Services we offer
First time buyers
If you’re looking to buy your first home and unsure of the first step always speak to a mortgage adviser first. Riverside Mortgage Advice will guide you through the process step by step, from checking affordability and most suitable deals available to you, right through the application and solicitor process and completion. Our advisers will always be on hand to support you and answer any questions you may have. Check out our 10 step first time buyer blog for all the information you need.
Moving home
If you want to move house but don’t know where to start, it’s best to speak to an adviser first. An adviser has access to a wide range of products from High Street Lenders and specialist products not available direct, including the lender you are already with to work out the most suitable way forward. We can check if a brand new mortgage is the best option or port the mortgage you already have, we can arrange further borrowing if you are buying a more expensive house and look at adding a partner to the mortgage if required.
Remortgages
If your current deal is coming to an end it is important you speak to an adviser first before just renewing with your existing lender. We will search a comprehensive range of products from across the market and compare them to the deal you have been offered to establish the most suitable deal. We can also help you if you are looking to release some equity for various reasons such as home improvements. It is important we look at this at least 3 months before your deal comes to an end to avoid you dropping onto the lenders standard rate which is often a lot higher.
Buy to lets
Whether you are looking to invest in your first buy to let property or you are an experienced landlord looking to buy or remortgage either in your name or a limited company we can help with it all, researching a comprehensive range of products from across the market to find the most suitable deals for you. A lot of buy to let lenders do not offer mortgages direct to customers so it is worth speaking to us to get you the most suitable deal.
The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate some forms of Buy to Lets. Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
Right to buy/right to acquire
Some councils and housing associations will allow you to purchase the home you are renting at a discounted price. A lot of the lenders will use this discount as a deposit so you don’t have to actually put any deposit down from your own funds. Some lenders can even release equity at the same time for home improvements. We have access to all of these lenders and will search the most suitable deal for your needs.
New builds
If you are looking to buy a new build property but don’t know where to start then an adviser will be able to help you. We will search a comprehensive range of products from across the market for the most suitable new build deals, some lenders have special rates for new builds and properties with high energy efficiency. We also have access to lenders which accept the deposit unlock scheme which is a scheme from builders that allows you to buy a new build property with just a 5% deposit. We can also advise you on lenders that will accept incentives from builders such as builder gifted deposits, upgraded kitchens and stamp duty paid.
Self employed
Self employed clients are often told by their bank that they ‘can’t get a mortgage’ this is usually untrue. We are specialists in self employed mortgages and have access to a wide range of products from High Street Lenders and specialist products not available direct. Criteria and affordability for self employed clients vary a lot from one lender to the next so it is important you speak to an adviser to check all options. Whether you are a self employed contractor, sole trader, limited company director or have recently changed from sole trader to limited company director we will be able to help.
Adverse credit mortgages
Riverside mortgage advice have access to a wide range of specialist lenders and we will know based on your credit file which lenders will accept and at what likely rate of interest. Some high street lenders can accept certain small blips on your credit file or historical issues. The criteria differs a lot between lenders so if you have been rejected by your high street bank, another may accept. We will establish if you will pass with a high street lender or if we would need to look at a specialist lender.
Buildings and contents insurance
It is important that you make sure your home and belongings are covered in the event of a disaster such as a fire, flood, subsidence and storm damage. It is important that you have the right cover in place, policies can differ hugely between providers, we offer good quality policies from a range of insurers with different options to suit what you will need. We use a defaqto checker to compare our polices against the ones you may already have to make sure you are getting the most suitable cover for your money.
Life insurance
Although not mandatory by the lender, life insurance is essential to make sure your loved ones are protected financially if you were to die at any point during the mortgage term. Riverside mortgage advice have access to a range of insurers and will work with you to pick the most suitable policy to meet your wishes if the worst was to happen.
Critical illness
This will pay out a specified lump sum on diagnosis of a critical illness, the most claimed on are cancer, heart attack, stroke and MS. No critical illness policy is the same and some cover for a lot more illnesses than others. A lot of polices will have smaller payouts for less advanced illnesses and larger payouts for the most critical and some will include your children in the policy. It is important not to just look at the price but to look at what you are actually covered for in the small print. This is where an adviser comes in, we will compare the policies small print for you and recommend the one which is most likely to pay out.
Income protection
Income protection is basically like private sick pay, if you become ill during the mortgage term and your work sick pay ends, the income protection policy will start paying out to make sure you can pay your mortgage and other expenses while you cannot work. Preventing the possibility of you losing your home. Income protection can be either long or short term to fit in with your budget. The adviser will look at a range of options to fit in with what you will need if you are off work for any lengthy periods.