When you’re unsure about something, the best course of action to take is to just look for advice. Whether it’s contacting a friend, family member or even looking on the internet, there are plenty of ways to get professional help for something that you might be struggling with.
A great example of when you should be looking for advice is when you want to purchase your own house. Moving into your very own property can be an expensive and time-consuming process, but with help from mortgage specialists and advisors, the entire process can be a breeze.
So in this post, we’re going to take a look at some of the best places to look for mortgage advice when you’re in the dark and aren’t sure where to start.
First thing’s first; why do you want to move?
Before you decide to go looking for the best mortgage rates and learning all about how to buy a home, it’s important to ask yourself why you’re looking to buy a home. For some people, this could be because you’re starting a family and need space for your baby. Other times, you might just want to move away from your parents and other family members. Or perhaps your move is motivated by job opportunities and school choices for your children. Whatever the case may be, it’s important to have a good idea of why you want to move because this could affect the type of mortgage advice you get.
The very first step should be asking yourself why you want to move and how much you can realistically afford. One thing you can do is to check with https://www.sofi.com/home-affordability-calculator/ and figure out how much home you can afford. It can get you started before you contact anyone else.
If you’re struggling with debts and other financial problems then it might not be the best time to look for a home. However, if you’re in a relatively stable financial condition and have enough motivation to purchase your own home, looking for mortgage advice is the next step.
Who can offer you mortgage advice?
In reality, almost anyone that’s purchased a home can offer you mortgage advice. From members on a forum to mortgage brokers at https://altrua.ca and other professional services, there are lots of people that can give you some excellent advice on how you get a mortgage and how you approach buying your own home.
However, while most of these people probably have good intentions, it’s important to remember a couple of things.
- Friends and relatives might have had a different experience when purchasing a home, especially if their home is rather old. Mortgage products and rates might have changed, but if you can get a recommendation for an advisor then you should definitely start here.
- Don’t believe everything you say online! Someone could be talking about mortgages in a different country to you, or they could have completely different market conditions based on their location.
- When in doubt, always seek professional advice from experts that are a part of the industry. They’ll have all the knowledge you need to understand the entire mortgage process and they’ll have connections to help you find the best deals.
- Lastly, make sure that the mortgage broker or advisor is impartial! If they’re affiliated with certain mortgage companies then they probably can’t help you get the best deals. Instead, they’re just going to be steering you towards specific lenders to collect their commission.
So with these things in mind, let’s talk more about mortgages and the sort of advice you should be looking out for.
The best places to get mortgage advice
Here are some of the best places to get mortgage advice and why.
- Your bank or building society – Your bank or building society will likely have financial advisors available to help you with choosing a mortgage product. This is a great starting point since their advice is typically free. However, do be careful because they’ll likely try to convince you to buy their own mortgage products. It’s worth checking how they stack up against the competition before agreeing to a deal.
- A mortgage advisor – Advisors are great for impartial information. They can help you understand your financial situation, they’ll help you look for the right property and they’ll usually have industry contacts that they can use to find you the best deals.
- A mortgage broker – Mortgage brokers can often do the same thing as a mortgage advisor, but it’s worth keeping mind that a broker specifically has contacts in the industry to help them find the best mortgage deals. They’ll negotiate with all kinds of lenders (even ones you might not know) and they’ll find you the best deals. They can even offer you wholesale mortgage prices, meaning you’ll save money even if they charge a fee for their services.
You can also get mortgage advice from close friends and family members, but if you want reliable up-to-date assistance, it’s best to speak to one of these three choices.
Why is it important to speak with a mortgage advisor?
Mortgage advisors come with many unique benefits. For starters, a lot of lenders and banks will have different rates based on your circumstances. With a mortgage broker, they can help you secure the best deals because they can negotiate with lenders and perform the research needed to find the best rates for your needs. They’ll assess your financial circumstances to find the best deal that you can afford and they’ll also listen to your personal needs as well.
In some cases, there are mortgage advisors that can even help you find the right property for your needs, or at least point you in the right direction. They’ll also help you deal with most of the complicated aspects of applying for a mortgage and will be completely transparent with you. Keep in mind that there are different kinds of mortgages that can affect the amount you repay and also the term. Again, a mortgage advisor is a great help in these situations because they’ll assess your financial situation and negotiate deals with lenders to help you get the lowest interest rates.
The risks of avoiding advice
There are always going to be people that prefer to do their mortgage on their own. This is perfectly fine and it’s actually more common than you think. However, it can also lead to some very difficult circumstances in the future, especially if you’re not very savvy with mortgages and the legal implications surrounding them.
For example, if you don’t take any kind of mortgage advice and don’t speak with an advisor or broker, then you’re expected to take full responsibility for a mortgage decision. This means that you could end up with the wrong kind of mortgage for your situation, resulting in long-term financial issues that could have a huge impact on your budget. It also increases the chances of the lender rejecting your application because you didn’t apply correctly or understand their personal restrictions. While this is fairly rare, it’s important to remember that you’re not guaranteed to be accepted in any circumstances, but a broker will greatly improve your chances.
In short, we always suggest that you speak with a mortgage advisor or broker if you plan to buy a home. There are many different mortgage products to consider, you have to take your personal finances into consideration and there might be a lot of paperwork and negotiations involved. It’s a good idea to take out all of those complicated considerations so that you can focus on looking for the right home for your needs and move in comfort without worrying about other concerns.