
If you decide to use MDFS, your Croydon mortgage broker, you will not pay any more for your mortgage than you would when going direct to your own bank or building society for the same mortgage deal.
Terry Massey has been amazing with helping me secure my first mortgage. He has been so helpful and communicative I... read moreTerry Massey has been amazing with helping me secure my first mortgage. He has been so helpful and communicative I would recommend him in a heartbeat! Thanks so much read less
Bill has been our life saver. As first time buyers, he has been the support we needed to understand the... read moreBill has been our life saver. As first time buyers, he has been the support we needed to understand the process. The fluent communication gave us confidence and allowed for a smooth process from start to completion. Definitely recommended!! read less
The best mortgage advisors and brokers out there. So supportive and informative at every stage of the process. At least... read moreThe best mortgage advisors and brokers out there. So supportive and informative at every stage of the process. At least five of my friends have used Bill and his team to secure their mortgages and we are all happily living in our new homes. I couldn’t recommend Massey Divall Financial Services enough! Thank you so much, Bill, you’re the best in the business! read less
Bill was fantastic through the whole process. He made himself available at very short notice to fit my calendar and... read moreBill was fantastic through the whole process. He made himself available at very short notice to fit my calendar and walked me through everything - no question was too basic. He was easy to talk to and to understand. He was transparent with his information sources and how MDFS gets paid. I was given just enough information and told what to expect. I recommend him highly and would go back to him again. read less
We arranged our first mortgage with Bill almost a decade ago and have used him automatically for every renewal and... read moreWe arranged our first mortgage with Bill almost a decade ago and have used him automatically for every renewal and house move (x 2) since. We'd never even think of speaking to anyone else. Bill's an absolute expert and is incredibly generous with his time - as well as the many transactions that have happened, he's also spent countless hours helping us cost out various things that never came to fruition. And, when all is said and done, every single time we've been delighted with the deal that he's managed to get us. We cannot recommend him highly enough read less
Terry provides an excellent, professional service. He explains the options really clearly and I’ve recommended him to several people who... read moreTerry provides an excellent, professional service. He explains the options really clearly and I’ve recommended him to several people who have all had a great experience from his service. read less
My property's location meant I was limited to a select range of lenders. Terry was a good local mortgage broker... read moreMy property's location meant I was limited to a select range of lenders. Terry was a good local mortgage broker who provided fantastic advise on products on the market. My mortgage offer was submitted and accepted in two weeks during the pandemic! Reason for not giving 5 stars (wish I could give 4.5) is beacuse there was not much follow up or communication towards the end of the process. Apart from that, the tools and portal used for sharing and storing information plus Terry's friendliness lent for an overall good service. read less
I've recently been using MDFS to arrange the mortgage for my first home and I have been so impressed. I... read moreI've recently been using MDFS to arrange the mortgage for my first home and I have been so impressed. I can't thank my advisor Bill enough for his help and support every second of the way. No question was a silly one and he had so much patience in helping me understand the proceedings and finding the right mortgage for me.
I highly recommend Bill and the team for their professionalism and knowledge of the mortgage market. Its been such a seamless process and I have them to thank! read less
I've recently been using MDFS to arrange the mortgage for my first home and I have been so impressed. I... read moreI've recently been using MDFS to arrange the mortgage for my first home and I have been so impressed. I can't thank my advisor Bill enough for his help and support every second of the way. No question was a silly one and he had so much patience in helping me understand the proceedings and finding the right mortgage for me.I highly recommend Bill and the team for their professionalism and knowledge of the mortgage market. Its been such a seamless process and I have them to thank! read less
Bill was absolutely fantastic with his service. Communication lines were always open and whenever I needed anything, Bill was always... read moreBill was absolutely fantastic with his service. Communication lines were always open and whenever I needed anything, Bill was always on hand. As a first time buyer, my knowledge of mortgages was woeful, Bill made everything easy and simple to understand. 10/10 would recommend. read less
Terry guided me expertly through the process of securing a mortgage for my first property purchase. He was always available... read moreTerry guided me expertly through the process of securing a mortgage for my first property purchase. He was always available to answer my questions and advised me clearly and professionally of the options available and the one that was best suited to my personal circumstances. Once the mortgage application was submitted, he kept me updated every step of the way. Many thanks for making a daunting process go so smoothly. read less
