MORTGAGE BROKER EDINBURGH - ANY IDEAS?

brross

Hi, I am moving to Edinburgh with work next year, so I want to get some mortgage advice from a local company (in Edinburgh) that can help me understand the whole process of buying in Scotland. It all appears to be very different from England with bidding blind on properties and house reports!! Can anyone suggest a mortgage broker in Edinburgh who can help me get my head round it all? Thanks

DaMoon

I went with Daniel McLardy at Experts 4 Mortgages (George Street) when I bought in Edinburgh. He was very efficient and knowledgeable for both the purchase and my recent remortgage:

www.experts4mortgages.co.uk

House report? Don't you mean home report?

brross

Thanks for the suggestion. I don't know whether I meant house report or home report, which is exactly why I am looking for assistance! Like I said, it's all new territory for me and I'm looking for someone to help me understand how it all works.

DaMoon

Yes, sorry. I think by house report you actually meant home report. In Scotland properties that are sold on the open market must have a home report done. The home report has within it a mortgage valuation which determines how much you can borrow against the property, so in this respect it is different to England. Again, speak to Daniel at Experts 4 Mortgages and he will let you know all about it. He did the same for me, and I'm sure will do the same for you. I found him to be very good.

Which part of Edinburgh are you thinking of moving to? I live in Clermiston (not far from Corstorphone). You'll love Edinbnurgh.

brross

Okay, thanks for the pointer. Is this broker fees free? Are they whole-of-market?

All very early days so we don't know what areas of Edinburgh appeal to us. When I visited for the festival some years back I liked the area around "The Meadows", near the putting greens.

DaMoon

Yes, it's whole of market. When I got mine he went through a large list of mortgages with me so I could clearly see what the best deal was. As it happened I wasn't able to get the best deal because I was on a fixed term contract at the time, but he clearly explained to me why a different bank was better for me. I would definitely say he "looked after me", and I wasn't charged a fee.

The putting greens you refer to are on Bruntsfield Links (next to The Meadows). This is indeed a very nice area, but the property prices around that immediate area are at the higher end. Edinburgh is a diverse city in terms of property so take a look at ESPC and get a feel for what you can afford.

brross

Thanks very much, DaMoon. I'll give your broker guy a call. Could you PM me his phone number?
I've also been advised on another board to look at the "ESPC" website. Never heard of them, but I guess if this is the website that is used for selling property, I'll have to trust it.

DaMoon

Not a problem :-) Happy to help a fellow Edinburgh resident (in the making). To get Daniel just do a google search for Experts 4 Mortgages and give him a call. I recommend him to friends and family, but there are lots of mortgage advisors in Edinburgh to choose from, being a financial city. Again, a google search will give you options for "mortgage broker in Edinburgh" or similar.

No need to be cautious about ESPC. Most properties are listed on ESPC and the first property portal to go to when searching in Edinburgh. You'll get the hang of things, I promise. You'll be an Edinburgher in no time!

brross

Ok thanks again, Moon, and I am excited about becoming an Edinburger early next year!
I'm off to bed. Have a great weekend!

Edi81

Houses in Scotland are sold by solicitors offices. 

The Edinburgh Solicitors Property Centre was historically like a rightmove shop pre internet where you would be able to see the particulars for lots of properties for sale at once. 

The ESPC now has a website and is just another rightmove, zoopla etc. 

user1977

In general your solicitor will be providing more guidance through the process than your mortgage broker (solicitors are involved at an earlier stage than in England, where they often only start work after you've already made all your mistakes...).

Edi81 said:

Houses in Scotland are sold by solicitors offices.  

Apart from the large proportion which aren't, so you still want to keep an eye on Rightmove.