Mortgage Advice
Finding the right mortgage is not just about the lowest rate. It is about the right deal for your situation, from a lender who will actually say yes, structured in a way that works for you now and in the years ahead.
That sounds obvious but the mortgage market has thousands of products across hundreds of lenders, and the criteria vary enormously. What one lender refuses, another will accept. What looks like the cheapest option on a comparison site may not be available to you or may not be the best fit once fees, terms, and flexibility are factored in. And if your income is anything other than a straightforward salary, the picture gets more complicated quickly.
Residential Mortgages
Whether you are moving home, buying for the first time, or remortgaging an existing property, a residential mortgage is the most common reason people come to us. We handle the search, the application, and the paperwork, and we make sure you are getting the best deal available for your circumstances rather than just the first one offered.
Even for a straightforward purchase, we regularly find better rates and terms than borrowers find on their own. When things are more complex, whether that is income structure, property type, or borrowing history, having a broker who knows which lenders will work with your particular profile is often the difference between getting the right deal and settling for the wrong one.
For higher value properties and larger loans, the lending landscape shifts significantly. Fewer high street lenders operate at that level, and private banks and specialist lenders often offer better terms for the right borrower. Knowing where to look and who to approach makes a material difference. For larger loans, particularly above £1 million, the lending landscape changes. High street lenders have limits, and private banks and specialist lenders often offer better terms for high value borrowing, but you need to know where to look and how to present the application.
YOUR PROPERTY MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE.
Remortgages
Your mortgage should not just sit there costing you money once your deal ends. If you are on your lender's standard variable rate, or your fixed term is approaching its end, there is almost certainly a better option available. Even if you are mid-term, there are situations where switching makes financial sense despite early repayment charges.
Remortgaging is also how many people raise capital for renovations, debt consolidation, or investment without taking out a separate loan. We review what you are currently paying, compare it against what is available across the whole market, and tell you honestly whether it is worth moving. If it is, we handle everything. If it is not, we tell you that too. Either way, you walk away knowing you are on the best deal available rather than wondering if you are overpaying.
Mortgages for Company Directors and Self-Employed
If your income comes from a business rather than a payslip, getting a mortgage can be harder than it should be. Most high street lenders assess affordability based on salary, or salary plus dividends. That often undervalues what you actually earn, particularly if your accountant has structured things to be tax-efficient rather than mortgage-friendly.
We know which lenders look at the full picture. Some will use net profit rather than just what you draw. Some will accept one year of accounts rather than three. Some understand LLP structures, contractor income, or irregular earnings. The difference between the right lender and the wrong one can be tens of thousands of pounds in additional borrowing, or the difference between a yes and a no.
Buy to Let Mortgages
Whether you are buying your first rental property or refinancing across a portfolio, the lending criteria are different from residential and the options vary far more than most people expect. Lenders assess rental income, portfolio size, tax structures, and personal income differently, and if you hold properties through a limited company, the picture changes again.
For landlords with larger portfolios, the interaction between financing costs, rental yield, and tax efficiency needs to be considered as a whole rather than property by property. We work with landlords at every scale and find the right lender for each situation, so your financing supports your investment strategy rather than working against it.
Most Buy to Let mortgages are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Equity Release
If you are over 55 and your home represents a significant portion of your wealth, equity release allows you to access some of that value without selling. This can fund retirement, help family members onto the property ladder, or simply give you more flexibility at a stage of life when your income may have reduced but your assets have not.
Equity release is not right for everyone. It reduces the value of your estate, it can affect means-tested benefits and the costs compound over time. But for the right situation, it can be a genuinely useful part of a broader financial plan. We make sure you understand exactly what it means for you and your family before any decision is made, and we consider it alongside your wider financial position rather than in isolation. The aim is that if you go ahead, you do so with complete confidence that it is the right decision, and if you do not, you know why.
Commercial Mortgages
Buying or refinancing business premises works very differently from residential lending. Loan-to-value ratios are typically lower, rates are higher, and lenders want to understand the business as well as the property. If the building is mixed-use or semi-commercial, the lending options sit somewhere between residential and commercial, and not all lenders will touch them.
We help with commercial mortgages for owner-occupiers and investors. If you are a business owner considering buying your trading premises, particularly through a SIPP or SSAS, this also connects to your wider financial planning and we can advise on both sides.
Specialist and Complex Mortgages
Not every mortgage fits neatly into a standard category. Some situations require specialist solutions.
Bridging and second charge loans provide short-term or additional borrowing when timing, speed, or circumstances make a standard mortgage impractical. Whether you need to complete a purchase before your existing property sells, fund a refurbishment, or raise capital without disturbing your existing mortgage, these products have a specific role when used correctly.
