Mortgage Advice

What is it?

We provide Independent and Whole-of-Market Mortgage Advice and are sometimes call “Mortgage Brokers”. This means that we have no ties to any banks or lenders out there and we work for our clients best interests only – our advice is impartial and unbiased. As we’re Independent Financial Advisers, we can also help with wider financial questions than just a mortgage broker could.

How we do it

When we meet for the first time, we will explain to you our Four Stage Mortgage Advice Process.  We take all of our Mortgage Clients through every step of this journey because providing you with a consistently high standard of advice and service is of paramount importance to us.

Stage 1 – Initial Consultation

This stage allows us both to get to know each other and ensure we’re a good fit for working together. Unless stated otherwise, this is normally done at our own expense. We invest the time here to listen and understand your current financial position and circumstances, and conduct Whole of Market research (see below) and advise of your mortgage options. We would provide you with a fixed Broker Advice Fee if we agree to work together and move forward to the next stage. During Stage 1, we have three layers to our mortgage research:

  • Lender Criteria search to ensure your circumstances and the property you’re buying/remortgaging meets the lender’s criteria
  • Lender Affordability check to ensure the lender can lend you the amount you need
  • Mortgage product search (whole-of-market) to ensure you’re getting the most competitive and suitable mortgage product

This is the first milestone and lays and solid foundation for you to proceed onto buying your property or remortgaging. Once we’ve recommended a suitable lender to proceed with based on our research, the lender would carry out some basic credit checks and “affordability checks” to see how much they could lend you in theory.

We’d progress your case onto a Full Mortgage Application once your property offer has been accepted or as soon as possible for remortgages. This involves submitting supporting documents, such as payslips and bank statements, for the lender’s underwriter to review. Separately the lender would also request a surveyor to value the property to ensure the property is worth the price agreed and is suitable security for the mortgage. If all goes well, then a formal Mortgage Offer is issued and you’ll be in the home straight.

Your solicitors (known as “conveyancers”) would be working behind the scenes to complete the necessary legal process. Once a Completion Date has been set, your purchase/remortgage would be completed. Thereafter, typically between 3 to 6 months before your mortgage deal comes to an end, we’d be in touch to review your existing lender’s product range and compare this against the whole market to ensure your next deal would be just as competitive to save you money.

Who we work with

  • First Time Buyers (including Shared Ownership or Shared Equity schemes)
  • Home movers (such as those upgrading their homes, and those wishing to buy a second property)
  • Landlords (investment properties, Buy-to-Lets, HMOs)
  • Remortgages (with and without capital raising)
  • Self-employed individuals and business owners
  • Contractors
  • Limited Company mortgages
  • Expats
  • Foreign Nationals (with and without Indefinite Leave to Remain in UK)
  • Chinese & Hong Kong nationals – we speak fluent English, Mandarin, and Cantonese

By working with us you will:

  • Save money, time and hassle;
  • Have peace of mind;
  • Have greater certainty and confidence of your maximum budget and affordability;
  • Have a professional who will advise and guide you through the often stressful mortgage and house buying process. We would often liaise with the estate agent and solicitors when needed to take the burden off your shoulders;
  • Benefit from regulated, professional and independent and whole-of-market mortgage advice.

IFS Wealth & Pensions is both Independent Financial Advisers & Chartered Financial Planners (external link), awarded by the Chartered Insurance Institute, which is often regarded the gold standard in the profession.  Less than 5% of advice firms are Chartered so you can be sure that the advice we provide is of the highest standards. We take no shortcuts in our work.

IFS Wealth & Pensions Ltd
IFS Wealth & Pensions Ltd
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  • Very responsive and helpful, totally professional - I have no hesitation in recommending Alan Chan for financial advice

    Martin Gilbraith Avatar Martin G.
    26th August 2022

  • Alan helped me secure a mortgage recently which went smoothly. We had great communication throughout the process and the next steps are always explained clearly and concisely. Alan is clearly very knowledgeable and was able to advise the various mortgage options in the market tailored to my circumstances. ... read more

    Karl Thum Avatar Karl T.
    26th August 2023

  • IFS have been advising us since before we retired 7 years ago, and it's good to know that our money is in safe hands, is growing faster and safer than if we were deciding ourselves what to do with it, and that when we needed money for a large... read more

    Tony Gillett Avatar Tony G.
    2nd September 2021

  • I will absolutely recommend IFS to anyone looking for assistance with a mortgage. Alan has gone by far above and beyond in guiding me through the process as a first time buyer and finding me a mortgage. Alan has always been professional, communicative, knowledgeable, patient and quick to answer... read more

    Joshua Apcar Avatar Joshua A.
    26th September 2023

  • I just want to say a big thanks to you Alan Chan for all of your assistance with our case. The attention to detail you have shown combined with your thorough knowledge of the marketplace have enabled us to achieve what seemed otherwise unreachable and we are now racing... read more

    Meha Fernandes Avatar Meha F.
    26th October 2023

  • I had the most efficient service ever. The broker, (Alan Chan) is very professional and very polite. He updates you promptly with what is happening. I can only leave him a 5 star feedback for his efficient, and effective service and professionalism, no more no less. Highly recommended.

    Ariel Solanzo Avatar Ariel S.
    26th August 2022