Mortgage advisors

[Guzz]

Hello all!

Does anyone know of any decent mortgage advisors that specialise in advising military types? I'm looking in the Reading area.

Thanks in advance!

[stablelad]

London & Country Contact Us | Contact Details and Map (http://www.lcplc.co.uk/contact-us/)
based in Bath are very good, all done on phone / internet.
My last recommendation by them was a base rate tracker with the Woolwich
9 years ago at 0.28% above B 0f E base rate for life of mortgage:D
They got paid by the Bank / BS in those days, not sure if they charge now. Good Luck!

[Mach the Knife]

I have some advice, avoid Newcastle Building Society. I took a 5 year fix with them, and then got posted away from home. I spend enough time separated from family so elected to let my home while I am not posted locally. They increased my rate by 1% immediately. After 1 year they increased it by another 1%. The exit charges to leave early and go to a more sympathetic provider are huge. Find out the policy on letting before you commit, even if you don't think you'll have to.

[Melchett01]

I'd second London & Country, they did my last and current mortgages. A couple of minor blips on detail during the process, but nothing that wasn't solvable in a couple of minutes.

The last time round, I was looking to change mid way through my previous mortgage and was facing quite a hefty early repayment charge. But they took the time to discuss the issues and worked through the numbers to confirm that it was the best way ahead and then sourced a specific mortgage which cut almost 2% off my interest rate overnight.

I believe they were paid through commission rather than through fees, so with the recent RDR which bans payment through commission you might want to check whether or not they now charge. But definitely worth a call at least.

[Canadian Break]

Best move I made was to get an offset mortgage (mine's with Barclays). Essentially, money in any account you have (both savings and current) offsets the capital sum - thus reducing the amount on which you pay interest and making more of your monthly payment go to paying off the capital. You may have to hunt around for these mortgages now - I took mine out about 4 years ago, but with a negligable interest rate on savings it makes them a great deal. CB

[Courtney Mil]

I have an offset with Clydesdale. It has perfomed really well in terms of reducing the capital at an amazing rate.

[MG]

PM me if you want contact details for a chap just east of Swindon. He's a good mate as he's a neighbour and has just done a mortgage for me. Quite used to the vagaries of the military as he's got a few Brize/Lyneham guys on his books.

[SaddamsLoveChild]

My advice is to stay away from the Skipton, as soon as they found out I was overseas and renting they upped my interest rate by 1% and are on my back every 6 months. Alot are like this but of all the mortgages I have had these are the most anti military bunch I have come across and do not understand the 2 yar posting requirement etc.

[Pontius Navigator]

I endorse StableLad's recommendation. Our chap with them was [email protected]

First he got us a very good deal and no fee. As the 5-year fix came to an end he contacted us and asked what we wanted to do. His next deal, same building society, no fee again, base rate tracker at +0.34. This had a 2% collar but never-the-less we finished with a mortgage that was below inflation.

[Tableview]

Not military, but when I was working all over the world, I had a couple of buy-to-let mortgages with Birmingham Midshires BS. I found their conditions very clear, their call centre staff helpful and competent, and when I overpaid the mortgages and eventually paid them off after 4 years (20 year mortgages) I saved a lot of money and the statements and correspondence were clear and helpful.

They also gave me proper landline numbers on which to call them instead of of ripoff 0870 and 0845 numbers, in fact I made that a condition of dealing with them as I do with all companies I deal with.

Good people to deal with, I would recommend them. That said, I don't know if they still exist, this was about 5 years ago, they may have been swallowed up now by one of the behemoths.

[whowhenwhy]

No personal experience with the bloke but I'll pm you with the details of the chap who briefs on the resettlement housing brief. He talked a good game and the company should be reasonable if the CTP ask them along. The company name is Gresham Financial Ltd based in Salisbury.

[Fuel Crossfeed]

I think most banks & building societies increase mortgage rates by 1% if you ask them for "consent to rent" instead of changing to a buy to let mortgage.
If you have a residential mortgage and are going to rent out the property DON'T TELL THEM!! :E

Disclaimer: In no way is this financial advise, your home may be at risk if you fail to make repayments.