Joint borrower sole proprietor arrangements allow a family member to support your mortgage application with their income while not being named on the property title. This is increasingly common for first time buyers whose income alone does not meet lender requirements but who have parents willing and able to help.
Interest-only mortgages remain available for the right circumstances, particularly for buy to let, higher value residential properties, and borrowers with a clear repayment strategy. Lender criteria vary significantly and the options are more limited than they were, so knowing where to look matters.
Why Use a Mortgage Broker
A bank offers you its products. A broker finds you the right one from across the entire market. That much is obvious. But the real value of a broker is in the things you do not see.
We know which lenders have tightened their criteria this month and which have loosened them. We know which underwriters are flexible on self-employed income and which reject anything outside their script. We know how to present an application so it lands well, and we know when to push back on a decision. A declined application is not just a wasted week. It sits on your credit file and makes the next lender's decision harder. We do not submit applications we are not confident about, because your credit profile is not something to experiment with.
There is also the time. Comparing products, reading terms and conditions, chasing solicitors and lenders, dealing with the back and forth when something does not go to plan. That is time most people do not have and would rather spend on anything else.
What our clients say
"BSG have always given us first class support and service, rightly tailoring our investment products around our short, medium and long-term needs, whilst also dealing promptly with any queries we may have or changes we may want. We would recommend them highly as an Financial Adviser."
Robert
How BSG Helps with Mortgages
Most people dread the mortgage process. Not the decision itself, but everything around it. The research you are not sure you are doing properly, the uncertainty about whether you qualify, the fear of getting it wrong on the biggest financial commitment you will make.
We remove that. We tell you what you can borrow before you start looking. We find the right deal from across the whole market, not just one lender's range. We handle the application, chase the lender, deal with the problems, and keep you updated so you are never left wondering what is happening. And because we are part of a wider financial planning firm, we can make sure your mortgage fits alongside your pensions, protection, and tax planning rather than sitting in isolation.
The end result is simple. You get the right mortgage, you understand exactly what you are committing to, and the process feels like something that was done for you rather than something that happened to you.
If you are thinking about a mortgage, whether that is a new purchase, a remortgage, or something more specialist, we are happy to talk through your options. There is no obligation and no cost for an initial discussion.
FAQs
Q: What does a mortgage broker do?
A: A mortgage broker searches the market on your behalf to find the most suitable mortgage for your circumstances. Unlike going directly to a bank, which can only offer its own products, a whole of market broker like BSG can access deals from hundreds of lenders including specialist and private lenders you would not find on your own. We handle the research, the application, and the process from start to finish.
Q: How much does mortgage advice cost?
A: BSG typically charges a broker fee which is agreed before any work begins, so you know exactly what you are paying. Some mortgage products also pay a procuration fee from the lender. We are transparent about how we are paid and will explain the fee structure clearly before you commit to anything.
Q: Can I get a mortgage if I am self-employed or a company director?
A: Yes. Self-employed and director mortgages are a significant part of what we do. Many lenders will consider your application, but the criteria vary widely. Some will use net profit, some only look at salary and dividends, and some require more years of accounts than others. We know which lenders work best for different income structures and can often secure borrowing that a high street bank would decline.
Q: How much can I borrow?
A: It depends on your income, your outgoings, the type of mortgage, and the lender. Most residential lenders offer between 4 and 5.5 times your income, but this varies. For company directors and self-employed borrowers, the calculation is more nuanced because different lenders assess income differently. We can give you a realistic picture of your borrowing capacity before you start looking at properties.
Q: Should I remortgage?
A: If your current deal is ending, or you are on your lender's standard variable rate, it is almost always worth reviewing your options. Even if you are mid-term, there can be circumstances where switching makes financial sense despite early repayment charges. We can compare what you are paying now with what is available and tell you whether it is worth moving.
Q: What is the difference between a fixed and variable rate mortgage?
A: A fixed rate locks your monthly payment for a set period, typically two to five years, giving you certainty over your costs. A variable rate can move up or down, usually tracking the Bank of England base rate or the lender's own rate. Fixed rates offer security, variable rates can be cheaper but carry more risk. The right choice depends on your circumstances, your attitude to risk, and what is happening in the wider interest rate environment.
Q: What is equity release and how does it work?
A: Equity release lets homeowners aged 55 and over access some of the value tied up in their property without having to sell it. The most common type is a lifetime mortgage, where you borrow against your home and the loan plus interest is repaid when you die or move into long-term care. You can take the money as a lump sum or in smaller amounts over time. It reduces the value of your estate and is not right for everyone, so it is important to get independent advice and consider it alongside your wider financial plan.