Why Use a Broker?

1. To ensure that you have the right knowledge behind you. Your broker will make sure that you are informed of everything you need to know about purchasing, owning and financing property in your chosen country - read what every overseas property investor should know.
2. To get an impartial view of the whole market and all of your options.
3. To get access to lower rates and the better products that lenders offer to brokers but not to individual applicants.
4. To benefit from the rapport between the lenders and the broker which ensures that your case is dealt with quickly and smoothly, and sometimes concessions can also be made for you.
5. To save time and energy finding the right lender and a suitable product, as well as on the application itself and the follow up required.
6. To make sure no money is wasted through costly mistakes that can arise from a lack of understanding of the market and procedures. A mortgage broker does not only source the best mortgage deal - they provide invaluable additional information and advice.

There is a lot to consider when buying or re-mortgaging an overseas property and a reputable broker like Assetz Finance will ensure that nothing is missed. When buying, owning or financing property in a foreign country it is very important to understand:

• The pitfalls of purchasing and owning property in your chosen country and of arranging finance on the property, if any
• The conveyance process in that country (how it differs from that of the UK and what you need to watch out for)
• The different methods of financing the overseas property and their pros and cons
• The interest rates applicable for mortgages offered in the overseas country (how expensive is it to borrow, what is the likely monthly payment that should be budgeted for, how are interest rates calculated in that country)
• The lenders’ criteria in that country (what information will you be expected to provide/ will you actually be successful in securing the mortgage you want)
• How you are expected to repay your mortgage in that country (are there any interest only options available or are all mortgages offered on a capital repayment basis only)
• The likely term of the mortgage (the lender may only allow relatively short repayment terms for example)
• The time scales that each lender works to and that you need to work to in order to complete the purchase (or re-mortgage) in time
• The legal constraints on the arrangement of mortgages in the overseas country
• The currency fluctuations between the currency used in your chosen country and that of your income and how they will affect your mortgage payments
• What is expected of you as a purchaser or owner of foreign property
• Where you can go for the best specialist legal and tax advice applicable to your circumstances and type of investment being made