Navigating through the sheer number of Mortgages, products and options available can be overwhelming, especially with so much at stake.... read moreNavigating through the sheer number of Mortgages, products and options available can be overwhelming, especially with so much at stake. Bill Divall at MDFS came highly recommended and helped find a mortgage 6 years ago, and again recently in remortgaging and in writing our wills. Having dealt with him over the years, he is friendly, impartial and his guidance and opinion is one that I trust implicitly as the best for me and my family. read less
Massey Divall had to work very hard to sort out our mortgage during difficult Covid times - they were very... read moreMassey Divall had to work very hard to sort out our mortgage during difficult Covid times - they were very knowledgeable, tenacious, efficient and pleasant to deal with and I wouldn't hesitate in recommending their services. read less
So helpful and friendly right from the start of my journey of buying my property. His advice was clear, professional... read moreSo helpful and friendly right from the start of my journey of buying my property. His advice was clear, professional and helpful. As a first time buyer it’s been a daunting experience but Bill has been there every step of the way and I can’t recommend MDFS highly enough! read less
First class service as always. We have been using Bill for years now and can't recommend him highly enough. Even... read moreFirst class service as always. We have been using Bill for years now and can't recommend him highly enough. Even during Covid Bill managed to get us not one, not two, but three new mortgages and allow us to buy our dream house. Bill is always available for a chat and can resolve any problem that occcurs. read less
Bill has been fantastic in not just sourcing and finalising our mortgage but with a number of other financial aspects... read moreBill has been fantastic in not just sourcing and finalising our mortgage but with a number of other financial aspects as well! Fantastic and friendly service which I would use again! read less
I was recommended to Massey Divall by a friend in the property sector. Terry was fantastic in advising me what... read moreI was recommended to Massey Divall by a friend in the property sector. Terry was fantastic in advising me what sort of deal was achievable, sourcing a great rate and walking me through every step of the process. Not only has he saved me a significant sum but he made it all painless. would highly recommend to anybody looking for a mortgage read less
Bill helped us all the way through the process of buying our first house. He always offered us great advise... read moreBill helped us all the way through the process of buying our first house. He always offered us great advise and dealt with us very professionally, any query was dealt with quickly and efficiently, and he always explained everything in great detail. We really felt that Bill had our best interests at heart and would not hesitate to recommend him to our family and friends. Thanks Bill, for making the mortgage side of our move go so smoothly! read less
An excellent services with very knowledgeable people. They were always on hand to answer any question. I would highly... read moreAn excellent services with very knowledgeable people. They were always on hand to answer any question. I would highly recommend them to anyone seeking mortgage advice. read less
I cannot express my gratitude enough to Terry, he was absolutely brilliant! My partner and I were anxious about buying... read moreI cannot express my gratitude enough to Terry, he was absolutely brilliant! My partner and I were anxious about buying our first property and had a million questions, which Terry was more than happy to answer and nothing was ever too much trouble. I have recommended him to all my friends. Thank you so much Terry! read less
We worked with Bill at Massey Divall and he was fantastic in sourcing our mortgage, giving great advice and explaining... read moreWe worked with Bill at Massey Divall and he was fantastic in sourcing our mortgage, giving great advice and explaining everything we needed to know in an easy way. I will be using again for further financial decisions and would fully recommend. read less
Massey Divall has been very helpful and reliable to me since 2017 when I started the home buying process. They've... read moreMassey Divall has been very helpful and reliable to me since 2017 when I started the home buying process. They've also helped me with remortgaging recently (during the pandemic) and helped to lower my monthly repayments.Definitely a mortgage advisor I would recommend! read less
One word can describe MDFS and that's incredible. Without fail every time I'm in contact with Bill Divall regarding... read moreOne word can describe MDFS and that's incredible. Without fail every time I'm in contact with Bill Divall regarding my mortgage he is so professional, clear, precise and easy to understand. Bill makes things a complete breeze and it's why I have recommended his services to my family and friends on many occasions. From experience I know I can trust Bills advice and to know I can call upon his services at any time is a God send. Better yet he doesn't charge you a penny!Keep up the great work MDFS. I look forward to continuing using your services in the future. read less
I had been speaking to Terry regularly for about a year, he always picked up my calls and kept me... read moreI had been speaking to Terry regularly for about a year, he always picked up my calls and kept me up to date in a very tricky market and ultimately we completed last week. I would highly recommend him. Thanks for your help Terry! read less
