| Walk into any high street bank or building | | | | |
| society and mention that you're looking for a | | | | There are a number of websites that produce |
| mortgage, and you're likely to be bombarded | | | | tables of comparative mortgage offers - just |
| with leaflets, if not hurried into a private | | | | type 'mortgage' into your search engine and |
| office to meet their mortgage advisor. | | | | see the amount of results you pull up. |
| | | | 'Which', the magazine of the Consumer's |
| Mortgages are big business - and every large | | | | Association, is a reliable source of |
| financial institution will offer several | | | | information on the current market. Check |
| types of loan for buying property. It's a | | | | their website for guides on 'Which mortgage' |
| good idea to check out as many different | | | | at |
| lenders as possible before making a decision | | | | |
| - experts repeat the phrase 'shop around' | | | | The financial pages in newspapers carry |
| like a mantra these days and you could save | | | | adverts as well as news on the latest deals - |
| yourself a lot of money by comparing what's | | | | beware though of being seduced by adverts |
| on offer. | | | | promising low rates without giving all the |
| | | | details - there's more to finding the right |
| Your own bank may be a good place to start - | | | | mortgage than just picking the best rate. The |
| if you've banked with them for a while and | | | | bank are likely to advertise their lowest |
| have a good financial record they may be more | | | | rate, and you are likely to have to meet |
| confident about loaning you a large amount of | | | | certain criteria before qualifying for that |
| money such as a mortgage. However, with | | | | particular deal. Check for things like hidden |
| relatively low interest rates and a booming | | | | clauses or Higher Lending Charges - these are |
| market, these days the competition among | | | | one-off charges applied to some deals that |
| lenders is fierce and you may find a better | | | | are supposedly to cover insurance protection |
| deal elsewhere. Don't feel that you have to | | | | for the bank when they lend to you. They will |
| use the same bank for your mortgage as for | | | | not, however, provide the lender with any |
| your personal account. | | | | security! |