Financial Adviser or Do-It-Yourself - which is best value for a Mortgage?

[Walnutshell]

We've had advice from three brokers/financial advisers and now I'm wanting to do a bit of my own research into m/g products. Does anyone know if the brokers really do get hold of better deals than you can find on the internet yourself...?
Minefield.

1. Look on Moneysavingexpert.com
2. Ring the Very Nice Man at London and County Mortgages. (Brokers)

Looking yourself is like a needle in a haystack unless you are VERY certain you know exactly what you want.

My experience in the past has been that really good FAs give the best advice - but you don't know who is a good FA unless you've had word of mouth recommendations ....

The last time we sorted out our mortgage, we found an IFA, he came around, we talked, he went away, then sent some rubbish stuff around - I did the research myself, and came up with a better deal than the one he'd found ...

This time around, I'm just going to trust myself to find the best deal for us.

ejt

Thanks Gingerbear, I'll look at Moneysavingexpert now and take your recommendation for the other.
I do know what I'm looking for as our choices are narrow by virtue of needing high loan to value, low deposit and one income (moving away, losing one income for short-mid term.)
Sounds like a challenge doesn't it? Well, we are beginning to think the same!

ejt, that's what I'm thinking... One guy (recommended) seemed to have very good financial knowledge but looked at an illustration we already had from another FA and claimed it had some horrendous tie-in period. Phew, I thought, thank goodness we asked you! However, re-reading it, there's no tie-in so now I'm just suspicious of the lot of 'em!
Have looked at Charcolonline for some info..

We were waivering between another fixed rate and an offset mortgage. Rang London and County and went through all our details, wants, hopes and dreams etc. The advisor we spoke to was brilliant.

They do get a commission for whatever mortgage they find you, but everything is explained clearly in the Key facts documentation, along with tie-in, fees, etc etc.

Actually I accept there's a fee so I might phone them once I've read the moneysavingexpert guide to remortgaging...
Thanks.

You're right, they are very helpful at London & Country. I may well use them, thanks for the pointer.

The two FA's I spoke to just couldn't get their heads around the kind of mortgage we were after, and the way we were planning to organize our funds, so we did it ourselves.

Thanks guys.
Janinlondon, know what you mean - I always get the same with one of our banks, they seem to want to force you into organising your money in a specific way although I much prefer my own idiosyncrasies.
Cat64 - what sort of internet research did you do? Looking at different lenders? We've had a couple of illustrations provided by IFA's/brokers and I think we're narrowing it down. My main anxiety now is the interest rate rising although we will go for fixed for 2yrs+

have been following this thread with a lot of interest since we r coming to an end of our fixed rate period.
would like to know if anyone has experienced any problems with IFA's ?

anyone come across any good mortgages lately with repayment options?
many thanks

Bumping this for guddy and also in case anyone has an opinion on "risky" interest-only (short term)...?

Our broker couldn't get the deal we got. Go and talk to them, refine what you want, get details of teh best offers they can get and look yourself to see if you can beat it. Lose nothing then

i have used an IFA for the past 6 years and have changed mortgage 4 times....the past two times to fixed rate. at a lower rate than i had seen elsewhere...my bank couldn;t match it either

the IFA was not paid by us, but he got a commission from the mortgage company we chose, he showed us how much commission he would get too,

i was thoroughly satisfied he got us the best deal, i will use him again when our fixed term is ending]

i would go with a word of mouth recommendation though

I did our first mortgage ourselves

currently remortgaging through an agent who has got a better rate than any on the open market

they should get the best deals, it should also be free as the provider pays them commission for introducing the business and they are legally bound to give you the best advice. long gone are the days of insurers etc wining and dining the ifa's to ensure their business

thanks tinker and lulumama and also walnutshell for bumping the msg.

we have rang london and county.
chase de vere,charcol and savills
till now london and county seem competitive.
we are still looking!!!!!

where can i find more IFA's???????????????

try here

thanks alliebongo!!!!!!!!!!

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Thanks Orinoco, that's very interesting. We have had three brokers/FA's offer us interest only !?&£$%

Like you, short term possibility as we are losing a wage (mine) when we relocate in the next few months (fingers crossed).

Have considered paying the 'repayment difference' (IYSWIM) with the option for flexibility if required. Just hope this is a sensible move. So much negative press re interest only's and I don't want too many sleepless nights...