Already recommended to family!Bill was fantastic at keeping us informed, explaining processes and helped us through the process of buying... read moreAlready recommended to family!Bill was fantastic at keeping us informed, explaining processes and helped us through the process of buying our dream home. Would highly recommend if you want a personable service and to feel confident that somebody is really putting the effort in to make things happen! read less
I’ve just completed the purchase of my first home and have had a great experience of working with Bill from... read moreI’ve just completed the purchase of my first home and have had a great experience of working with Bill from Massey Divall. My Mum recommended Bill to me, after using his services on the completion of her most recent property purchase. Whilst the process of buying a property for the first time can be complex and a little overwhelming, Bill was extremely knowledgeable and helpful throughout; no question seemed too silly or small and I truly believe he helped me get the best mortgage rate I could. I have already recommended Bill to a friend and I will definitely be coming back to Bill in the future for when I need to re-mortgage and for any future property purchases. Thank you again! read less
Bill and everyone at Massey Divall are extremely helpful and provide excellent advice. This is the third time we have... read moreBill and everyone at Massey Divall are extremely helpful and provide excellent advice. This is the third time we have worked with Bill to find us a suitable mortgage and every time he makes the process so smooth and easy in an otherwise highly stressful time. I can not recommend them enough! read less
Your adviser will research the market and recommend a suitable mortgage deal.
Get AppointmentYour local Croydon mortgage broker will explain this in greater detail.
A mortgage is simply a large loan that you take out from a bank or building society when buying a property. Firstly, you own your home. Secondly your mortgage provider simply uses your home as security while you are making your mortgage repayments and clearing what you owe.
Mortgages are ‘secured’ against the property being purchased. But if you have to stop paying back the loan, the mortgage company can repossess your home. However, to be fair, most lenders normally try to help you with a plan, if this fails and they cannot help, the lender may repossess your home to get their money back.
The million pound question. Well, many mortgage lenders can lend you up to five times your salary. But the amount you qualify for will depend on quite a few things:
Mortgage lenders assess your circumstances and work out how much they think they can lend you after considering the things above as well as what they think you can afford each month after you have paid your household bills.
All our mortgage advisers can help enormously with this and have tools designed to calculate how much you can borrow. Furthermore, our Croydon mortgage brokers will let you know which mortgage lenders to approach to get the right amount of mortgage.
Normally you will need to provide a deposit, an amount of money provided by you. The amount of money you need to provide as a deposit is generally a minimum of 5% of the price of the property you want to buy. So, the bigger the deposit you can provide the less you need to borrow on a mortgage. Also, a lot of mortgage providers reduce the interest rates they charge to people putting up bigger deposits.
It is easy enough to get a mortgage from a bank or building society yourself, if you are comfortable that they are offering a good deal. When applying they will ask a series of questions about you and your finances. The lender will calculate what amount of mortgage they think is affordable. They will also run several checks to assess your financial status. If they accept your application, you will be sent an offer.
However, it is probably easier, and quicker, to find the best mortgage using a local mortgage broker like MDFS. In fact, all you have to do is book an online appointment with a mortgage expert who looks after your local area. Tell them a little about yourself in addition to the home you want to buy, and they will compare deals across the market. Your mortgage adviser will then explain all the pros and cons, fees, and charges, before going on to set up an action plan to make sure things go according to plan.
Remortgage
Remortgaging means changing your existing mortgage to a different deal with a new lender. However, rate switching is where you get a new deal with your current mortgage provider. Furthermore, remortgaging and rate switching can help you get lower interest rates or better terms.
First-time buyer
Many first-time buyer mortgages include incentives like cashbacks or reduced fees. Our local Croydon mortgage advisers will help with finding good deals for first-time buyers. In addition, you will also get tips on deposits, mortgage types, and getting a decision in principle.
Home purchase
When you are buying your next property, you can either take your current mortgage deal with you, which is called porting or look to find a brand new competitive mortgage. As deposits are normally bigger when moving home, great deals can be found. Therefore, your adviser will search for different loan to value deals and compare what is available.
Buy to Let
A buy-to-let mortgage is specifically for people looking to purchase property as an investment, rather than as somewhere to live. If you are buying a house or flat and intend to rent it out to tenants, you need a buy-to-let mortgage.
