Mortgage Brokers- any recommendations

[tigertantrum]

Hi,
We are looking to purchase a house and have had an offer provisionally accepted. However, the agent isn't happy with the AIP that we have submitted. It was via L&C but just says that they are happy to lend us ££ based on the details I have entered online. The EA is asking for something more detailed/ which confirms that our incomes have been checked and specifying the amount in relation to the value of the specific property.

Can anyone recommend a broker who is able to do this urgently? Also, we will obviously need a mortgage so I need to decide whether to go via a broker or whether to approach a bank direct. Looking at money supermarket, etc, the current rates look very good going direct so I'm not sure what the advantages of a broker would be.
I've only bought one house previously and that was years ago so I haven't got any recent experience of this.

Many thanks

Did you EA give a reason why they wouldn't accept an AIP? We recently got an offer accepted on a house and the EA was more than happy with the AIP and proof of funds.

We have always used L&C and really like them. Brokers can often get you rates that aren't privately available so can save you money.

L&C drastically reduced the AIP that we got from them, despite the fact that everything had been filled in correctly. The person I spoke to was so condescending that we went elsewhere and managed to buy the house they told us we couldn't afford. I can't say I rate them.

Jim Marlow, ideal mortgage ltd, based in Croydon but works uk wide. V good broker, has been mine for about 20 years. Google website, phone numbers on there.

I'm using L&C and have found them to be very good so far.

OP I suspect the issue is that L&C's "Agreement in principle" isn't really an agreement in principle. It's more of a glorified estimate of borrowing amount across a wide range of lenders based on the details that you've given so far.

We secured an AIP from Halifax Building Society online and that was simple - took about 10 minutes with an AIP being provided instantaneously by email. Other major high street lenders will do the same - I just picked Halifax as their form was particularly straightforward and user-friendly. You'll need to provide them with similar amounts of information as you've already given L&C but the main difference is that it'll also do a soft credit search against your record.

Estate agents will regard that sort of AIP as more serious than one from L&C. It doesn't make a lot of sense since it's barely any more detailed (other than identifying obvious credit problems that might prevent you borrowing from them) but that's estate agents for you!

Once we had an offer accepted we spoke to L&C again to discuss options and in the end we've gone with a different lender, not Halifax, for our formal mortgage application. So just view getting an AIP as another hoop that you need to jump through but not one that really commits you to anything.

CMG advisers are great!!

If you need something urgently it might be worth looking for a broker in your local area who might be sympathetic to the urgency. Of course, a fee will be involved, but often worth it for what they can save you.