Independent mortgage brokers and advisers in Bracknell
Buying a home, moving or remortgaging in Bracknell? Our independent mortgage advisers help you understand your options, including when you need to keep an existing deal or explain a more complicated income. Start with a free initial chat with Simmonds Mortgage Services.
Book a free initial mortgage chat | Call 0118 469 3037
Mortgage advice that starts with your plans
You may have found your first flat, need more space for your family or want to review a mortgage that no longer fits. We take time to understand what you want to do and what might stand in the way. Then we explain the borrowing options and help you decide on your next step.
We support clients in Bracknell from our Wokingham office, with advice available by phone and meetings by appointment. Your initial chat is free. If we arrange a mortgage, a fee may apply, typically £499 once the mortgage offer is confirmed. We’ll explain your fee before you commit.
Buying a home in Bracknell
The existing town-centre amenities around The Lexicon and green space at Lily Hill Park may both feature in your search. But the property itself and its ongoing costs need just as much attention as the location.
For an apartment, ask about the lease, service charges and any planned major works. For a house, allow for maintenance and the work you may want to do after moving. If you commute, include your actual travel costs in the monthly budget. We can then discuss borrowing with those commitments in mind.
If schools influence where you buy, check the relevant admissions arrangements directly before committing. A nearby school or a previous rating does not guarantee a place. We’ll help with the mortgage questions while your solicitor checks the legal details of the purchase.
First time buyer mortgages in Bracknell
You can speak to us before you find a property. Our first-time buyer advice helps you understand what you may be able to borrow, how your deposit fits and what a lender will ask to see. When you are ready, we can help with an agreement in principle and the full application.
If you earn well but have bonuses, commission or several income sources, our high-income first-time buyer service can help you investigate how lenders may assess those earnings. A high salary alone does not settle the affordability calculation.
Moving home and porting your mortgage
Our home mover advice starts with your current balance, deal end date and plans for the next property. We compare the possibility of porting your existing deal with taking a new mortgage, including any charges and the cost of additional borrowing.
Porting means applying to transfer your mortgage deal to another property. It still requires lender approval. Extra borrowing may be on a different rate and end date, so we explain how the parts would work together before you decide.
Remortgages in Bracknell
Speak to us several months before your deal ends so there is time to consider your next steps. Our remortgage advice compares a new lender with options from your current lender, looking at fees and overall cost as well as the monthly payment.
Tell us if you want to fund home improvements, change the term or have recently changed jobs. We’ll assess the options against your current circumstances and check any early repayment charges. A lower monthly payment over a longer term can mean paying more overall.
Mortgage help when your circumstances need a closer look
Self employed applicants and contractors
A salary figure does not always explain how you earn. Our self-employed mortgage advice covers sole traders and company directors, including applicants paid through salary and dividends. We review the evidence available and how different lenders may treat it. For contract work, our contractor mortgage service considers your working arrangements and contract history.
Foreign income and foreign nationals
We advise on foreign income mortgages where earnings come from overseas, and mortgages for foreign nationals where residency or visa status needs consideration. Let us know the income currency, where you work and your residency position so we can investigate the relevant criteria.
Credit problems and previous refusals
If a lender has said no, tell us why and share your credit history. Our bad credit mortgage advice looks at what happened, when it happened and your position now. We’ll be clear about whether there may be options or whether further preparation is needed.
Larger borrowing and family support
Our high-net-worth mortgage advice covers substantial or more involved borrowing needs. We also advise on joint borrower sole proprietor mortgages, where someone supports the borrowing without becoming an owner. All borrowers need to understand their repayment obligations.
Buy to let mortgages in Bracknell
We help new and experienced landlords with buy-to-let mortgages. The proposed rent, property type and ownership structure all matter. Our services include limited company buy-to-let, HMO mortgages for shared houses and multi-unit freehold block mortgages.
If you want to keep your current home as a rental when you move, ask us about let-to-buy mortgages. We consider the borrowing on both properties. We also offer holiday-let mortgage advice for clients buying short-stay accommodation. The intended use needs to fit the lender’s terms.
Offset and second charge mortgages
An offset mortgage links eligible savings to the mortgage for interest calculations. A second-charge mortgage is another loan secured against your home alongside the first mortgage. We can explain these options, compare alternatives and discuss the costs and risks.
Later life mortgages and protection
If you are considering borrowing in retirement, we can explain lifetime mortgages and equity release and retirement interest-only mortgages. These have different repayment arrangements. Equity release is a long-term commitment, may accumulate interest and can reduce the value of your estate. We’ll discuss suitability and alternatives before recommending a route.
We also offer insurance and protection advice, including life assurance, critical illness cover and income protection. Options include decreasing term assurance, level term assurance, relevant life assurance and family income benefit. We explain the cover, conditions and exclusions so you can decide how to protect your household.
Helping a Bracknell family move with their existing mortgage
A couple in Bracknell wanted a larger home in Wokingham while their mortgage was still within its fixed period. Leaving the deal early would have meant an early repayment charge. We helped them port the existing deal and arrange extra borrowing with the same lender, taking account of additional earnings in the application.
We also considered how the two deal end dates could fit together for a future review. The family completed their move and described Daniel’s support in their testimonial:
“He was professional, friendly and approachable. He put us at ease and explained everything to us through the whole process.”