Some lenders will assess your mortgage application based on credit score and some will assess your application based on a credit search. However, lenders who credit score will often require a high score with no adverse credit history, whereas lenders who credit search are not basing their decision on a computer.
What is a soft credit search?
A soft credit search is when a lender carries out their checks without leaving a footprint on your credit file for other lenders to see. A soft credit search will also not affect your credit score. Hence, when your score is low, as too many normal credit searches can impact your rating even further.
When you have found a property book an appointment or call your adviser. Your Croydon mortgage broker will re-assess your needs and recommend a mortgage. They will compare hundreds of mortgages, including a few that are exclusive to us, and cannot be found on the high street or comparison sites.
Assuming you are happy with the mortgage product recommended, we will get you a Mortgage Agreement in Principle. This will confirm how much the lender thinks you can afford to borrow. The decision in principle will help you when putting in your offer for your dream home.
As soon as your offer is accepted, you will need to appoint a solicitor. We take care of the entire mortgage application process through to completion. We liaise with your solicitor and lender to ensure that your application is a success.
If you are looking to remortgage, we recommend looking for a new mortgage deal around four months before your current deal expires. Starting the process early gives you plenty of time to compare all the available mortgage products and submit your application.
Decision in Principle?
We can normally apply for, and get, a Mortgage Agreement in Principle within a couple of hours. But you will need to provide your Croydon mortgage adviser with a bit of basic information. However, a Mortgage Decision in Principle is not a 100% guarantee that your full mortgage will be accepted.
Mortgage Offer
There is no standard length of time from mortgage application to offer. Service standards are different between mortgage providers. However, we target to get your mortgage offer as quickly as possible, normally in 10 to 14 working days. Therefore, the time it takes depends on making sure the information requested by your adviser is provided or uploaded as soon as possible. Some complicated mortgage applications, such as those for the self-employed, contractors and limited company directors, can take a little longer.
Like other mortgage advisers in Croydon we receive a payment from the lender at completion of your mortgage. However, unlike some other mortgage brokers we do not charge you a fee of any amount or description, regardless of the amount of work involved. Therefore, for these reasons, and because of our unbiased approach, more and more customers are turning to MDFS Mortgages for advice every day.
We are here to save you money on your mortgage, not cost you more than it would if you did it yourself. Applying for your mortgage through us costs you no more than going directly to a mortgage provider for the same deal.
Moreover, frequently we will have access to special deals not available directly from lender.
MDFS research, advise, apply, and administer your mortgage. Therefore, from your initial online video meeting with a mortgage broker to completion of your mortgage, our goal is making your mortgage journey easy and hassle fee. Our Croydon mortgage brokers have been offering mortgage advice for over 30 years. All mortgage advisers are qualified and regulated by the FCA.
You get honest, straight forward, easy to understand mortgage advice. Our Croydon mortgage advisers scope out the whole mortgage market, tracking down market leading deals and interest rates from an extensive range of lenders.
When it comes to paperwork, we have that covered for you. In addition, we also take care of all the administration process as well as liaise with estate agents, mortgage providers, and solicitors, consequently making sure the process is as smooth and hassle-free as possible.
Plus you get online video advice throughout Surrey, Kent, and the Home Counties, likewise a mortgage adviser service via telephone, email, and live chat. The icing on the cake is, because we know you are busy, you can book your appointment anytime of the day, with availability from 8am to 8pm.
Therefore, whether you are buying your first property, moving home, remortgaging, buying to let or simply looking for some mortgage advice, we are here to help. Book an appointment and meet with a Croydon mortgage broker.
Like other mortgage advisers we receive a payment from the lender at completion of your mortgage. However, unlike some other mortgage brokers we do not charge you a fee of any amount or description, regardless of the amount of work involved. Therefore, for these reasons, and because of our unbiased approach, more and more customers are turning to mortgage Croydon broker for advice every day.
We are here to save you money on your mortgage, not cost you more than it would if you did it yourself. Applying for your mortgage through us costs no more than it would going directly to a mortgage provider for the same deal.
Moreover, frequently we will have access to special deals not available directly from lender.
