as many people as possible. That is fine with easy cases but the minute something turns up that needs something extra or different, then these types tend to fall down.