What Does A Mortgage Broker Do?
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Miles Robinson
Job Title: Director & Advising Principal
What Does A Mortgage Broker Do?
Miles Robinson introduces Home Group Financial and explains the role of a mortgage broker.
Podcast approved by The Openwork Partnership on 06/03/2026.
What does a mortgage broker do?
We act as a middle person between you as the client and the potential lenders. We have access to 50+ different lenders across the market. We carry out that research for the client to help them make confident, informed decisions on what is the most suitable mortgage for them.
That involves comparing thousands of different products and making formal recommendations best suited to that person’s personal needs and circumstances. The idea is to take the stress out and often save money.
Ultimately, we manage the whole process with the lender – you don’t need to go direct. We take care of all of that.
What’s the difference between going to a mortgage broker like yourself versus your local high street lender?
If you go to a bank directly, they will only talk to you about the products they can offer you. They can’t speak about products with other lenders, and you also have to match their criteria.
All lenders vary in terms of what they’ll lend on affordability and what they’ll accept – whether you’ve started a new job or you’re on a fixed-term contract, for example, each bank and building society is very different.
We have access to high street banks, building societies and niche providers that may look at things that are a little out of the ordinary. It just means that we can tailor our recommendations to meet complex and unique circumstances.
The other key thing with a broker is you actually get advice. We’re qualified advisors, so we can steer and point you in the direction of the right lender and product – what’s most suitable.
Getting an appointment with a bank can be quite tricky, and it could take two or three weeks to talk to someone. In some cases, you can’t get an appointment, it’s all online and you have to manage that yourself. Advisors are much easier to access.
What services does a mortgage broker offer? Do you liaise with other industry professionals like estate agents and solicitors?
Yes, absolutely. Purchasing a house is a long, drawn out process and having someone in your corner – an agent or an advisor – to bring together the estate agents, solicitors and surveyors can be a huge support.
Having done this lots of times we can share our experience. I’ve seen thousands of solicitor documents, I know how estate agents work and what they need when you’re making an offer.
We’re here to get you mortgage-ready. We liaise with everyone and support the client with what they need to do when. We give you the best opportunity to get the best price on that property. We keep everyone informed about the process.
Even with a remortgage or other transactions there’s often a bit of education, to help people understand how it works. When you’re moving from one lender to another, we hold your hand through the conveyancing. We make sure a client’s got an Agreement in Principle ready to make an offer.
We ensure that the mortgage is protected, so that if someone dies, falls critically ill or their income stops, they can still remain in their home. We provide all the advice around that.
There are also specialist areas we can help with. If properties fall through we can look at bridging finance. We can look at development finance or Buy to Let mortgages. We tailor the advice and support to what you need. Our role is very broad – we’re not just here to set up your mortgage and that’s it.
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We manage a range of customer circumstances from first-time buyers, home movers, new build purchases, remortgages and debt consolidation. Whatever your financial requirements are, we can assist you.
When should I see a mortgage broker? At what stage in that process?
As early as possible, ideally. Advisors can vary in how early they want to see clients, in terms of whether they are transaction-ready or not.
I like to see clients as early as possible, because that way we can give the right advice to make the best plan, whether that’s saving for a deposit or approaching a remortgage.
Sometimes, a few things might need to happen for it to fall into place. Certainly for a purchase, you want to know exactly what you can afford, how your income impacts that, and get an Agreement in Principle so you’re fully ready to go.
At the point that you’re stepping into an estate agent, it’s great to say you have an advisor and an Agreement in Principle. You know you can afford what you want to buy, so you can focus on the house search rather than all the other moving parts.
For remortgages, if your fixed-rate deal is coming up for renewal or you’re looking to raise capital, talk to us three to six months ahead. When the market was a bit volatile, we were speaking to clients six months out. That gap has closed a bit now as we speak today in October 2025, and many lenders won’t give us their rate options until three or four months before.
If you’re considering a Buy to Let or similar, we just need to come in at the right time. You can get the right advice, and put your own plan together.
Does it cost for an initial conversation with you?
Absolutely not, no. There’s no cost at all for a consultation. We’re here to advise and steer you as early as possible. We talk through clients’ objectives and aims, and give them a steer around some initial advice.
In some cases, a broker fee is paid at the application or offer stage. Normally, that’s at the point that we’ve presented our recommendations and the client’s happy to proceed. There may be a fee to manage that process, but we would explain all of that and there’s no obligation to proceed.
What else do we need to know about working with a mortgage broker?
We’ve covered the mechanics of what a broker does. It certainly doesn’t have to be complicated – so bring an advisor into the process. We’re here to take away the stress and confusion, and keep you informed every step of the way.
Whether you’re first-time buyer, you’re remortgaging or building a property portfolio, getting the right advice at the right time really makes a difference. The value is in the advice at different points in the journey. There’s a lot more to what we do and the value we can add than just arranging your mortgage.
Key Takeaways:
- Mortgage brokers act as intermediaries between clients and lenders, offering access to different lenders and comparing thousands of products to find the most suitable mortgage.
- Unlike going directly to a bank, a mortgage broker can discuss products from various lenders, including high street banks, building societies and niche providers, tailoring recommendations to unique circumstances.
- Mortgage brokers provide qualified advice, guiding clients towards the right lender and product, and are generally easier to access than bank appointments.
- They liaise with other industry professionals like estate agents, solicitors, and surveyors, managing the entire process from getting mortgage-ready to securing a property.
- It’s advisable to see a mortgage broker as early as possible, ideally three to six months before a remortgage or when considering a purchase, to receive timely advice and prepare effectively.
YOUR PROPERTY MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE.
MOST BUY TO LET MORTGAGES ARE NOT REGULATED BY THE FINANCIAL CONDUCT AUTHORITY.
Approved by The Openwork Partnership on 06/03/2026.