Yes, we do. MDFS do not operate a limited panel of mortgage providers and have access to thousands of mortgage deals. Let’s not fool ourselves though, no matter how deep we research there may still be a deal that is exclusive to one bank, or even mortgage broker, that we cannot access. That does not mean we are unaware of it, simply that we cannot access it.
However, most deals are readily available to MDFS. We do not charge fees so what you see is what you get. A cheap mortgage rate deal where a fee is charged may not be as cheap as it looks, furthermore, most deals with a broker fee payable cost more than a deal where the broker does not charge a free…!
We advise first time home buyers, people moving home, homeowners looking to switch deals or remortgage and buy to let mortgages.
When it comes to mortgage rates, we'll advise on the full range available, such as fixed, tracker, discount, capped and offset rates to name a few.
Also, we advise you about repayment methods, interest only, repayment and split repayment.
Yes. You will be sent updates about your mortgage application by email and SMS text message.
You are provided with access to a secure upload portal and private HUB as we don't want your personal documents flying all over the internet !
You can speak to your local mortgage broker as well if you want to.
MDFS connect people looking for mortgage advice with the best mortgage rates and criteria possible. We gather and review your financial information and documentation. We assess the mortgage amount you are requesting, your deposit, your income, and your credit record. Then, we match you up with a few different deals, outline and discuss the options available.
So, when you use MDFS, we are responsible for researching current mortgage rates. We are also responsible for making sure that you understand all the small print mortgage terms (closing costs, fees, and other conditions), and we sort through mountains of data to compare your choices.
Also, keep in mind that MDFS are not a bank or building society. As a result, we are not tied to one mortgage provider. We independently research mortgage lenders and have established relationships with each lender.
Appointments can be made 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. That does not mean we are open, but you will have access to an adviser’s diary, and you can make your appointment booking.
Appointments are available from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday. However, Saturday and Sunday appointments need to be booked by telephone.
We are sure you will understand that appointment demand can be high and while your adviser will be happy to meet on the weekend, it is important that access is provided to priority cases. Just use our broker call back if you want to book a weekend appointment.
Save the biggest deposit you can. Most mortgage providers keep their lowest interest rates for borrowers with large deposits.
The top deals on the market are currently limited to those who have a deposit of between 35% and 40% of a property’s value. Higher loan to value mortgages tends to have higher interest rates.
Save up as much deposit as you possibly can.
Consider your credit score. You may need a good credit score to qualify for the best mortgage deals. If you check your credit score you can be sure to avoid any surprises. Early checking will also give you time to correct any mistakes, should you find any.
Try to pay off your debts and close any unused credit accounts.
Mortgage lenders look at the total amount of credit available to you – as well as the amount you owe. If they see a large credit line available this can affect your position.
Therefore, if you can, clear as much debt as possible and close any accounts you no longer use.
Keep your address up to date. Nearly every mortgage provider will use the electoral roll to verify your identity. Your mortgage application may be rejected if you are not visible on the electoral roll at your current address.
This need not be a problem. Contact your Local Authority and ask for a registration form or sign up online. Furthermore, this will hopefully make sure that the address any credit agencies have for you is up-to-date.
Avoid unusual properties. Mortgage providers all have different criteria. But all lenders want to make sure that they can get their money back should you fail to pay.
As a result, they are frequently less willing to lend against unusual properties, as these may be more difficult to sell on.
If you can avoid things like flats above commercial premises such as cafes and bars, homes built using non-standard construction materials such as concrete or steel.
Make sure you have an up-to-date passport and that the address on your driving licence is correct.
Also, you may need to provide a recent statement from say a bank or utility company, as this also contains your address.
If you are employed, you will need to provide bank statements and payslips for the last three months and maybe your P60s for the last two years. If you have commission or bonuses you will need to send evidence of these too.
Self Employed
Self-employed always come under greater scrutiny and generally must provide even more evidence of earnings as a result.
Self-employed applicants will therefore need to provide HMRC SA302s for the last two or even three years. Perhaps full accounts for the last two to three years as well.
Leave the stress of finding a mortgage behind. In short, let your Croydon mortgage broker and adviser do the hard work for you.
Don’t spend hours surfing the internet or on hold to your bank. Free up time for family and friends, use a mortgage broker.
Make your mortgage advice appointment at a time suited to you. Pick your own appointment date and time.
We really like helping people to get a mortgage, so why not give us a call…