Read the Bracknell home mover case study
This is one client’s experience. Porting and additional borrowing depend on your lender’s assessment.
Meet your Bracknell mortgage advisers
Andrew Simmonds – founder and mortgage advisor
Andrew founded Simmonds Mortgage Services after starting his financial planning career in the early 2000s and later building a mortgage division. He holds CeMAP and the IFS Level 3 Certificate in Equity Release. His work includes applications involving company directors, property investors and later-life borrowing. Read Andrew’s profile.
Daniel Temperley – mortgage advisor
Daniel advises on residential and buy-to-let mortgages, helping first-time buyers, homeowners reviewing their borrowing and landlords. The Bracknell family’s move above is an example of his work coordinating an existing deal with extra borrowing. He helps clients understand the application and keeps them informed as it progresses. Meet Daniel and the team.
How we help from the first conversation
Tell us what you want to do and anything you are concerned a lender may question. We’ll discuss your income, deposit or equity and existing commitments, explain our service and confirm any fee. Your adviser researches the options and explains the recommendation. If you proceed, we help prepare the application and respond to lender enquiries. You do not need to know which mortgage type you need before calling. Bring your questions, and we’ll help you work through them.
Book a free initial mortgage chat | Call 0118 469 3037
Moving within Berkshire
Your search may take you beyond Bracknell. We also support buyers in Wokingham, Crowthorne and Sandhurst. If you are considering a move further west, explore our mortgage advice in Newbury. You can continue working with us as your property shortlist changes. See our Berkshire mortgage advice page for other areas we serve.
Bracknell mortgage FAQs
Do you have a mortgage office in Bracknell?
Our office is at 22b Market Place, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG40 1AP. We serve Bracknell clients by phone and arrange meetings by appointment. You can start a conversation while you are still deciding where to buy. If you would prefer to meet, contact us to discuss the arrangements.
Are you an independent mortgage advisor serving Bracknell?
Yes. Simmonds Mortgage Services is an independent mortgage broker. We consider options from a range of lenders and explain the reasons for our recommendation. This does not mean every product from every lender is available through us. We’ll explain the scope of our service and how we are paid before you proceed.
How much does mortgage advice cost in Bracknell?
The initial chat is free. An arrangement fee may apply, depending on your circumstances. Our typical mortgage arrangement fee is £499, paid once the mortgage offer is confirmed. For a lifetime mortgage, the typical fee is £799 at the same stage. We’ll confirm the fee for your case and explain other costs to consider.
Can I move from Bracknell without losing my fixed rate?
It may be possible to port your existing deal, as in our Bracknell family case study. Your lender must assess your application and the new property. Any extra borrowing may have different terms. We’ll compare porting with other options and check the conditions around early repayment charges rather than assume your current deal can transfer automatically.
What if I need a bigger mortgage for my next home?
We can assess the additional borrowing alongside your current mortgage. Your income, commitments, available equity and the new property all matter. If you port your existing deal, the extra amount may have a separate rate and end date. We explain the combined payment and what happens when each part comes up for review.
Can bonuses or variable pay support my application?
They may do, but lenders differ in the proportion they count and the history they require. Share recent payslips and explain how the extra income is earned. We may need further evidence to establish a reliable pattern. The Bracknell home mover case involved additional earnings, but every new application needs its own assessment.
Can you help before I start viewing properties in Bracknell?
Yes. We can discuss your deposit, monthly budget and potential borrowing before you book viewings. An agreement in principle may help focus your search, but it is not a mortgage offer. A full application still involves checks on your finances and the property. Set aside funds for purchase and moving costs as well as your deposit.
What should I check when buying a flat near Bracknell town centre?
Ask for the remaining lease term, ground rent, service charges and details of planned major works. Building-safety information may also be relevant. These can affect affordability and lender acceptance. Share the property particulars with us early and ask your solicitor to review the lease and legal documents before you commit.
Can you help with a new build purchase in Bracknell?
We can look at your mortgage options for the property you have chosen. Tell us about reservation deadlines, the expected completion date and developer incentives. Lenders have their own requirements around new builds and offer validity. If construction is delayed, we’ll check what the lender requires; an extension is not automatic and a new application may be needed.
Should I stay with my lender when my mortgage deal ends?
There is no single answer. We compare the available options with your existing lender and the cost of moving elsewhere, including fees and any early repayment charges. Changes in income, employment or borrowing needs may affect the comparison. Contact us several months before the current deal finishes so we can review it in good time.
Can I rent out my Bracknell home and buy somewhere else?
Possibly. Let-to-buy may be an option, but we need to assess the proposed rent, equity, existing borrowing and the new purchase together. You must also check that your lender permits the intended letting. Your solicitor and tax adviser can explain the legal and tax implications of owning and letting the additional property.
Can you help if I run a business or have been refused a mortgage?
We can investigate why the application was declined and how your income has been assessed. Company accounts, tax documents, bank statements or contracts may be relevant. Explain any recent business changes or credit issues at the start. We’ll tell you what may be possible and what evidence is needed, without promising approval.
Talk to us about your Bracknell mortgage
Tell us about the home you want to buy or the mortgage you want to review. We’ll explain what to check first and how we can help.
